Live horse racing blog: News, reviews and replays from Newmarket's Guineas Festival

• Coroebus wins the QIPCO 2000 Guineas from Native Trail
• Khaadem and Buick land Palace House
• Umm Kulthum makes winning return
• Redarna wins Thirsk Hunt Cup at 66/1
• Blackrod denies Value Bet at HQ

All times BST, please refresh for updates

1626: Over and out

There are still two competitive handicaps to come from Newmarket as well as another Grade One from the Punchestown Festival but the feature action at Newmarket is behind us.

As such, I'm going to come up for air and take over some duties from Mr Linfoot who needs a little time to analyse that superb renewal of the QIPCO 2000 Guineas.

His thoughts will be up on the site in the next 90 minutes or so while there will be more tips and previews coming through for tomorrow's QIPCO 1000 Guineas so don't go away.

But it's goodbye from me.

Thank you for reading and enjoy your weekends.

1617: Contact sport

Contact is the favourite for the Read Tony Calvin's Tips on Betting.Betfair Handicap.

He ran well on his return to action at Thirsk and remains feasibly handicapped.

Scarlet Dragon has trotted to post with his jockey running alongside for at least some of the journey. They've now joined the others.

They are off at Newmarket and have just finished at Goodwood. State Of Bliss has the lead from Matchless with nine furlongs to run.

Contact moves up alongside that pair and eases past them but there are still three furlongs to run.

Tritonic is in pursuit with Rhythmic Intent third but neither can get to Contact who wins for Ben Curtis and David and Nicola Barron. He was the 11/4 favourite.

1601: Rock on

Nicky Henderson has won a Grade One at Punchestown but not with Epatante who could only finish third behind Marie's Rock and Stormy Ireland. That race passed me by completely.

A good day for Mulrennan and Dods has got even better since I last checked in at Thirsk as they won another decent pot with Wor Willie.

There's some more 2000 Guineas reaction now, first up is Doyle.

"After half a furlong I was happy. There was one moment when it looked as though I could be caught on a wing and he was quite fresh but I have to say he travelled incredibly strong throughout. There's no reason to think he won't improve from today.

"I was thinking at halfway, this was all going pretty well!

"Around the two there something joined me quite quick and I just asked him a couple of questions going into The Dip and he responded incredibly. If that hadn't happened, I could have afforded to be even cheekier and he might have won even more impressively.

"It's amazing how hard it is to win this race.

"I was a bit emotional pulling up. It's been a tough couple of years, I've had good opportunities but it just hasn't worked out for whatever reason. You have a few years on the sidelines a bit and when you don't win the big races it does frustrate you and when you feel it again, it's incredible.

"He's (Buick) a top class man. He wasn't on board today but I'm sure next time he will be!"

Next is Appleby, again with Hislop.

"First and foremost it's all thanks to His Highness.

"That was always going to be a very hard call for William to get off Native Trail.

"Coroebus is a horse that excited us as a three-year-old. James gave him a fantastic ride. After the Royal Lodge, a few people raised their eyebrows when I brought him back for the Autumn Stakes but I wanted to get him back on decent ground and any sport is about confidence, he gained a lot of confidence in the Autumn Stakes. You sit and wait and keep filling him up and he's got an electric turn of foot.

"I hadn't challenged him too much. We had it in mind to go for the Greenham but I thought did I want to put that challenge to him two weeks before the Guineas.

"On his page you could question whether he could get a bit further but he does take a grip through the race and I don't see any reason to step him up. Being a Dubawi, I don't like to push them too much too soon and he's a horse, dare I say it, who is going to progress through the season. He's a horse that I thought would always progress through the year.

"I'd like to take him to the St James's Palace and take Native Trail to Ireland where he's won before.

"I don't want to sound too cool for school but it's a team effort and I'm just the one here doing the interviews."

1547: Godolphin's Guineas

That is a first 2000 Guineas for both Appleby and Doyle and the latter is now with Chapman:

"Incredible. Super proud of Charlie.

"For once, I'm emotional after riding a big winner. Kingman's Guineas, Barney Roy's Guineas. He's an incredible man to learn from and to work for. I'm very proud to have ridden Sheikh Mohammed a 2000 Guineas winner.

