2000 guineas 2018

Don’t waste your money on Wootton Muggins. It was an adequate return after some niggles over the winter but the simple fact is that he’s not coming over for the Newmarket race.

I backed him purely because I felt Godolphin had very little else for Newmarket but it’s backfired because Alex Pantall said after the Fontainebleau that the French Guineas is his next start.

My ticket for Newmarket is filed in Box 13 (Rin Tin Tin) already.

I did Wootton for the French Guineas as cover at 13/2 and after yesterdays race they went 7/2 Wootton and 9/2 Olmedo for that Classic.

I’ve got Saxon Warrior at 20/1 and 16/1, with Gustav Klimt at 33/1, so when one door closes other doors peep open a bit wider.

The full quote from Alex Pantall and Jean-Claude Rouget on runner-up Olmedo are here:-

We had some minor niggles with him over the winter, but
they all cleared in time and I=m delighted with that
performance,@ claimed trainer Alex Pantall. AHe was on edge
beforehand, but he behaved that way on debut and perhaps he
was a little too fresh. Leading was not a problem as he settled
well and Mickael [Barzalona] was patient from the front. He
waited and waited until asking for Wootton=s main effort.
There=s no doubt he has room for improvement and will come
on a lot for the run, both physically and mentally. Faster ground
will not be a problem so we will come back here for the [May 13
G1] Poule d=Essai des Poulains.

Jean-Claude Rouget was proud of the runner-up=s run and
indicated a rematch was on the cards for the front two, adding,
AOlmedo ran a great race. We=ve had a bad winter and I=ve been
unable to prepare my team as I=d have liked so that run was
most encouraging. I think the first and second are two very good
horses, finishing clear of the remainder. We=ll be back in the
Poulains hoping to reverse the result and I don=t think there is
anything to compete with these two.

Sound like Rouget feels the pair have the French Guineas between them.

Looks like Godolphin will yet again play no part in the Newmarket 2000 Guineas and O’Brien will hardly be wetting his pants worrying about the Blue Boys.

Save your money for something else Muggins.

Do you fancy him (sorry if you’ve put this up in previous pages).

Probably a good chance to back with a view of laying i guess.

Much like le brivido earlier i wont be forgiving roaring lion after that, very poor. Gustavs to lose.

Roaring Lion certainly has always shaped like he needs further but the pedigree isn’t massively encouraging beyond 8f. He looks like he wont be a factor in the Guineas at least.
Always easy to get carried away by an impressive trial win this close to the big day, especially when the sun is shining, but does Masar looks a threat.
Expert Eye remains my main hope and a big day for him on Saturday, although worryingly I see the Newbury going remains steadfastly soft despite what is blistering heat here in London today. Hopefully it will dry out a bit and EE has contracted from an opening 6/4 to 8/11 for the Greenham, probably as much to do with a hugely positive write up by Timeform on Wednesday as anything else.

Saxon Warrior Guineas/Derby double my other classic interest and that is a live bet in my view, current top 3 for Newmarket would be in order;
1. Expert Eye
2. Saxon Warrior
3. Masar

Roaring Lion came in rated higher than White Mocha to the tune of 19 lbs. He must have run well below that mark today. If we take Roaring Lion as running to 118 we need to award Masar the mother of all Craven winning ratings.

Masar was last seen running to a RPR of 22, tailed off in an awful looking race in Dubai. He must have run somewhere getting on for 7 stones better today. Crazy or what?

The jockey was saying before racing that Roaring Lion was fit but will come on for the run and the main target is in a few weeks.
If he was to tell the truth he’d probably say he’s here to get fit
Masar was ready to rock and roll today, I’d say Roaring Lion will finish much closer to him next time but I wouldn’t be overly confident of him beating him.

I hate to slag off the flat season but as I said last year when this lot were two year olds, it’s an awful field of milers at 3 and the older generation.

The 2000 Guineas and the Queen Anne are going to be two terrible races when we look back in 10 years time on 2018.

Masar was undoubtedly impressive today but the favourite has blown out and it looked a piss poor field asides from the front two in the betting for the race anyway. Expert eye has blown out already. US navy flag won’t stay. Roaring Lion has now blown out. Saxon Warrior may be suited to further in time but may actually have the class to win this anyway. Verbal Dexterity won’t run. I’m not sure what to make of Elarqam or Gustav Klimt but at least they haven’t popped yet.

Of those that have blown out, I’d have expert eye still in with a shot. Otherwise it’s out of Elarqam, Klimt and Saxon Warrior for me.

The Guineas has never been my race (so early in the season) but even if it was, I couldn’t fancy anything at this stage. I’ll probably have an interest on the day as a viewer but absolutely nothing has me enthused at this stage.

I hope I’m not slated for that opinion but I can’t be the only one thinking the British milers are looking a poor crop for both the three year olds and the older lot? Or am I?

I agree with Ham. We don’t know yet if these three year olds or good or bad and surely a statement like that has to wait til later in the year to see what they turn out like.

P>S BARRAQUERO is huge at 33/1 considering a form line through Nebo!!