A field of 11 colts contest the 2000 Guineas of 2025 on Saturday, 3 May as Newmarket reaches the middle of its three-day Festival. Headquarters has something for every Flat horse racing fan from middle-distance handicaps to sprints as well on the card.
Supporting races include the Group 3 Palace House Stakes and Suffolk Stakes Heritage Handicap. Such variety in the action is part of the appeal of heading to the home of British Flat horse racing.
The Guineas Festival continues after an opening day at Newmarket races on Friday that has smaller fields. Now that the first Classic of the season takes places, there are bigger numbers of runners.
During the build-up to the 2000 Guineas of 2025, we’ve lost some promising horses either to injury or them simply not being ready in time. That doesn’t detract too much from the quality on show, however, with Coolmore, Godolphin and Juddmonte all running at least one colt.
Punters always head to horse racing betting sites in search of backing their favourite in a big event like this. As a Classic has such importance and history attached to it, we just had to ask our experts for their thoughts.
They preview the best of the action from Newmarket’s big day with runners to note in seven of the nine races on the card. Read on and discover their selections below…
2000 Guineas 2025 Preview for Saturday, 3 May
1:10 – Listed 6f Ellen Chaloner Stakes (Fillies & Mares)
Top performance! 🔴⚪️🔵
Unequal Love (Dutch Art) dazzles in the Listed @WilliamHill @BritishEBF Ellen Chaloner Stakes @NewmarketRace ❤️@TomMarquand | @WilliamHaggas | @CPStudOfficial pic.twitter.com/3FKvszO3J8
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 4, 2024
Vadream is the oldest in the line-up aged seven, but still has something to offer and likes it here. Charlie Fellowes’ Newmarket regular could give the ratings topper most to think about. Adaay In Devon, meanwhile, is better than she showed around Bath when behind Vadream last time out and should strip fitter for the outing.
In front of both that day was Frost At Dawn, who did have the advantage of race sharpness over those re-opposing rivals. William Knight’s four-year-old filly is the only other one in the line-up with a mark of over 100. The other four females must improve on all known form to get in amongst their superiors.
1:45 – 6f Heritage Handicap
Haggas has an obvious danger in the aforementioned More Thunder, who is 3lb well-in here like Aramram. Richard Hannon’s horse split the winner and Woodhay Wonder the last day, but now has a string of seconds next to his name. Joe Leavy again takes the ride and 3lb off with his claim.
Karl Burke’s Lethal Levi has a tough ask off topweight and a mark of 109. At the revised weights from the Ayr Gold Cup last autumn, that could bring stable companion Silky Wilkie into calculations at a bigger price. Richard Spencer runner Two Tribes, second over course and distance during this meeting 12 months ago, and the Easterby’s Stanage are others to consider.
2:20 – 1m 1f Suffolk Stakes Heritage Handicap
Hand Of God, who won last season’s Esher Cup and Golden Gates, is the obvious one towards the top of the weights. Harry Charlton’s Churchill gelding is worse off at the weights with Haggas runner Approval from their Royal Ascot encounter. Framing the handicap, meanwhile, is Arabian Light for Godolphin.
Charlie Hills’ GALERON is back from a sojourn abroad, however, and looks a bit of each-way value on the 2000 Guineas 2025 card, based on how he shaped when fourth in the big race two years ago. He’s unexposed beyond a mile and ran well on his UK return when a keeping on two-length fifth in the Lincoln at Doncaster.
It could also pay to look lower down in the weights at the runner-up from 12 months ago, Dutch Decoy. Charlie Johnston’s charge is an eight-year-old now, but has a 7lb lower mark now than then. An extra furlong could also suit David O’Meara veteran Bopedro, who is even older.
2:55 – 5f Group 3 Palace House Stakes
Those runs mean he should be there or thereabouts if Kevin Ryan’s charge can reproduce them. Seven Questions and Beautiful Diamond fought out the finish to this 12 months ago. At the revised weights, Burke’s filly should turn the tables on the 2000 Guineas 2025 card.
Twilight Calls was just behind in fourth and now represents spencer instead of Robert Cowell, who has picked up Seven Questions from George Scott. Whether this training merry-go-round does either much good remains to be seen. No Half Measures probably wants softer ground.
3:35 – 1m Group 1 2000 Guineas 2025
Charlie Appleby has a strong hand here, while Aidan O’Brien just runs Expanded with Twain ruled out in midweek. Field Of Gold impressed when readily accounting for Wimbledon Hawkeye in the Craven Stakes, but looks plenty short enough now stepped up in grade.
Of the remaining Irish challenge, Scorthy Champ is next best for Joseph O’Brien. Any winner of the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes running in the Guineas commands respect. Jessica Harrington hasn’t found much form lately and Green Impact has done all his winning around Leopardstown, so coping with the Rowley Mile may prove a challenge.
4:05 – 1m 4f Class 2 Handicap (0-105)
Early betting shows suggest Knightswood and Insanity are next best, but Lavender Hill Mob caught the eye when running on for fourth in the Cocked Hat at Goodwood last spring. He hasn’t tried a mile-and-a-half yet, but James Owen explores this trip on the 2000 Guineas 2025 card.
It could be a shrewd move as hurdling didn’t really work out for Lavender Hill Mob. Of the others, Lieber Power proved this was his trip last summer and a repeat of his neck second in a Heritage Handicap at York would definitely see him have a say in the finish for Andrew Balding, Oisin Murphy and King Power Racing.
4:40 – 6f Class 2 Handicap (0-100)
Uncle Don looks as though he’s doing more than just framing the weights for his owner companion, however, and has considerable claims of his own. Invictus Gold should go well, meanwhile, with bottom weight American Style also interesting. The early market favours the unexposed Hoodie Hoo after just three career starts.