"He has been very relaxed in his work but you always have to worry on their first run of the year. He still slightly travelled a bit stronger than ideal and I had to fetch him back off heels a couple of times.

"I could have sat for a bit longer but something came on my outside, Ryan's I think, and I felt I had to go for him then. The turn of foot he showed was incredible.

"William could see I was emotional and said 'you deserved that one'. We're the best of friends."

There's a rapturous reception as Doyle dismounts in the winner's enclosure.

It's been a good day for Ben Linfoot and his ITV Tips with Khaadem and Coroebus both nominated.

The latter was put up ante-post by Value Bet but it's been a frustrating day for Matt I imagine with a second and fourth (win only) at 28s and 33s I think and Berkshire Shadow finishing fifth having been put up at 80/1 to four places.

Ouch.

O'Brien is speaking to Hislop on Racing TV but there doesn't appear to be any sound* and I can't lip read.

*I may be at fault.

I wasn't! The sound came on as they said goodbye to each other. That interview may get an airing on the main coverage.

1542: 2000 Guineas glory for.....?

Not long to wait.

Momentarily it looked like two groups and that may yet materialise, they're not far apart though. Royal Patronage leads with Point Lonsdale prominent on the near side.

Native Trail moves after Point Lonsdale and is picking up his giant stride.

Coroebus leads though and wins at 5/1 from Native Trail. Luxembourg third. Eydon fourth and Berkshire Shadow fifth.

1537: Middle of the road

"If they split Native Trail is probably on the weaker side but they've been coming up the middle all day and hopefully they're not going to change their minds now," Charlie Appleby tells ITV.

The first of the runners are going behind for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas.

It looks on the Oddschecker grid as though the first four in the betting are all being shortened up by the layers.

Perfect Power has also being trimmed and is 16/1.

It's 33/1 bar those five.

1533: Pit stop

William Knight is asked about Checkandchallenge and found the colt much more relaxed than his trainer:

"I went to pop in and wish him luck and he was fast out snoring.

"He's done nothing wrong, it's a massive step up in a very, very competitive Guineas but we don't know where the bottom of him is. We'll find out more today. Excited.

"It's what we get up for in the mornings. It's a massive ask. Hopefully he runs a lovely race for us all. He's always been the apple of my eye.

"He's done some work up here on the grass gallops and seems to handle it absolutely fine. I'd be confident that he'd be fine on it (grass)."

Paddock expert Ken Pittersen gives us his take on ITV: "I've got to say Native Trail would dominate any paddock.

"The outsider that looked well is Boundless Ocean."

1515: Classic countdown

Native Trail remains the 5/4 favourite with Coroebus back out to 11/2 with Luxembourg steady at 13/2 having drifted this morning. There was support for Point Lonsdale and he remains very solid at 8/1.

It's 20/1 bar that quartet and there's no obvious support for any of the remainder, or at least not enough to bring about a reduction in their odds.

A number of bookmakers are paying down to fourth place and it will be a little surprising if one of those available at double figures doesn't manage to make the frame but pinpointing which one it will be is an altogether harder task.

The runners are in the parade ring and we should soon get the thoughts from the presenters but I don't imagine there will be too many paddock negatives.

Hislop 'is more excited by this Guineas than I have been for years' and will be talking through the field with Dixon and they start with Value Bet selection Berkshire Shadow.

"He's definitely the best two-year-old I've trained," says Hugo Palmer of Dubawi Legend on ITV Racing.

"It's a hell of a race but I'm very happy with him."

On Racing TV, Hislop introduced Checkandchallenge as a Newmarket buzz horse, or words to that effect. They've moved onto Eydon and Dixon thinks he can run well and finish in the first half of the field but he's not keen on Lusail 'who looks like a sprint horse'.

Hislop asks her colleague what will win the Guineas and he says: "I'm sorry but it's Native Trail. The only concern I have is if the race unfolds on the near side and he gets trapped on the inside. Granted an even playing field, I think Native Trail wins the Guineas."

