Just six horses go to post in this Saturday’s Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park, supposedly one of the best flat races of the season. The 1m2f race has Group 1 status, but punters will be disappointed will the declared field of six. For a race that has been won by the likes of Dancing Brave, Daylami and Sea The Stars in recent years, the sponsors would have hoped to attract better horses than this bunch. That said, one of these will cross the finishing line in first place a couple of minutes after 3.10pm – so the question is, which one?

2/1 Twice Over

Twice Over is one of two horses representing owner Khalid Abdullah, but this one has been a stronger fancy in the ante-post market for the Coral Eclipse. Ran a fair second to Byword at Royal Ascot and his turn of foot could be lethal in such a poor Group 1. 2/1 with Ladbrokes is a pretty short price considering his participation was in doubt over the feared fast ground…

5/2 Dar Re Mi

Mares have a poor record in the race, but Dar Re Mi is a pretty special one, as she proved by winning the Sheema Classic earlier this year. I just feel she is better over one and a half miles, so I’d rather wait to back her for the Arc at 20/1 with Sporting Bet. Take her on at the prices.

9/2 Zacinto

Zacinto is something of an enigma, as he tends to follow up a cracking run with a disappointing one. Connections are right to step him up in trip to 1m2f, especially as he has already twice been beaten by the mighty Goldikova. He has stamina in his pedigree and appears to stay the mile well enough. Ryan Moore’s mount attracted money earlier this week which is significant, but punters are taking a risk that he has an off day. Is that factored into the current odds of 9/2 (Bet 365)?

7/1 Mawatheeq

This cracking horse was very progressive indeed last season, and ended up finishing an unlucky second in the Champion Stakes to Twice Over. His reappearance at Royal Ascot was disappointing, but he could be a different horse on Saturday. My one concern with Mawa is his stable’s patchy form.

7/1 Viscount Nelson

Finished fifth in the French Derby at a huge price and was thrashed by Canford Cliffs in the Irish Guineas. I don’t think he’s classy enough to win an Eclipse, but that won’t stop Johnny Murtagh’s fans from backing Nelson. Murtagh actually chose Cape Blanco in the French Derby, which tells you where Viscount Nelson falls in the Aidan O’Brien pecking order. Nevertheless, the trainer has won this race four times in the last 10 years.

33/1 Sri Putra

A Group 2 standard horse on a going day, but given this shoddy field he isn’t the worst 33/1 shot in the world in a six horse race. Trainer Michael Jarvis has reported him to be working well – in which case he could stun punters on Saturday afternoon. Or trail home in last place.

Conclusion

Negatives for all the runners, but one of them has to win it. Twice Over is a solid pick, but ZACINTO makes more appeal at double the odds. Dar Re Mi could get outpaced, and outsider Sri Putra could pick up the pieces on a going day.

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing antepost horse racing betting odds.

Coral Eclipse Betting Odds

July Cup Betting Odds

Ladbrokes St Leger Betting Odds

Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe Betting Odds

Who would your money be on in a race between a top-class athlete and a Class 5 sprinter trained by Brendan Powell?

Well like any race it depends on the course, distance, going and more importantly the current form.

Peopleton Brook was last seen finishing fourth in a Newbury sprint handicap, whilst relay runner Jamie Baulch won a silver medal at the 1996 Olympic Games. However, even with a 20-metre head start he was no match for his equine opponent on the Kempton polytrack.

Here’s what happened last night:

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing horse racing betting odds.

Coral Eclipse Betting Odds

July Cup Betting Odds

The bookmakers took a right pounding at Royal Ascot last week, and will be hoping that the winner of this Saturday’s big betting race, the Northumberland Plate, is not one of the well-fancied runners. The 2m9y race at Newcastle racecourse is for staying handicappers, and the ground is forecast to be good to firm.

