2000 Guineas 2017

The buzz is around Churchill but I’d wait till we see a few more maidens as we will see a few more over 7 and 8 furlongs. Aiden seems to have more sprint and miler types these days which should narrow the likely candidates.

Churchill is in the Tyros stakes tomorrow and is very short at 1/2 Fav.

Obviously this is looking like a penalty kick in the eyes of punters but there are two promising colts in attendance and they are probably being overlooked.

Currency Converter won nicely on debut and could be anything. I read today that someone doesn’t rate the horse because he won at 20/1 first time up. That doesn’t put me off but the horse has a strange sort of action with a bit too much flailing going on for my liking. Maybe that was greenness but I would rather see him again to find out.

I’ll have a tiny bit on Alexios Komnenos at 14/1. Again, I saw him rejected because he was 50/1 on his debut but he didn’t seem to fluke it, winning easily, and the 4th and 5th from that race have won since.

Hope Churchill gives a good show for Darren but at 14/1 vs 1/2 there is no value in the fav facing a couple of horses unbeaten and obviously reasonably well regarded by time they are aiming here.

Thought this Eqtiraan who won today at Ascot was quite impressive

big imposing type

Sire got a mile and dam was bred to get at least that far so should have no problem stepping up in distance

Sire Helmet a rising star as well

I am siding with Godolphin’s Blue Point for the 2000 Guineas.

It wasn’t a great race he won last time and he was red hot 3/10 Fav but I have rarely seen a horse sew any race up before coming off the bridle.

He was pushed clear to win by eleven lengths and it was hard not to be impressed.

I like the make of this Shamardal colt and to me he will train on at three.

Normally Godolphin are poison for the Guineas but the operation has had a shake up and we may see some improvement as changes are made.

With Caravaggio having stamina and training on questions to answer and Churchill not as far up the tree as some seem to feel in my eyes, Blue Point may well be the play at 14/1 and we will find out that today.

Mehmas sets a good standard today under his 3lb penalty and is a huge price at 6/1. Blue Point looks the horse for the future though and I am hopeful he is the Guineas value at 14/1.

2000 Guineas Blue Point 14/1 to win

thejudge1 wrote:

Surely this Whitecliffsofdover must have a shout- a rather grand looking type it has to be said.

Ahh, but will he handle the bluebirds?

Andy4Fingers wrote:

I backed Blue Point to win the 2000 guineas @ 14/1 prior to his Richmond Stakes defeat. I was surprised he was favourite for the Richmond, even taking into account his previous race demolition job of a relatively weak field, but think he came out of it with more credit than he went in and I’m surprised his price has increased to 20/1.
A head defeat to Mehmas, a comparatively experienced group 2 winner, on only his third start is not to be taken lightly in my eyes and Intelligence Cross finishing three lengths back gives a gloss to the form. I think some more big race experience for this horse would be beneficial and the Prix Morny should be very interesting if all the potentials line up.

I felt it made no sense that bookmakers went 20/1 Blue Point and 10/1 Mehmas after the Richmond.

Mehmas won and conceded 3lbs but this was Blue Point’s first real test at the top level and he ran a huge race. He looked the more likely to improve of the two colts and in my opinion he has a much better chance of getting a mile than the Hannon colt.

I like Eqtiraan as a type but for me the concerns can be seen in the replay of the race here:-

http://www.tdn.premiumtv.co.uk/streaming/watch/RacingUKFlashVOD/partnerId_166/videoFileId_15606796/clipId_2615771/index.html

The immediate worry is the high head carriage and slightly cocked at an angle position. He seems keen enough and overall looks like he runs with the choke out for most of the way. He does finish his race off well enough but I just wonder how it would pan out over a mile at Newmarket if running in the same style. I do prefer a horse who can settle in behind and come with a run when looking at Guineas contenders.

Eqtiraan was sire Helmet’s 11th winner but I don’t know how much stamina we will see from this stallion and how they will train on. The Racing Post rated him 86 for this debut win and that’s a pretty good start, with improvement pretty much guaranteed next time.

I would like to see him race again, preferably over 7f to see if I could visualise him winning a Guineas.

You’ve got a nice price on Churchill Daz, I took 8’s happy with that at this stage.
Reading the Peace Envoy thread, I decided to take a peak over at the exchange and left with a £2 bet on Eqtiraan at 210. He beat Rivet on debut and must have an engine to do what he did in the Solario and still end up in third spot, the winner South Seas is a top price 20’s and Eqtiraan is very immature mentally and if they can settle him for next year he could have a ton of improvement in him. He’s highly thought of and has entries for the Royal Lodge and Dewhurst but did not take up his Champagne assignment but I’m hoping it’s a case of looking after him.