Asked for a paddock pick, he nominates Eydon and that one's trainer, Roger Varian, is with Bell:

"It was a great run last time and he came out of it very well but it's a tough race.

"I'm very happy with him, he's in great form. It (tactics) will be in David's hands, find rhythm and hopefully the horse will finish off strong."

1505: Start the Khaa

Twilight Calls raced in midfield towards the stands' side and was taken a little wide, he picked up quite well but not well enough and was only fourth.

Khaadem (7/1) raced alone in the early stages but was in front for most of the contest and was in front at the line.

Buick making most from stall one there and he was two or three clear with half a furlong to run and that proved to be enough of a lead as he continued Charlie Hills' good run of form.

Chapman asks the jockey if he's concerned to be drawn on the other side of the course in the Guineas.

"No, not at all. The track is riding beautifully," he responded.

A word on Khaadem:

"Plenty of class. He's got some amazing big race pace, he's a very talented horse."

And on Native Trail:

"He came through the trial well, we're here today and very excited."

The places were filled by Existent and Saint Lawrence.

1451: The Twilight zone

The reputation of Twilight Calls regularly preceded him last season and the market often kept the faith despite some relatively underwhelming performances.

He has won three of his nine races (second three times) but has returned a beaten favourite on no fewer than four occasions. He looks like being sent off as favourite once again and I haven't yet relinquished all hope.

Twilight Calls was talked of as a Group One performer on a number of occasions and winning the Group Three Betfair Palace House Stakes could help him towards that level.

Twilight Calls was gelded after his final run last season and appeared to show the benefit of that operation when running out a smooth winner of a course handicap on his return.

I don't think this is the strongest renewal of this historic contest and he rates nap material for his excellent and experience trainer, Henry Candy.

Atalis Boy might just come on for the run Dixon thinks and he goes on to say that this first run over five could be a shock for Saint Lawrence. Neither he nor Hislop drew any conclusions in that segment as they pass over to Luck with the runners down at the start.

Dixon describes Twilight Calls as very much a with or against favourite; he's marginally in the latter camp.

Hurricane Ivor is 'a solid Group Three horse' for Luck and he expects him to run his race.

1437: 'baq among the winners

Zanbaq cedes experience to her rivals and Goodwood isn't the easiest track but she is a very warm order for the Conqueror Fillies' Stakes at 7/4, ahead of Primo Bacio.

The latter should appreciate the decent ground but hasn't always looked the most straightforward ride and the money for the Haggas-trained favourite seems significant; she's got a Coronation Stakes entry and will need to win this Listed prize if she's going to take her chance there.

They are now 9/4 joint-favourites ahead of Bashkirova at 4s.

One or two problems at the start and they're still trying to load the first of the runners into stall 6. They're all in the gates now and racing with Khatwah, who was reluctant to load, slow into stride.

Turning into the straight, the favourites filled the last two spots.

Zanbaq eventually picked up best of the pair but the birds had already flown as the prominently placed Mrs Fitzherbert led home Bashkirova by about three parts of a length.

Zanbaq was third and shaped with very obvious promise for the future whereas Primo Bacio finished last.

The winner was returned at 12/1, ridden by George Rooke and trained by Hughie Morrison.

1432: Caps off to Doyle

Chapman spoke to winning jockey James Doyle as he made his way back to the winner's enclosure.

"I think that's fair to say (that he didn't handle the track).

"He seemed to enjoy just being ridden quietly early as he has been when he's won his races. He just didn't handle The Dip all that well in these fast conditions.

"It's good for the owners and a special mention for Alan Dale who is watching in Dubai and is a really good friend of mine."

And a word on Coroebus.

"He closed off his year with a very nice win on this track and it's hard not to be excited by him. It's a 2000 Guineas and they're very difficult to win but you need a strong traveller and he's a strong traveller."

1415: Heritage Handicap

We've had Betfair's money back race and the next at Newmarket is a money back race with Sky Bet (link above the 1320 post).

I think it's a particularly intriguing renewal of the Betfair Daily Rewards Suffolk Handicap and I'm keen to see how the two at the top of the weights fare as well as outsider of the field Cap Francais.