The current antepost favourite for the race, Deauville Flyer, hails from the Tim Easterby yard and is a 7/1 chance with Bet 365. The race has not been too kind for the favourites over the last 10 years, as the only favourite to oblige in the time period was Juniper Girl in 2007 at 5/1. Only three winners of the race had a single-figure starting price and last year’s winner, Som Tala, was sent off at 16/1.

Deauville Flyer is a progressive handicapper chasing a hat-trick, but the four-year-old son of Dubai Destination is not guaranteed to make the cut. Another runner short in the antepost betting is this year’s winner of the Scottish Champion Hurdle Overturn, generally available at 8/1 . If he can translate his hurdles form to the level, he must surely have a big chance, and connections have had the race in mind for some time now.

Junior won the Ascot Stakes last week for trainer David Pipe, and he could be well-handicapped off an official mark of 90. The seven-year-old made all the running over the 2m4f trip at the Royal meeting and is proving terrific value for his £35,000 auction price in May.

David Pipe also has the option of running Mamlook, the winner of this year’s Chester Vase. Mamlook swerved the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot, but he has never won on ground faster than good.

Chiberta King is at 10/1 with most firms, and Red Cadeaux can be backed at 11/1 with Boylesports.

One runner that has been attracting bits and pieces of money in recent days is Elyaadi, who is at 12/1 with Boylesports. John Queally’s mare has been tried over hurdles before, and hails from the yard famous for Aintree specialist Al Eile.

If you are going to have an each-way bet on the Northumberland Plate, all of the bookmakers are offering four places at 1/4 the win odds.

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing antepost horse racing betting odds.

Northumberland Plate Betting Odds

July Cup Betting Odds

Ladbrokes St Leger Betting Odds

Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe Betting Odds

OVERDOSE, the star Hungarian-trained sprinter, will not be running at Royal Ascot this year.  The ‘Budapest Bullet’ was set to be one of the star attractions at the mouth-watering Royal meeting, and he was a 12/1 chance with Ladbrokes to win the five furlong Kings Stand Stakes on the opening day.

Dozi (pictured) is unbeaten in 12 starts and has still not fully recovered from a foot injury that kept him off the track last year. The latest news is a blow to his fans and antepost backers, but they can still cross their fingers that he eventually makes it to Longchamp in October to line up in the Prix de l’Abbaye.

The writing was on the wall this time last week when Overdose did not feature in the five day declarations for Haydock. He had been targeting the listed class Achilles Stakes on May 29, but his seasonal reappearance has now been delayed until June 6 at Bratislava.

Overdose is one of our four horses to follow this season, but we are not giving up with him just yet. Cutlass Bay flopped last time out, but that run was too bad to be true. Harbinger is still unbeaten this year and will next run at Ascot.

Another big story breaking today is that St Nicholas Abbey, the long-time antepost favourite, will miss the Investec Derby this Saturday. Jan Vermeer is the 13/8 favourite with the bookies.

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing flat racing betting odds.

Investec Derby Betting Odds

Investec Oaks Betting Odds

Ascot Gold Cup Betting Odds

THERE is plenty of sport to look forward to this weekend, as the Bookies.com team are making final preparations for a World Cup bonanza. We love our French horse racing, and given that At The Races are screening Sunday’s Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris card from Auteuil, we ought to take a look at the big race itself which is off at 2.12pm UK time.

Call it the French Gold Cup, call it the French Grand National, call it what you like, but the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris is the highlight of the French jumps season. Fourteen horses are set to slug it out for €820,000 in prize money over the gruelling trip of 5,800 metres. The field have to negotiate a total of twenty three obstacles, and several horses will give up long before the final fence in the home straight.

Most of the talk in the French racing press has been centred around last year’s winner, Remember Rose. His preparation for the big race has gone very well, and thousands of punters will be trusting jockey Christophe Pieux with their euros on the PMU.

She may not win the 2010 Grand Steeple, but Princesse d’Anjou will bow out on Sunday as a champion. It is hard to believe, but the toughest mare in training ran in a claimer with a tag of €14,000 back in 2005. She has since won the Grand Steeple twice, in 2006 and 2008, both when partnered by Irish jockey Philip ‘Philippe’ Carberry.

