Newmarket: 2000 Guineas Preview

Time Stamp: April 29, 2022 1:16 PM

All eyes will be on Newmarket this weekend for the running of the 2000 Guineas – the first flat racing Classic of the season.

Fifteen runners will head to post on Saturday afternoon, and we’ve taken a closer look at every runner in our 2000 Guineas Preview.

Berkshire Shadow

Berkshire Shadow won his first two starts, including the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot but then disappointed with three poor runs, including a long way behind Native Trail in the Dewhurst.

He’s not sure to appreciate the step up in trip and looks very much against it in this field.

Boundless Ocean

Trained in Ireland by Jim Bolger, Boundless Ocean has won just one of his five starts when narrowly winning a Leopardstown Maiden earlier this month.

His trainer knows what it takes to train a Classic winner, but Boundless Ocean looks to lack the class to trouble the market principals here.

Checkandchallenge

Checkandchallenge has won both his career starts – beating the useful looking Aasser at Wolverhampton on debut before winning the Listed Burradon Stakes at Newcastle.

However, he’s yet to run on turf, and it’s a big ask for him to switch surfaces while also taking on high-class rivals.

Coroebus

Coroebus looks like a potential high-quality horse and looks good value against his stablemate and current favourite Native Trail.

He’s won two of his three starts and possesses a blistering turn of speed – it would be no shock to see him fly home as they come out of the dip at Newmarket on Saturday.


Dubawi Legend

Dubawi Legend chased home Native Trail in the Dewhurst at Newmarket in October before putting in a disappointing effort at the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar.

If he can bounce back to the form of his Dewhurst performance, then he should certainly be in the places.

Eydon

Trained by Roger Varian, Eydon pulled off a shock when landing the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket earlier this month.

Course form is a huge positive, and he’s proven at this distance – he looks overpriced when still open to more improvement.

Light Infantry

Light Infantry has won both his starts to date, but this is a big step up in class and a step up in distance.

He has the aid of Jamie Spencer in the saddle, though, so expect him to arrive late on the scene with the aim of nabbing a place.

Lusail

Lusail landed the July Stakes and Gimcrack Stakes last year before disappointing in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.

He looked back to form, though, when 2nd in the Greenham earlier this month, but he’s an individual that may thrive more as a sprinter than a Guineas type horse.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg is trained by Aidan O’Brien, who already has ten 2000 Guineas victories.

He’s won all three of his starts, including the Futurity at Doncaster and is potentially a middle-distance star in the making – it would be no shock to see him go very close under Ryan Moore.

Native Trail

Native Trail was one of the top two-year-olds of last season, winning all four starts and showed that he’s in excellent form this year with a dominant success in the Craven Stakes over this course and distance earlier this month.

The one they all have to beat on Saturday.

Perfect Power

Perfect Power possesses plenty of speed and has won five of his six career starts, including Group 1 contests at Deauville and Newmarket.

Stamina for this mile trip is the big question mark, but he could shock them all if he does stay.

Point Lonsdale

Point Lonsdale was highly-touted as a two-year-old, winning his first four starts before disappointing behind Native Trail in the National Stakes.

He has to bounce back from that run, and the step up in trip isn’t sure to suit.

Royal Patronage

Royal Patronage was kept busy last season and won three of his starts and was 2nd behind Native Trail at Sundown back in June.

He disappointed in the Futurity Stakes at Doncaster on soft ground, but he’s reportedly strengthened up over the winter and could run well for a long way here.

Tacarib

 

Tacarib is one of the outsiders of the field, with one victory from three starts.

He takes a massive step up in class here, and it would be a big shock if he was to get involved.

The Wizard Of Eye

Wizard Of Eye landed a Class 5 Maiden at Newbury last summer but has since struggled, including when 5th of six runners in the Greenham this month.

Another who it’s hard to make a strong case for.

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