I'd be more interested in backing Forest Falcon (each-way again, it's a recurring theme with me) at 9/1 with the front-runner angle always a popular edge at Newmarket. Dixon has track reservations about him though as he failed to beat a rival home on his one course visit.

Dhahabi does seem reasonably strong on this return to the track though whereas Movin Time is ominously weak. Dixon believes the latter has 'a good chance'.

Fast Medicine impressed on his return and is well treated as this is an early closer. Also well treated but to a lesser extent is Anythingtoday with both due to race from higher marks in the future.

Fast Medicine's trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam tells Bell: "If they're proper group horses we might be found out as we're a handicapper and they're not.

"That (the hood) seems to have worked, at home he's like a thunderbolt everywhere but at the races he's relaxed."

There is support for Notre Belle Bete who is now vying for favouritism.

Richard Hoiles relays that Dhahabi has been very, very edgy and has been giving William Buick a tough time on the way to post. Dhahabi had two handlers in the paddock but he came close to boiling over apparently and Adele Mulrennan believes he will tighten up for the run. Jason Weaver isn't a fan of his attitude either and thinks there are plenty of negatives.

That has made its way through to the betting ring where he's out to 4s with Notre Belle Bete the new 7/2 favourite. He finished ninth in the Lincoln either side of winning at Wolverhampton and Kempton; it goes without saying that the Lincoln form is rock solid.

Dhahabi missed the break and gave them three or four length start but the pace didn't appear to be strong. Forest Falcon led through the first two furlongs from Lucander and Cap Francais.

Six in a line as they passed the two pole. Cap Francais (22/1) led at the one marker but Turntable tried to close him down and just failed in a messy race.

Notre Belle Bete was third and Forest Falcon fourth.

There was bumping and barging on the far side in behind Cap Francais while Turntable failed to run in a straight line.

1402: Hunt for a winner

The Thirsk Hunt Cup is coming up next and it is a money back race with Betfair Sportsbook (links can be found above the 1306 post).

The front three in the market have all been well enough supported while Delgrey Boy is 17/2 from 10s in the caption that has just popped up on screen.

Astro King was unlucky in running last year and ticks lots of boxes as they say but isn't one I want to get involved with at 7/2. I was more taken with Pisanello but he's shortened up plenty.

Starshiba is expected to be better for the run according to Chris Dixon who is among the ownership group.

Last couple coming forwards.

Astro King is one of the last three which isn't where I'd want to be. Starshiba and Cruyff Turn are the first two, followed by Lion Tower. Inside the last two and spread across the track.

Tight for the minors but no doubt about the winner which is Redarna who came late and wide and won at 66/1.

That's a double on the card for Mulrennan and was trained - and part-owned - by Dianne Sayer. Scenes.

On A Session was second and followed home by Pisanello and Copper And Five.

Down at Goodwood, there's a winner for William Haggas and Steve Donohoe with 2/1 favourite Frantanck.

1358: The Beas knees

Winning rider Connor Beasley spoke to Matt Chapman: "His figures speak for himself last year, he was improving each time.

"He's a big solid unit and the horses are in fine fettle at Mr Dods'. It's great to get a leg up on horses like this.

"He's been showing everything at home and he's just improving by each run. I haven't sat on many Group horses but he feels good underneath me.

"Not really (an advantage to the draw). The pace was further away from me but I broke well and we ran down the middle of the track.

"I think it's okay everywhere."

The form looks solid with market leaders First Folio and Jumby finishing in fifth and sixth while Sky Bet paid down to seventh and that spot was filled by Raatea.

The winning time was 1.10.81.

1346: First can be first

There's a nice, big field for the My Odds Boost On Betfair Handicap and some smart sorts are headed, in the market, by Jumby at 13/2 with First Folio at 7s.

Jumby has the benefit of a run to his name this season.

First Folio was my idea of an each-way play in this (Dixon is keen on Blackrod who 'looks very well' and has a 'good chance') and Oli Bell has just spoken to jockey Daniel Muscutt and trainer James Ferguson who told him:

"He's been in great form since he came back, I think he's done well from three to four."