She is now 9-years-old, but she still has a realistic chance of finishing in the places on Sunday. You can never afford to leave her out of your calculations, even if this is her swansong.  

So is Remember Rose a ‘good thing’ on Sunday?

100/1 Norville du Bois

On what he has showed us so far in his Auteuil career, Norville du Bois has absolutely no chance of winning this race. Better suited for handicap chases, or egg and spoon races like the €14,000 Grand Steeple-Chase de Saumur.

100/1 Mayev

Last won a race in 2008, and got absolutely trounced when he was last seen at the course in the Prix Guillaume Javoy. Strike a line through Mayev’s name on your racecard. 

33/1 Dayladam

Reported to be in fine fettle at home, and Dayladam comes here as a fresh horse. In 2009 he managed third place in the Prix La Haye Jousselin, so he cannot be ruled out as easily as a contender like Mayev. Other runners make more appeal.

14/1 Polar Rochelais

In my opinion, Polar Rochelais is not quite a Grade 1 horse. We know he is a quality animal on his day, as he won a Grade 2 chase last June, but I can seem him being outclassed here. Polar Rochelais is a genuine stayer, and his trainer Patrice Quinton has stated that he does not want the ground too soft for his stable star.

33/1 Lord Carmont

Lord Carmont is eleven-years-old, but he did not race at all last year. This is certainly his last Grand Steeple, and there is no doubt that he is suited by the marathon trip. Back to form this year, it would not be a shock to see him sneak into the places.

Blue Square are offering odds of 33/1 about Lord Carmont, but the French think that he will get sent off near the 6/1 mark on the PMU.

4/1 Doumaja

Doumaja warrants plenty of respect on the back of his win in the Prix Inge, in which he beat Remember Rose, who was at 17/10 on the French Tote. He is training very well at the moment, but his trainer Guy Cherel reckons that he will come up just short on the day.

Worthy of consideration.

16/1 Ramsès Bleu

Jockey Cyrille Gombeau won this race in 2007 on Mid Dancer, but this year he has elected to ride Doumaja instead of Ramsès Bleu.

Ramsès Bleu has had 6 starts this year, and it is not often that you see horses who spent the winter racing around Pau winning the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris.

5/2 Remember Rose

Remember Rose. Remember his win last year, when he was partnered by Christophe Pieux who finished the race with a fractured foot. Remember that he has won the last two renewals of the Prix La Haye Jousselin.

It never pays to get too attached to these champions, but Remember Rose will be spot on physically to win his second Grand Steeple on Sunday. He jumps and he stays, but he is a very short price for the demanding contest.

Hard to pick holes in this favourite - as he has never once fallen in his thirty races!

16/1 Odeillo du Mathan

Odeillo du Mathan finished second in the Prix Murat at 40/1, but he needs heavy ground to be seen at his best. Unlikely to reverse the Prix Ingre form with Remember Rose.

10/1 Objectif Spécial

Trainer Guy Cherel has 4 horses in the race, and Objectif Spécial is a previous winner of the Prix du Président de la République.

Has had an interesting preparation for the Grand Steeple, having raced on the flat at Compiègne and over hurdles at Auteuil. He is very fresh and could surprise a few punters on Sunday. 

11/2 Pommerol

Trainer François Doumen has won the Grand Steeple 5 times before, and is a master when it comes to the big occasions. Having just said that, Pommerol does not have the form to suggest he can get involved at the business end of this race. Dismiss.

7/1 Louping d’Ainay

You cannot miss Louping d’Ainay. He is a smashing grey who is running for the same connections as Princesse d’Anjou. In fact, if you bet on him on the PMU, the 2 horses will be coupled together.

As far as his form goes, he missed 2009 but has come back with a bang, managing to finish second in the Prix Ingre. He is flying at home, and is at ‘200%’ according to his trainer. Tempting.

