The Irish send over the first two in the market, but there is value to be had in the French colts. Falco won the French 2000 Guineas last year at 22/1, beating Gololphin’s Rio De La Plata by three lengths.

Naaqoos is the shortest priced French colt, but he was beaten at odds-on last time out. There must be alternatives that can give us a run for our money.

The Betfair market is immature at this stage, and will only really take shape on Sunday morning. Blue Square have been taking antepost bets for a few days.

3/1 Vocalised

Drawn in six, and Jim Bolger’s colt has won four on the trot. His last win only came last Monday in a Group Three at The Curragh, and Cityscape has let down the Greenham Stakes form.

Vocalised is clearly race fit, but makes no appeal at 3/1. Needs better ground, so any rain would be a negative.

Kevin Manning rides, but I just can’t get excited about that price. He should beat Westphalia – match bet anyone?

4/1 Westphalia

The first string for Aidan O’Brien, but Johnny Murtagh did chose the wrong horse in the Chester Vase. Aidan O’Brien has had three of the last ten winners of this race.

Second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Westphalia caught the eye in the Prix de Fontainebleau over course and distance. Beaten only half a length by Silver Frost, but his head-carriage is still a concern.

He could run a big race, but may just find a couple too good for him. At the prices I’d take Silver Frost.

5/1 Naaqoos

Freddie Head saddles both Naaqoos and stable star Marchand D’Or on Sunday.

Naaqoos has won at Longchamp before, but Newmarket has reminded us to treat the juvenile form with caution.

Davy Bonilla will ride Naaqoos, but he was turned over fair and square by Le Havre at Maisons-Laffitte. Naaqoos is working well according to Head, but still makes little appeal at the price. Obvious claims, but questionable form.

5/1 Silver Frost

A cosy winner of the Prix de Fontainebleau, so there is no reason that Westphalia should be a shorter price. His time of 1’39”50 was pretty good and he is clearly one of the leading French hopes for Yves de Nicolay.

6/1 Le Havre

Christophe Lemaire rides for Jean-Claude Rouget, who also has Oiseau De Feu. A quality colt that goes on good ground, he should confirm the form with Naaqoos. Almost tempts me at 6/1.

Rain would be a negative for Le Havre – he managed only seventh in the Critérium International on heavy ground.

His Djebel win came as a bit of a surprise (7.7/1) but it may be that cheekpieces helped him to focus.

7/1 Shaweel

Only fifth in the Greenham – surely Frankie’s best chance of the day is on Fantasia. Godolphin have had a poor start to the turf season, after a stunning record at the Dubai Carnival.

Decent juvenile form with Mark Johnston, but I wouldn’t even back Shaweel at 10/1 on Sunday.

10/1 Oiseau De Feu

Jean-Claude Rouget has never won this race before, but Oiseau De Feu may be the one to break that record. His third in the Prix de Fontainebleau confirmed that he was progressive, finishing very strongly indeed.

The stable also has Tamazirte (7/1) in the 1000 Guineas, who has also matured well over the winter break.

16/1 Zafisio

Non – runner. Zafisio is now with Roger Curtis and has matured well.

Cut in the ground is absolutely vital for Zafisio, who goes for the German Guineas. Will take a lot of beating.

20/1 Handsome Maestro

Olivier Peslier thinks that Handsome Maestro has what it takes to win the 2000 Guineas.

He won the Prix Machado in ‘irresistible’ fashion, beating Desertar by four lengths (see picture).

He could be anything, but the Poule d’Essai des Poulains will be his strongest test yet. His generous price is probably because his two year old form isn’t special. The Aga Kahn-owned Varenar boosted the form of the Prix Machado by winning at Saint-Cloud this week.

A decent each way bet for me.

FRIDAY UPDATE: Blue Square have cut the odds down to 12/1, two hours after I had £20 each way. On Saturday we can expect to see other bookies open a French 2000 Guineas market – Handsome Maestro must still be backed if available around the 16/1 mark.

33/1 Diableside

Can’t see him reversing Prix Djebel form with both Naaqoos and Le Havre.

50/1 Roi Des Sables

Thrashed by Handsome Maestro at Longchamp and hasn’t registered a course win in three attempts. Won a very very weak looking race at Toulouse last month and absolutely no claims.

66/1 Born To Be King

Two and a half lengths behind Intense Focus at Leopardstown last time out, but will need to improve vastly to have any say in this. 

200/1 Coat Of Arms

By Danehill Dancer but only lost his maiden tag this week. No chance! (We said the same about the 100/1 Kentucky Derby winner)

Recommendation:

5pts win @ 20/1 Handsome Maestro (Blue Square)

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

Poule d’Essai des Poulains (2000 Guineas) Betting

Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (1000 Guineas) Betting

Melbourne Cup Betting

Ascot Gold Cup Betting

The seven furlong Totesport Victoria Cup will be run this Saturday at 2.15pm. BBC2 will be showing the Ascot meeting, which includes the Listed John Doyle Buckhounds Stakes.