They are loading but there's still a fair few to go forwards with the clock already past post time.

Asjad represents the in-form James Horton and Dixon believes he's on the right part of the track in stall 6 and he cites the draw as a concern for First Folio.

They race in one group down the centre of the track and Justanotherbottle took them along for a long way.

Blackrod (13/2) collared him on the rising ground though and won well. Tight second.

Above is second from Chairmanoftheboard with Justanotherbottle fourth.

There were two 1pt win selections for Value Bet in that handicap and they finished second and fourth at 33/1 and 28/1.

That's heartbreaking. I hope a few of you were on each-way.

1338: SDS makes Merry

There's a winner for Silvestre de Sousa at Thirsk as Merry Secret obliges at 17/2.

The first race at Goodwood has gone to Notions who was ridden by Saffie Osborne and trained by her father, Jamie.

The winner burst through a gap on the inside to win impressively at 11/2 although the first five were only covered by a couple of lengths in a fairly typical finish for the course.

1320: The Power of seven

Luck and Dixon suggest that Flotus may not have relaxed during the race with the former concerned by her head carriage.

She did rear in the stalls just before the off and perhaps got a little bit too worked up. Whatever happens, Flotus now has something to prove but it's encouraging that she appears to have trained on physically.

The winning time was 1.11.61

Soumillon has spoken to Racing TV: "I was quite happy with the draw, I was just sitting behind the horses I wanted to follow.

"She was a bit off the bridle at the two but when I came besides James she just quickened well and in the end she fights hard.

"She didn't run for a long time so it was a great performance today.

"It (the ground) looks a bit similar to Newbury but the way he (Perfect Power) won last year twice in very soft, a bit sticky ground but I think like all the good horses he can run on every ground. I think he needed that run to upgrade a bit and find his balance a bit. I'm sure today he'll be in great shape.

"He looks more like a sprinter, seven furlong horse but he settles so much better now in races so if we have a good position and go through the last two furlongs covered like he likes to do you never know but at seven furlongs I'd be even comfier."

Fahey adds: "She's had a good long period off. She'd been working well, we've been very pleased with her.

"We were always excited by her last year. In the Sandy Lane she should have won and the form of that race was exceptional.

"Today I was a little bit worried (about the ground) as it's the fastest ground she's every run on but to to be fair to Michael Prosser it's absolutely fantastic ground out there. It's extremely safe out there and beautiful, beautiful ground.

"The plan was to run here and try and get a run into her before York. We're excited."

Grand plans for Umm Kulthum and a big day for Perfect Power with Fahey not concerned about the trip.

"It's the sort of sprint generation taking on the staying generation. We're very happy with him and delighted to give it a go. It's a much deeper race and we'll give it a roll of the dice.

"I think he'll stay. I'm not worried about the mile, I'm just worried about the opposition. When you've got a horse like him at 16/1, you can tell how good a race it is."

1310: Flotus to rule

Hislop rounds up the preview of the runners in the Read Ryan Moore on Betting.Betfair British EBF Kilvington Stakes and tees up Dixon by saying that 'we both fancied Gale Force Maya' but Dixon isn't as confident as he was.

"I must admit I fancied her more but then Flotus walked past me in the paddock and I would be more positive about her having seen her in the paddock and she sets the standard on last year's form," he said.

Simon Crisford is next to face the microphone and says of Flotus: "She's had a really, really good winter.

"I think she's fit enough and she looks like she's got her race face on. She'll be running against the colts for the rest of the year. She's had a good winter and very hopeful for today."

She chased home Tenebrism, 1000 Guineas favourite, when last seen but is unlikely to cross paths with her again with the Commonwealth Cup the short-term aim. The general view is that this is a very good starting point for Flotus.

She is 4/5.

Michael Dods trains Gale Force Maya and he also trains Zuffalo (5/2 favourite) who won the first at Thirsk. The well backed Lakota Lady wasn't beaten far and shaped promisingly enough.

Flotus reared in the stalls but was quickly into her stride, as was Gale Force Maya with Umm Kulthum tracking the pair towards the far side. Gale Force Maya was pushed along passing the bushes but in the centre Tenaya Canyon was the first to go for home.