6/1 Princesse d’Anjou

If you see Princesse d’Anjou in the parade ring you will probably laugh. The François Cottin-trained mare looks more like a yearling, who is racing against huge muscular geldings. But as a New York Times blogger puts it, ’she jumps like a flea and has the heart of a lion.’

She hasn’t won a race since 2008, but the French punters have fond memories of Princesse d’Anjou’s big wins at this course. Her trainer thinks that she is as good as ever at 9-years-old, and there are worse each-way bets out there on today’s card.

8/1 Slingshot

Slingshot is only 5-years-old, but the race he won earlier this month at the track was only listed class. Needs more experience, and connections are happy simply to be taking part. He should be more like 50/1.

bookies.com Grand Steeple 1-2-3:

1. Louping d’Ainay 7/1

2. Remember Rose 5/2

3. Doumaja 4/1

Prices quoted are Blue Square’s odds as of Saturday 29 May. I thought that Slingshot and Pommerol would be more like 33/1!

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing betting odds on French horse racing.

Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris Betting Odds

Prix La Barka Betting Odds (4.45pm UK time)

SPECIAL DUTY is attempting to emulate the likes of Miesque and Ravinella by completing the French-English 1000 Guineas double, but she will face a high class field of fillies in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches at Longchamp on Sunday. Only 2 favourites have won this race in the last ten years, so it could pay to look elsewhere.

Luckily for punters, Bookies Blog is here to check out this precocious bunch of fillies:

10/1 Lady Of The Desert

Lady Of The Desert is sent over by Manton-based trainer Brian Meehan and is the only raider in the field. She has never run at Longchamp before, but she has already had a brilliant career. She has never won over further than 6 furlongs and could only manage third on her seasonal reappearance in the Fred Darling Stakes. Until Lady Of The Desert proves she gets the mile trip, she has to be opposed.

Ridden by Kieren Fallon.

9/1 Full Steam

8 of the last ten winners of this race won last time out, and that’s what Full Steam did up at Chantilly last month. Jockey Maxime Guyon rates her highly and its difficult to get a grip on just how good her form is. At least PMU players can sleep well on Saturday night knowing that she will be coupled with Special Duty on the French tote, because both fillies are owned by the Prince Abdullah.

6/4 Special Duty

Even though I have backed Special Duty on her last couple of starts, I’m prepared to take her on this time in what looks like a classy field of Pouliches. Plenty of punters will be smashing into Criquette Head-Maarek’s filly on the basis that she won the English 1000 Guineas a couple of weeks ago at Newmarket, but she was heavily favoured by the draw on that occasion. Without wanting to take too much away from what is certainly a classy filly, the first five home were all drawn low: 1, 4, 2, 6, 7.

Connections wouldn’t risk her if she was still feeling the effects of a hard tussle with Jacqueline Quest, but this race could come too soon.

3/1 Rosanara

Rosanara is trained by Alain de Royer Dupré and will be ridden by the Aga Kahn’s retained rider, Christophe Patrice Lemaire. She is very well bred and may be a decent price on the basis that she ‘only’ finished third in the Prix de la Grotte at 2/1.

We saw with Special Duty that these three year olds often come on for the run, and this has been the targeted race. The Aga Khan won this race with the exceptional Zarkava in 2008, but wasn’t represented last year.

She has the best two year old form in the field, as she won the Prix Marcel Boussac last year, the same race that Zarkava won in 2007… She also ran well behind Jan Vermeer in the Critérium International, and that colt could turn out to be very good indeed.

5/1 Joanna

Jean-Claude Rouget’s star filly actually beat Special Duty in the Prix Imprudence, and at least we know that Joanna is high class. She began her career in Italy and finished third in the Prix Marcel Boussac last year behind Rosanara. Interestingly enough, she has shown better form than Rosanara this year, and thus looks a real threat with Christophe Soumillon doing the steering.

33/1 Liliside

François Rohaut saddles Liliside and Baine. He is in terrific form, but neither filly is up to this task.

