1000 & 2000 Guineas Previews

The first two English classics of the season take place this weekend at Newmarket, with the 2000 Guineas taking place on Saturday and the 1000 Guineas taking place on Sunday. The best three year olds will take each other on over a mile in these races, with the boys hitting the track on Saturday, followed by the girls on Sunday.

In recent years, Aidan O’Brien has dominated these two races, and look to have a strong hand again this season. However, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him go home empty handed this season, and instead it could be the North of England celebrating a famous weekend for Yorkshire.

2000 Guineas – Saturday 3:35

The gorgeous looking Elarqam will fly the flag for Yorkshire in the 2000 Guineas, and in his two wins last season he could not have been any more impressive. Both of his runs came over seven furlongs, but on both occasions he left the impression that the trip of a mile would bring out even further improvement from him.

He won a traditionally strong maiden at York in September by nearly four lengths, before taking a step up in class to land a Group Three at Newmarket just over two weeks later. Again he did it nicely, winning by just over two lengths and coming away from the field towards the end of his race, further emphasising that he will relish the additional furlong he has on Saturday.

Favourite for the race looks set to be Gustav Klimt from the Aidan O’Brien yard and he has already had a run this season. He won a listed Guineas trial at Leopardstown last month and just like Elarqam everything we have seen from him so far suggests he will relish the additional furlong that he will also encounter for the first time on Saturday.

1000 Guineas – Sunday 3:35

Laurens will fly the flag for Yorkshire on Sunday in a race that is dominated by Aidan O’Brien and Charlie Appleby at the top of the market. Laurens has won over this course and distance already and that came on her final start of last season when she won the Group One Fillies Mile. Prior to that she won a Group Two over a mile at Doncaster, so she is one horse in the race that is sure to get the trip.

She has won three of her four starts so far, with her only defeat coming on a trip across the waters to France. There is no doubting she has the talent to go up against the big guns from some of the powerhouses of British racing, something she will have to do this weekend. The big operations dominate the betting, with Aidan O’Brien and Godolphin leading the charge, but Karl Burke’s filly looks capable of upsetting the odds here.

Yorkshire have two genuine chances in the two big races this weekend with Elarqam and Laurens, with two wins sure to bring a huge boost to racing in that area.

Top prices at time of writing Elarqam 5/1 and Laurens 9/1 both with Black Type, so a £5 double could land you a tidy £300.