Flotus soon backed off but Umm Kulthum picked up very well for Soumillon and won by about a head or so from Tenaya Canyon.

Richard Fahey's filly was returned at 100/30 so did attract some late support.

1306: Betfair Barry

Barry Orr has been speaking to Luck: "It's a cracking card isn't it? You'd go a long way to find a better race. The dream is still alive for the two at the head of the market.

"At the moment (in the Thirsk Hunt Cup) Empirestateofmind was 10/1 and is now 7/1, Pisanello was also 10/1 and is also 7/1. There's been a good spread of money because, as you said, it's a money back race.

"Six places in the 1350 (Newmarket) on the Betfair Sportsbook. Bickerstaffe and First Folio have been strong and Tarhib, we've seen some money for her on her first handicap.

"He looks a real smart type Twilight Call and Came For The Dark, second in the race last year, have come in for some good money. I think Came For The Dark will right he wrong from last year, he just got stopped in his run.

"It's an interesting one as Native Trail is 2.38 (11/8) on the Exchange but reached 13/8 on the Exchange yesterday. Point Lonsdale has come in for good support and fast ground and a mile could be what he wants."

1249: Time for a winner

Native Trail, Luxembourg and Coroebus is the Timeform 1-2-3 but their Dan Barber does believe that William Buick will need to manoeuvre Native Trail early in the race with the main pace away from him.

That's reflected in the Timeform pace map which can be found by clicking on the image above the 1230 post.

The O'Brien runners are drawn away from each other as well and both camps will have been working through any number of plans and pace scenarios I imagine.

As ever, tactics are likely to play a key role.

Thirsk kicks off with a restricted novice stakes and there's been a move for Lakota Lady - trained by O'Meara and ridden by Silvestre de Sousa - who opened up at 6/1 yesterday and currently trades at 7/2 ahead of her debut.

There's not currently too much movement ahead of Newmarket's opener with Flotus 5/6 and Gale Force Maya and Umm Kulthum around 4s.

1236: Winning Trail

Michael Prosser has just spoken to Lydia Hislop on Racing TV, predominantly about the ground but some other more general bits and pieces too.

"It's due to get to about 15, 16 degrees, no breeze of any consequence.

"Tomorrow there's a chance that there may be a spot of rain during racing. That's what the meterologists are telling us.

"We didn't water (overnight). We didn't think it dried out very much during the day. By 9pm the temperature was already below one and at that point if you're irrigating, it's already starting to freeze by the time it hits the leaf so we wouldn't have been able to complete it.

"The moisture is still high (on the going stick) and that might be because of the moisture in the frost. That might change during the day.

"It's a great race isn't it? There's a lot of high-class juveniles in it. I'm really looking forward to it and I think the supporting card is fascinating too. That three-year-old eight furlong handicap could throw up anything.

"I was really impressed with Native Trail, not just in the Dewhurst but also here in the Craven. He can only tighten up a bit and improve and that's a pretty frightening thing for his opponents."

1230: Cor blimey

Dixon is still bothered by Coroebus' defeat in the Royal Lodge Stakes and Nick Luck suggests he's got 'quite a round action' and ponders whether the ground will be too quick for him.

Coroebus proved far better in the Autumn Stakes when settled further off the pace and ridden more patiently and that also concerns Dixon who points out that those tactics can prove quite hard to pull off on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket.

There will, potentially, be a strong pace in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas which could help those that will be ridden more patiently and that's demonstrated by Timeform's pace map (along with a tip, trainer quotes and key video replays) which can be found by clicking on the image above this post.

"I don't expect him to beat Native Trail but I can see him running very well at a big price," Dixon says of Dubawi Legend who he believes is overpriced.

He expects the Dewhurst form to stand the test of time.

1212: Get the show on the road

Mark Your Card has just started on Racing TV and I'll bring you any snippets and words of wisdom from the studio and the racecourse.

The first race isn't too far away with Thirsk scheduled for a 1pm start - their card features a typically competitive renewal of the Thirsk Hunt Cup (see the promo below) - with Newmarket due off just quarter of an hour later.