25/1 Dolled Up

Has won twice in her nine starts, but will be outclassed here. Difficult to even make a case for Dolled Up as an each way wager.

25/1 Barouda

Won a Group Three race at Deauville in 2009 but got stuck in traffic in the Prix de la Grotte. Finished seventh on that occasion and is capable of better. Long shot.

20/1 Ayun Tara

Ayun Tara was running in claimers last year, which really puts me off! She was only beaten a length in the UAE 1000 Guineas, but that was won by a 56/1 shot. Unfashionable choice.

60/1 Baine

Same trainer as Liliside, and like her Baine has only won a listed race. Take her on.

Bookies.com Poule d’Essai des Pouliches 1-2-3:

1. Joanna 5/1

2. Rosanara 3/1

3. Barouda 25/1

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing flat racing betting odds.

French 1000 Guineas Betting

French 2000 Guineas Betting

Investec Derby Betting Odds

Investec Oaks Betting Odds

Ascot Gold Cup Betting Odds

French-trained horses completed an historic Guineas double last weekend at Newmarket, but both Makfi and Special Duty will be sent off at shorter odds on their next few starts. The Bookies Blog team have selected an elite team of four horses to follow for the 2010 flat racing season, that may be sent off at decent prices in top races. We’re hoping that these four animals will line our pockets with plenty of dosh before the jumps season finally gets underway again.

Overdose

Overdose is a star Hungarian sprinter that has become a Bookies Blog favourite over time. He missed last season with a foot infection, but has won his 12 starts to date. Critics will say that those races were minor affairs, and that he has yet to prove himself at the highest level. However he showed bags of speed to win the voided Prix de l’Abbaye in 2008, and if the bargain purchase has recovered from his injury, I feel he may win some big sprints in Europe this season. He is entered in the Golden Jubilee Stakes and the Kings Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Cutlass Bay

Cutlass Bay won the Prix Ganay convincingly last Sunday, but perhaps his brilliant performance has slipped under the radar somewhat. This son of Halling beat Cavalryman as a three year old, and has since proved that he really is top class. With the likes of Sea The Stars and Zarkava looking on from their paddocks, I’m hoping that Cutlass Bay can win an eighth Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for French trainer Andre Fabre. He looks a good antepost bet for that race at 10/1 with Bet365 and William Hill, and he is still unbeaten like Overdose!

Burj Nahar

Burj Nahar is another horse from the Godolphin team, and he is our only three year old to follow this season. His breeding is outstanding, as he is by Shamardal and out of Sea The Stars’ half-sister Melikah. He bolted up in his maiden at odds of 8/11 and was then given a 25/1 quote for the Epsom Derby. He will only reappear later on in the season, but he is certainly one for Frankie Dettori to look forward to, wherever he turns up.

Harbinger

Harbinger is a four year old colt, by Dansili, and trained by Sir Michael Stoute. He was talked up as a St Leger candidate last year, and made a great start to 2010 by winning the John Porter Stakes at Newbury comfortably. He is racing tomorrow in the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes at Chester, which I expect him to win and go on to even better things as he certainly has a progressive profile. He stays one and a half miles and is ridden by champion jockey Ryan Moore.    

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing flat racing betting odds.

Investec Derby Betting Odds

Investec Oaks Betting Odds

Ascot Gold Cup Betting Odds

With a French-trained winner of the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket this weekend, it seems appropriate that we turn our attentions towards the first Group 1 of the season over in France.

Nine runners are lining up in the Prix Ganay, a 2100m race open to horses four years or older. It is a cracking trial for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, and has been won by the likes of Dylan Thomas, Vision D’Etat and Bago in recent years.

All of the UK high street bookies are taking bets on the Prix Ganay today. Here are the runners and their betting odds:

33/1 Pallodio

Promising earlier on in his career, but the fact that his last run was at Lingfield tells you all you need to know about his level of ability.