Better still, if you can hop on the short train to Ascot, general admission is only £15 and you can join in the Festival of Wine for only a fiver.

The race serves as an introduction to this season’s top handicappers, and usually brings together a mix of sprinters and milers.

The weather will be sunny and the going should be good to firm.

The last two winners have come from stall 14, but this year Beaver Patrol carries top weight.

In the last five years, 14/1 Wise Dennis was the biggest price winner in 2007. Let’s take a look at the market leaders:

6/1 Prescription

Seb Sanders rides the likely favourite for Sir Mark Prescott, in the colours of the Cheveley Park Stud.

Fillies don’t have a great record in this race and she was turned over at 4/7 in September. The daughter of Pivotal is drawn in 18 and has shot up in the ratings. She may have wintered well, but I’m very keen to take on this favourite.

NON RUNNER. A shame we couldn’t take her on.

8/1 Evens And Odds

Dandy Nicholls is another trainer in form, but Evens and Odds has never won at Ascot before. He won a handicap over six furlongs at HQ, but the handicapper has been a bit harsh. Up 6lbs and I’d expect that to be too much. 

12/1 Zaahid

Last year’s winning 5/1 joint favourite won’t have the benefit of Richard Hills (pictured), but the five years olds cannot be ruled out according to the stats. I don’t need to tell readers that trainer Barry Hills is in form, because we said the same last week, before he took the 1000 Guineas and Chester Cup.

Zaahid finished second in this year’s Lincoln, but looks exposed near the top of the handicap.

16/1 Trafalgar Bay

Won at this course over a mile last month, also drawn low. He has been penalised for that success, but he has twice won at the course before. His seven furlong record isn’t great, but he has a 5lb claimer on board.

14/1 We’ll Come

Fourth in last year’s race from a similar stall. He travelled well that day and hit 2/1 in-running on the exchanges. He has only won once in 16 career starts, but he should make the frame off a good weight.

16/1 Blue Sky Basin

The talented Ahmed Ajtebi claims 3lb, but Godolphin only have a 12% strike rate this year in the UK.

20/1 Fishforcompliments

Finds winning difficult but ran a blinder to finish second to Mister Hardy at 18/1 on his reappearance. Seven furlongs is probably too sharp for him, but at the weights he looks to hold a good each-way chance.

Freddie Tylicki carries our money and he is more than capable.

In 1999, Great News won this with a 5lb claimer on board – Adrian Nicholls.

FRIDAY UPDATE: Fishforcompliments is now a 16/1 chance, having had the Newcastle form boosted by Mister Hardy at the Chester May Meeting. Still a generous price.

20/1 Giganticus

Another one for Barry Hills, but was disappointing last time out.

16/1 Arabian Spirit

The consistent son of Oasis Dream has done well on the all-weather, but will probably find seven furlongs on the sharp side.

16/1 Mr Macattack

Very unexposed but has only run on the turf once before. He has won three times over seven furlongs but should be outclassed on Saturday.

Recommendation:

5pts each way @ 20/1 Fishforcompliments (Victor Chandler, 1/4 odds, 4 places)

Prices correct as of 7 May 2009.

bookies.com is the best place to compare antepost horse racing odds:

Totesport Victoria Cup Betting

John Doyle Buckhounds Stakes Betting

Saturday’s Ascot Card Odds

Epsom Oaks Betting

Epsom Derby Betting

We were on the money last weekend, selecting 16/1 Hennessy as our bet for the Bet365 Gold Cup. Hennessy was a great example of antepost betting value, because AP McCoy’s mount was sent off at 13/2!

And so to the flat season, we have the Stan James Guineas weekend coming up at Newmarket. The majority of prices are sure to be shorter on Saturday, so today is the best day to have a wager.

The 2000 Guineas is the first ‘classic’ of the season, which saw a thrilling finish last season between Henrythenavigator and New Approach.

Aidan O’Brien has won five of the last eleven runnings of this race over the Rowley Mile.

7/2 Delegator

At 7/2 we have to oppose the Brian Meehan-trained Delegator. At Bookies Blog, we do well to steer clear of favourites, with the exception being Expresso Star. 

Delegator won the Craven Stakes impressively, but faces much tougher opposition if he takes his chance on the firmer ground this Saturday. The market support suggested that Delegator was better than when fifth in last year’s Dewhurst.

In any case, Jamie Spencer likes to come from behind, so you can almost guarantee that the odds will get bigger in-running. If you’re a favourite backer, I’d look to bet at odds of at least 8/1 during the race.

7/2 Rip Van Winkle

The 6/4 favourite disappointed in the Dewhurst Stakes, which looks like the key 2000 Guineas trial. Johnny Murtagh gave him an easy ride, but he ran on with credit at the end. It looked like a schooling, but that won’t console favourite backers! Should fare better.

Rip Van Winkle was 10/1 last month, but Kieren Fallon prefers Mastercraftsman.

9/2 Mastercraftsman

Will stay the mile and is a tough colt but Murtagh opts for Rip Van Winkle.

The Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere probably came after a tough campaign, so he can be excused his 4/9 reverse. He’ll like faster ground and the form of the Phoenix Stakes looks exceptional, where he beat Bushranger and Art Connoisseur over six furlongs. Every chance if ridden handily. 

9/1 Evasive

Sir Michael Stoute is another trainer with a great record in this race, and he thinks that Evasive holds a strong each-way chance. He worked well over seven furlongs with Ryan Moore and will certainly be shorter than 10/1 on the day. 

The Horris Hill Stakes isn’t a strong Guineas Trial, but winning jockey Christophe Soumillon was very happy with Evasive’s win.

12/1 Sea The Stars

The son of Cape Cross ought to do better over further, and is generally a 10/1 chance for the Derby. John Oxx might decide to wait for the Irish 2000 Guineas, in which case he won’t be 20/1 – currently available at Ladbrokes.

14/1 Cityscape

Takes the same route as the 2007 winner, Cockney Rebel (25/1). That means we can’t afford to discount Cityscape on the basis that he hasn’t appeared in a Group One race before.

Beaten one length by Vocalised in the Greenham Stakes, but he wasn’t race fit. Seven furlongs may have been too sharp.

14/1 Gan Amhras

Jim Bolger runs Intense Focus at Longchamp. Gan Amhras beat the Dewhurst winner in the Goffs Million, but will be seen to better effect over the mile. He is Bolger’s Derby horse, and the Galileo colt could be in the same league as New Approach.

20/1 Ouqba

Supplemented by Barry Hills at a cost of £30,000. His son Richard Hills (pictured) rides the impressive winner of a listed Newmarket contest over seven furlongs. May not stay the mile.

22/1 Lord Shanakill

Lord Shanakill and Finjaan were involved in a three way photo finish in the Dewhurst, so at bigger prices they should both be considered.

Lord Shanakill has been placed in some cracking two year old contests but has never raced over a mile before. Completed a good piece of work at Ripon the other day and Jim Crowley will be on board. 

33/1 Finjaan

Backed over the weekend from 33/1 into 25s. The market support is crucial and Finjaan should run a big race, but Richard Hills rides 20/1 Ouqba for his father. With doubts over the market leaders, it is no wonder that punters are looking towards the talented outsiders.

Never raced beyond seven furlongs, but stayed on well in the Dewhurst. Has been working well and trainer Marcus Tregoning is excited.

33/1 Ashram

Beat the below-par Wingwalker at Newmarket in October, who has since died. Ted Durcan was happy with the last workout and Godolphin had the option of running Shaweel.

50/1 On Our Way

The Henry Cecil trained colt has some good two year old form and is a course and distance winner.

50/1 Monitor Closely

Perhaps better suited to ten furlongs.

66/1 Zafisio

Paul Blockley won a Group One at Saint Cloud with Zafisio last year, but he will prefer softer ground. 

66/1 Pure Poetry

Third to Delegator last time out and hard to see the form being reversed.

200/1 Imperial Guest

Is working well at home and won’t have any problems with the ground. Although he finished last in the Craven, he could be the one to pull off a Stubbs Art, third last year at 100/1.

250/1 Ocean’s Minstrel

His last win came in a poor listed event.

Recommendation:

2pts each way @ 9/1 Evasive (Stan James, 3 places, 1/4 odds)

1pt win @ 25/1 Gan Amhras (Victor Chandler)

Also:

2pts win @ 20/1 Sea The Stars (Irish 2000 Guineas, Ladbrokes)

bookies.com is the best place to compare antepost horse racing odds:

Stan James 2000 Guineas Betting

Stan James 1000 Guineas Betting

Epsom Derby Betting

Irish 2000 Guineas Betting

The UAE Oaks is only classified as a listed race, but it still contains more prize money than the Group 3 races on Thursday’s Nad Al Sheba card.

It will be televised on Sky Sports 3 and run over 1m1f on the dirt surface.

The field met in the UAE 1000 Guineas on 6 Feb over 1 furlong less, but So Shiny ran out a comfortable winner at 16/1.

She is unsurprisingly the 2/1 favourite, but there are a few negatives to take into account. She ran awkwardly and had everything her way. If she does get an easy lead, it would be a great bet in running.

Devotee is 5/2 and is the mount of Frankie Dettori. She got turned over at 1/3 in the Guineas but was practically pulled up. The vet has cleared her to run and she should put up a better show. You couldn’t discount Devotee from the Godolphin team – watch the money before the race.

11/2 Earth Living is well drawn in 3 and will appreciate the extra furlong. A good each way bet.

7/1 Sos Brilliante travelled freely last time and is clearly a moody type. May run better now without the visor.

Ever Loved and Esta Bailando are discounted, but the maiden Fire Sale could spring a surprise at 16/1. Ryan Moore is on board and the stable is in better form. Don’t be put off by the 6 next to her name – she was cramped for room in the Guineas. Drawn in 8.

bookies.com is the best place to compare horse racing odds:

UAE Oaks Betting

Zabeel Mile Betting

Al Quoz Sprint Betting

Antepost Dubai World Cup Betting