The Thirsk Hunt Cup will be covered live on ITV Racing and Astro King - perhaps a shade unlucky in finishing a close third in last year's renewal - is a warm order at 7/2.

That looks short enough to me given he's 7lbs higher and I'd be more interested in chancing 7/1 second favourite Pisanello for David O'Meara and Shane Gray. The French import showed his best form since arriving from the continent on his reappearance and could have a good deal more in the locker.

He was slowly away at Beverley though and a repeat of that could be dangerous as getting too far behind at Thirsk can prove problematic, as Astro King discovered last year.

Martin Dixon has just described Native Trail's price as 'quite punchy'.

Are you on??

1208: Absent friends

There's a strong undercard at Newmarket as you would expect and it will be interesting to see if a couple of runners can prove that they still have what it takes to cut the mustard at a high level.

It's been a little less than a year since Umm Kulthum last raced which isn't the longest lay-off but the 2020 Cheveley Park Stakes third only ran twice in 2021 and has something to prove on her return.

She's a filly that I had a lot of time for as a juvenile and she 'only' has Flotus to beat in the Listed Stakes which opens the card.

Dhahabi has been off for even longer but also showed considerable promise in his juvenile season and this half-brother to Golden Horn could conceivably be well enough treated for this belated reappearance on a mark of 103.

That lofty rating isn't the highest in the nine furlong handicap with Movin Time 3lbs higher and it will be just as fascinating to see if a gelding operation will help the top-weight fully deliver on his considerable ability.

That duo help to make this a particularly intriguing renewal.

1139: Check mate

The big, powerful stables and owners dominate so many of the big races under both codes and it would be quite a story if Checkandchallenge were to complete his hat-trick.

Trained by William Knight in Newmarket, Checkandchallenge is unbeaten in two starts which came at Wolverhampton and Newcastle at SPs of 11/1 and 15/2.

Those prices don't suggest that a huge amount was expected but he has always been held in high regard by his time and he earned a vote of confidence from John Gosden in the week with the veteran handler describing him in the Racing Post as 'the best-value outsider' having been impressed by his victory at Newcastle.

Checkandchallenge is around 25/1, just behind Perfect Power in the market and the Greenham winner won't lack for help from the saddle with Christophe Soumillon on board, as he has been for his last three victories.

The only blot on Perfect Power's copybook came when beaten in the Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood in a race where Paul Hanagan came in for criticism from some quarters.

Perfect Power isn't short of pace as he showed when beating Go Bears Go (which they'll have to do to get back into the game against Somerset) in the Norfolk Stakes but the way that he hit the line at Newbury over seven offers plenty of encouragement for this further step up in distance.

There are a couple of question marks hanging over Dubawi Legend as he disappointed in America where he was drawn wide and raced keenly. He also failed to settle when chasing home Native Trail in the Dewhurst but was still good enough to hold on to second (having raced prominently) with Bayside Boy and Berkshire Shadow among those behind.

Dubawi Legend reappears in a tongue tie and with trainer Hugo Palmer excited by his chance as he said in the week: "His turn of foot and his change of gear is what’s exciting about him.

"On a rating of 115, he was the joint second highest-rated two-year-old in Europe. Galileo Gold at the same stage was rated 110, so he is the best two-year-old I’ve trained without a doubt.

"He only has to improve 10 per cent and we’re right there on the premises."

1117: Get to the Point!

The layers have been removing the temptation of the (supposed) 'each-way bet to nothing' on Coroebus but Luxembourg has moved the other way and there's a reasonable amount of 6/1 showing on the boards next to the name of the unbeaten son of Camelot.

He emulated his sire in winning the Group One Vertem Futurity Stakes, as did recent 2000 Guineas winners Magna Grecia, Saxon Warrior and Kameko.

It's no great surprise, then, that he's the shortest priced of the Aidan O'Brien runners but as Donn McClean pointed out in his View From Ireland column, O'Brien 'has fielded more than one runner in the 2000 Guineas in each of the last 10 renewals and, on four of those occasions, the most-fancied of his runners according to SPs has finished behind at least one of his stable companions'.