11/2 Chinchon

Trained by Carlos-Laffon Parias, and had to miss the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Hong Kong due to the recent volcanic ash debacle. Made a winning reappearance in a Group 3 and has a leading chance in this event.

William Hill are the only bookies to go 11/2. Looks generous.

40/1 The Bogberry

This horse has some ability, but is not up to winning this.

6/5 Cutlass Bay

Looks to have an outstanding chance for the French Godolphin operation. He beat Cavalryman as a three year old and won a Group 2 on his seasonal reappearance. Maxime Guyon rides Cutlass Bay for André Fabre, and he is best priced at 6/5 with Bet365 this morning.

He is 10/1 for the Arc with Stan James, and that looks like a very reasonable price.

40/1 King of Sydney

Has won a Group 2 in Germany for Mario Hofer, and his form is very hard to assess. Probably not good enough.

16/1 Starlish

Starlish is a dependable horse, that makes each-way appeal. I cannot see him reversing the Prix Harcout form with Cutlass Bay.

12/1 Court Canibal

Improving all the time and finished like a train to be second to Cutlass Bay on his last run. Trained by the man of the moment, Mikel Dezangles.

6/1 Shalanaya

Won the Group 1 Prix de l’Opéra last year, and I’m surprised that they kept her in training. Interesting to see her taking on the boys, and must not be underestimated.

10/1 Célimène

Finished fourth in last year’s Prix de Diane. This is a very tough assignment.

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing French horse racing betting odds.

Prix Ganay Betting Odds

Arc de Triomphe Betting Odds

This weekend’s Scoop6 could be life-changing for some lucky punters, as they are playing for a win fund of at least £378,889 that has rolled over. The bonus fund currently stands at a handsome £162,381, and both are likely to swell in size before the 1:55 at Newmarket. That means that a single winner of the Scoop6 tomorrow could be taking home a prize in the region of £750,000!

You can play the bet for as little as £2. To do it online simply open an account with Totesport.

To be in with a shout of winning the bounty, you simply have to pick the winners from the following six races:

1.55 Newmarket (I fancy Dalradian in this one) 

2.15 Goodwood

3.05 Newmarket

3.25 Goodwood

3.30 Thirsk

3.40 Newmarket (Amour Propre would be my bet in this race)

Best of luck, and to help you solve the 2000 Guineas Stakes at 3.05pm we’ve already provided a couple of tips.

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing horse racing betting odds.

Last weekend the flat racing season picked up with the impressive reappearance of Paco Boy at Sandown Park, but there are plenty of punters like myself who prefer to hold back until the Stan James Guineas weekend at Newmarket. The first two classics of the season should throw up plenty of pointers to the season ahead, and many flat racing fans will want to know just how good St Nicholas Abbey really is.

Sea The Stars won the 2000 Guineas cosily at odds of 8/1 last year for John Oxx, but perhaps it is unwise to expect another superstar to emerge this season.

Superstar or no superstar, there is still a winner to be found amongst this bunch of colts.

5/4 St Nicholas Abbey

This son of Montjeu has been the subject of much speculation over the winter, and plenty of punters are already on St Nicholas Abbey at 2/1. Johnny Murtagh’s mount won the Racing Post Trophy in sparkling fashion, but the press are getting carried away with that win.

He could be a Sea The Stars, but 5/4 is my idea of a lousy price in the 2000 Guineas.

High Top was the last horse to do the Doncaster-Newmarket double, back in 1972. That is becase the Racing Post Trophy is normally run on soft ground, so is more suited for stayers.

He could win this race easily, but given what we know, fans should instead back him to win the Epsom Derby at 2/1. But even that price is too skinny for me!

7/1 Elusive Pimpernel

Won the Craven Stakes with a good turn of foot, but at 5/1, I feel the value has gone with him. He was destroyed by St Nicholas Abbey in the Racing Post Trophy, but perhaps the soft ground was against him. Course form at Newmarket is a bonus.

