15:35 Newmarket

Saturday 6 May 2017

All13:5014:2014:5515:3516:1016:4517:20

Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Off time: 15:39 | Winning time: 1m 36.61s

(7)

Al Wukair²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Gregory Benoist| T: A Fabre

11/2

Landed a Group 3 at Maisons Laffitte last month having won both his starts last year. He still looked a little green on his reappearance but won that race a little more convincingly than the winning margin suggests. This will be a sterner test than that affair, both pace-wise and opposition-wise, but his trainer has been bullish about his chances in the build up and he knows what it takes to win this having had two winners in the 1990s and the runner-up in 2015, while owner won this last year. Respected.

Form: 11-1

(5)

Barney Roy¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: R Hannon| OR: 115

7/2

Excelebration colt who took a nice looking fielding apart at Haydock on debut last year. Excellent reappearance effort in a Group 3 at Newbury when beating another highly promising fellow Godolphin runner, Dream Castle. Will enjoy the step back up in trip as his sustained effort to the finish line suggested last time out and the front two finished well clear of the remainder. Looks a big sort and interesting to see how he handles the dip, but should go well and connections think he'll get further than this.

Form: 1-1

(3)

Churchill²¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 122

6/4

Won five times last season, culminating in a Group 1 victory here in the Dewhurst. That form with the likes of Thunder Snow, Blue Point and Rivet along with his 4½L victory over Mehmas in a Group 1 at the Curragh prior to that is the strongest on offer in this contest. He has stayed on strongly in all his races and should have no problem tackling the extra furlong, giving the impression he will get better the further he goes. Looks the one to beat and looks capable of giving his trainer his eighth success in the race.

Form: 311111-

(10)

Dream Castle^h1¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S De Sousa| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 110

8/1

Frankel colt who couldn't have won his debut any more impressively at the Lincoln meeting earlier in the month, putting the race to bed with a devastating turn of foot. Very keen at Newbury on his return and looked green throughout. Still showed his turn of foot 1f out but run down by fellow Godolphin runner Barney Roy. If he's learned from that and can settle better (first-time hood applied), it's not out of the question he could turn the tables with that rival and his turn of foot could be a useful asset.

Form: 12

(2)

Eminent¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: M Meade| OR: 111

5/1

Two wins from two starts, both coming over C&D, improving markedly to win the Craven Stakes last time out. Straightforward type and the fact he's proven around here counts for plenty but some of his rivals perhaps not fully tuned up for the Craven. Trainer has a 20% strike-rate at this course and jockey rides this course particularly well so not dismissed out of hand.

Form: 1-1

(4)

Lancaster Bomber⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 117

14/1

Finished fourth behind Kentucky Derby hope Thunder Snow on Dubai World Cup night when last seen. Excellent runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf race at the end of last season and not beaten far behind Churchill in the Dewhurst when a 66/1 shot on his last start on these shores. Proven around here, stays this trip well and he has more experience than plenty in here. Often under-estimated in the market and while Moore prefers the claims of Churchill, he's not discounted; capable of running a place.

Form: 14522-4

(6)

Larchmont Lad¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: R Hannon| OR: 110

33/1

Improving sort who won a Group 3 here towards the end of last season. Well beaten in the Craven behind Eminent when last seen and in even deeper waters here. Hard to fancy.

Form: 131-59

(1)

Law And Order¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: M Harley| T: J Tate| OR: 104

100/1

Travelled very smoothly in a Listed contest here last month over 1m1f and perhaps struggled to get home. Had previously been successful over the mile in Listed company at Lingfield and yard have turned the corner in recent weeks. Return to this trip should suit but may struggle to mix it at this level.

Form: 583-130

(8)

Spirit of Valor^b,t⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 102

33/1

Yet to race on better ground than good and he could improve plenty for the switch to the forecast good to firm considering he's a son of War Front. Fair effort towards the end of last season in a Group 3 contest at Leopardstown and not disgraced in a Meydan dirt contest on Dubai World Cup night. Should be fit from that and not discounted but Moore prefers Churchill.

Form: 312-8

(9)

Top Score⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J Fanning| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 108

100/1

Won twice over at the Meydan Carnival this year, proving he goes on the likely fast ground he will get here but needs to improve markedly on that level of form. Never got into it after leaving the stalls in pedestrian fashion on his final start over there and that was his only test over a mile so not proven over this trip as of yet. The owners would appear to have stronger claims in Barney Roy and Dream Castle.

Form: 32-3110

Forecasts

Churchill (6/4), Barney Roy (7/2), Eminent (5/1), Al Wukair (11/2), Dream Castle (8/1), Lancaster Bomber (14/1), Spirit of Valor (33/1), Larchmont Lad (33/1), Top Score (100/1), Law And Order (100/1)

It's hard to oppose last year's Champion two-year-old, CHURCHILL, in what looks like a fine renewal of the 2,000 Guineas. His form last year sets him apart from the rest of this field and his trainer's record in the race speaks for itself. The absence of a run under his belt this season would be the only concern and if he fails to justify likely favouritism, Dream Castle could be an interesting each-way contender. He's shown a nice turn of foot on both of his starts and the application of a hood could help him settle under the handling of Silvestre De Sousa, who rides him for the first time. Barney Roy produced a professional display to finish ahead of that rival last time and he could be another Godolphin recruit that could give Aidan O'Brien a thing or two to worry about.