Support has started to come for stable companion Point Lonsdale who was as big as 14s in a couple of places yesterday but is now just a top price of 9/1.

He has more experience than many in the line-up which is no bad thing and he won his first four starts before being turned over by Native Trail at 8/13 in the National Stakes.

He was well beaten at the Curragh but McClean argues that 'there is a chance that we didn’t see the real Point Lonsdale that day' and as a son of Australia, Port Lonsdale should certainly relish racing beyond seven furlongs for the first time in his career.

Both runners feature prominently in the ante-post betting for the Derby with Luxembourg the 10/3 favourite and Point Lonsdale a general 8/1 (10s in a place) as is Reach For The Moon whom he beat when winning the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Native Trail, for the record, is 12/1 for Epsom.

1056: Jack of all trades

We're quite used to seeing sportspeople move on to reality tv shows once their playing days are behind them and some have proved surprisingly adept.

Coroebus, it seems, had already mastered a variety of disciplines at the same time as showing his sporting prowess for the Wikipedia entry reveals that Coroebus of Elis was a cook, baker and athlete and is 'frequently described as having won the first Olympic Games'.

Some talent indeed and his equine namesake is proving very popular with the punters with the 11/2 all but gone on the Oddschecker grid and there's not an awful lot of 5s available either.

Coroebus is a very different sort to his stablemate and his quirks, if you can call it that, led to him being beaten by Royal Patronage in the Royal Lodge Stakes.

Coroebus - and William Buick - set the record straight in no uncertain style in winning the Autumn Stakes the following month when held on to for longer and his supporters could be in for an exciting time once the gates open.

This is what Graeme North had to say in his Watch and Learn column last autumn:

"Coroebus looks a horse who could go places. He’s a different type to his stablemate Native Trail, inclined to travel much more kindly and perhaps for longer on the bridle, and looked a much better horse here held on to for longer than in the Royal Lodge, stone last three furlongs out but comfortably in front heading into the final furlong.

"A timefigure of 94 is fairly ordinary on the face it with the race taking place down the centre as opposed to the rail, but that heads into three figures once his sectional upgrade is incorporated and he looks the sort to relish a very strongly-run race."

Coroebus has proved popular with our tipsters and was advised ante-post by Matt Brocklebank in his Value Bet column and by Ben Linfoot in his ITV Racing Tips.

1032: Going Native?

There will always be people looking to take on a strong favourite and Native Trail is no different.

Frankie Dettori featured on The Opening Show and he believes Native Trail has one or two questions to answer this afternoon.

Native Trail may only have done what was required of him in winning the Craven Stakes at 1/4 but he's already proved exceptional in one area and that is in the length of his stride.

Writing in his At The Races blog, Simon Rowlands said that on his reappearance Native Trail 'revealed that his already extraordinary stride was even longer than previously'.

He went on to explain: " A peak of 27.3 feet, when 24.5 feet is the global average for flat horses, is monster territory and gives Native Trail a clear physical advantage over his rivals in one crucial respect."

Whether he is a monster or not he does give the race a nice shape for those wanting to have a bet as the Punting Pointers introduction emphasises:

"Whether or not you think Native Trail is the second coming, this race is made for each-way betting, and the draw could play a significant factor, with the two classiest runners separated by the width of the track."

It won't surprise regular readers to learn that the Punting Pointers team have a couple of each-way selections at long odds and you can find those tips by clicking on the image above this post.

1018: Classic conditions

Good morning and welcome to our live blog on QIPCO 2000 Guineas day.

It was a cold start for many with a frost reported at Newmarket but the sun is rising ever higher and the temperature is heating up nicely. The weather is set fair and the stage is set for a fantastic day of racing.

The going is good, good to firm in places and there remains just the one absentee at Newmarket from the declarations but there are a few non-runners elsewhere.

Native Trail is the 5/4 favourite for the season's first Classic from stablemate Coroebus and Luxembourg at a best of 11/2.

It's 12/1 bar those three which may suggest that there's not a huge amount of depth behind the front of the market but a look at some of the tipsters would say otherwise as a number of runners at double figure odds have been put up as each-way plays against those at the top of the betting.

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