10/1 Canford Cliffs

Has smart form as a two year old, but flopped in the Greenham Stakes at 10/11. Perhaps a change of tactics could work, but he looks all speed. Could land a big sprint later on in the season for Richard Hannon. Has been subject of good reports since his shock defeat.

11/1 Awzaan

Has won his four races to date, but they were all over a six furlong trip. He settles well in his races, which means that he is bound to trade shorter in running on the betting exchanges. He doesn’t have the scope to improve later on in the season, so this is his day.

A recommended each-way wager, and the stable is confident.

20/1 Al Zir

Frankie Dettori’s mount has been backed this week, but I feel that Al Zir will be seen to better effect over further than one mile this season. He wouldn’t want the ground too fast, and is one for the future.

22/1 Inler

Harry Findlay’s Inler is a good-looking horse, that was given a gallop at the Craven meeting. Won a Newmarket maiden last October in comfortable fashion, and won’t be inconvenienced by fast ground. Trainer is well-known for the sprinter Kingsgate Native.

18/1 Fencing Master

Looks terrific value, and I guess that is because punters are getting carried away with his stablemate.

Remember that in 2002, Rock Of Gibraltar was the ’second string’. Fencing Master is well bred, but doesn’t work brilliantly on the gallops.

Was unlucky in the Dewhurst Stakes (beaten a neck) and is worth keeping an eye on.

18/1 Xtension

Third in the Dewhurst, and Xtension could be another that’s escaped under the betting radar of punters. He has grown over the winter, and is not a 18/1 shot.

20/1 Dick Turpin

Won the Greenham against the odds, and goes on any ground. Trainer Richard Hannon knows that softer ground could be to the disadvantage of rivals, so it may be wise to wait for either the Irish or the French 2000 Guineas with Dick Turpin, as the going at Newmarket will be fast.

25/1 Hearts Of Fire

Trainer Pat Eddery has won the 2000 Guineas three times as a jockey. Hearts Of Fire won a Group 3 event at Baden-Baden and then won the Grand Criterium in Italy. The form of the latter race has worked out well, as Vale Of York went on to win the Breeders Cup Juvenile for the Godolphin team.

Stephane Pasquier rides.

40/1 Makfi

This son of Dubawi won the Prix Djebel at Maisons-Lafitte, the same race that Le Harve won last year. Makfi also has the option of the French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp.

50/1 Fair Trade

 Only has a Newbury maiden win to his name.

50/1 Poet’s Voice

Fourth in the Middle Park Stakes at 15/8, but won a Group 2 at Doncaster before that.

66/1 Red Jazz

Barry Hills trained the winner of the 1000 Guineas last year, but a mile may not be the ideal trip for Red Jazz.

66/1 Viscount Nelson

Very well bred, by Giants Causeway and out of an Oaks winner. Was as short as 20/1 for this race, but Johnny Murtagh abandoned him for Black Quartz in the 2000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown. This horse finished second in that race. 

Kieren Fallon rides Viscount Nelson, but I prefer the chances of Fencing Master.

100/1 Buzzword

Has had a good winter, but may be one for the French 2000 Guineas.

100/1 Elspeth’s Boy

Inler appears to have a better chance for trainer John Best. Won his Wolverhampton maiden at 33/1.

125/1 Lord Zenith

Won a listed race at Lingfield in April, so may have a fitness edge. Has already been put in his place by Arcano. 

250/1 Audacity Of Hope

Had nine starts last year as a two year old. Unlikely.

250/1 Greyfriarschorista

Trained by Mark Johnston, but a win for Greyfriarschorista would be a huge shock, even though he was only beaten by a nose in the Spring Cup.

Recommended Bets:

1pt win Awzaan @ 11/1 (Totesport)

1pt win Fencing Master @ 18/1 (Sporting Bet, Betfair)

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing flat racing betting odds.

2000 Guineas Betting Odds

1000 Guineas Betting Odds

Investec Derby Betting Odds

Investec Oaks Betting Odds

Ascot Gold Cup Betting Odds