15:40 Newmarket

Saturday 1 May 2021

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:4016:1516:5017:25

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

Off time: 15:43 | Winning time: 1m 35.69s

(15)

Battleground¹⁷⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 112| BF

9/2

Chesham and Vintage winner last summer who wasn't seen to best effect (caught too far back) when staying on for 3 lengths second in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (1m) final start. Likely more to come.

Form: 5112-

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(14)

Chindit¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 113

12/1

Bombed out in Dewhurst but that's his sole defeat in 5 starts, leaving impression 1m is sure to suit when leading late on in Greenham at Newbury. Stable had several go well in this down the years.

Form: 1119-1

(1)

Devilwala¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 111

100/1

Smart effort when fourth in Dewhurst here last autumn but that's comfortably his best run to date, beaten 5½ lengths into fourth by Master of The Seas in Craven on C&D return. Would be a shock winner.

Form: 12748-4

(5)

Legion Of Honour²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: David Egan| T: R Varian| OR: 104

80/1

Confirmed turf debut promise when landing odds in Newcastle novice in November and shaped very well when ½-length second of 4 to Megallan in listed race back there (1m) 29 days ago. More to come.

Form: 21-2

(3)

Lucky Vega²¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 116| BF

12/1

Ready winner of Group 1 Phoenix at the Curragh last August. Met trouble when behind a few of these in National (7f) and back on song when second in Middle Park here final start. Stamina an unknown.

Form: 12152-

(2)

Master Of The Seas^h¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 112| CD

6/1

Turned over at short odds by Naval Crown on Meydan return but showed his true colours with hood added when quickening up well to win Craven over C&D last month. The choice of Buick from yard's trio.

Form: 114-21

(12)

Mutasaabeq¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: C Hills| OR: 108| C

6/1

Course debut winner at 2 who looked really good when bolting up in small-field conditions race back here (7f, good to firm) 18 days ago. Subsequently supplemented for this. Not to be underestimated.

Form: 1-1

(13)

Mystery Smiles¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S De Sousa| T: A M Balding| OR: 102| BF

66/1

Very useful colt who proved his stamina for 1m when good 3¾ lengths third of 10 to Master of The Seas in Craven on C&D return. Yard won this last year but surprise if he can stage a repeat.

Form: 1133-3

(11)

Naval Crown¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: A Kirby| T: C Appleby| OR: 111| BF| D

50/1

Improved form when readily making all in 1m listed race at Meydan in February by 1¾ lengths from Master of The Seas. Backed that up when second in Free Handicap here 17 days ago. One of 3 for stable.

Form: 133-312

(7)

One Ruler¹⁸⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 114| BF| CD

10/1

Beat Van Gogh by 1¾ lengths to win C&D Group 3 last October and just as good when ¾-length second to Mac Swiney in Futurity at Doncaster a fortnight later. Buick looks elsewhere but still respected.

Form: 21312-

(4)

Poetic Flare²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 109

16/1

Wrapped up his juvenile campaign with a 7f Leopardstown Group 3 success and reappeared with win in 2000 Guineas Trial there last month. Will stay 1m and capable of better still.

Form: 101-1

(10)

Thunder Moon²⁰³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 117| BF

11/2

Looked potentially high-class when overcoming trouble to beat Wembley in National Stakes last September. Possible excuses when behind that rival in Dewhurst and remains a top prospect.

Form: 113-

(9)

Van Gogh¹⁸⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 114| D

20/1

Runner-up 3 times in Group company before finally getting job done at pattern level in Criterium at Saint-Cloud (1m, heavy) in October. One of 3 solid contenders for yard seeking eleventh win in this.

Form: 262121-

(8)

Wembley²⁰³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 118

13/2

Didn't win a maiden until his fourth start, but improved in leaps and bounds in the autumn, chasing home Thunder Moon in National before finishing ahead of that rival in Dewhurst.

Form: 322122-

Non-Runners

(6)

Albadri⁵⁹

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam J: Hollie Doyle

Forecasts

Battleground (9/2), Thunder Moon (11/2), Master Of The Seas (6/1), Mutasaabeq (6/1), Wembley (13/2), One Ruler (10/1), Lucky Vega (12/1), Chindit (12/1), Poetic Flare (16/1), Van Gogh (20/1), Naval Crown (50/1), Mystery Smiles (66/1), Legion Of Honour (80/1), Devilwala (100/1), Albadri (200/1)

This looks a particularly open renewal. THUNDER MOON was behind Wembley in the Dewhurst but had been very impressive when beating him in the National Stakes prior to that and is taken to provide his trainer with a second successive British Classic win after Galileo Chrome's Leger triumph last autumn. Battleground and Godolphin-pair Master of The Seas and One Ruler are others likely to have a say.