Guineas Weekend 2026

The annual pilgrimage to Newmarket to see the first Classics of the season saw a pair of classy winners and a weekend of fair weather. 9 races on the Saturday felt a bit heavy when considering the Sunday card was poor with a pair of maidens and a small field handicap coming after the filly's Classic. Still, 2000 Guineas hero Bow Echo produced a performance that left all there in Cambridgeshire feeling they had seen something special. The unbeaten son of Night Of Thunder wasn't the biggest in the field and hadn't seemed to have grown as much over the winter as some of his opponents but he's still a well put together individual. The field was blown apart but we mustn't get carried away by the performance just yet as George Boughey had his colt timed to perfection and it can be argued that he raced up the favoured part of the track. It can't be envisaged that the draw alone made a difference to the result though and it will be interesting to see how the winner gets on around a bend at Ascot next month. 10 furlongs should be within reach further down the line. Gstaad dominated the paddock before the race and left the impression that he will improve for the effort. The son of Starspangledbanner looks a hard horse to get fit. He will take some stopping at the Curragh this weekend and one would imagine connections will fancy their chances of getting close at Ascot for all turning the tables completely looks a tall order. A drop to 7 furlongs wouldn't be out of the question given his speed and a race like the Prix Jean Prat could be ideal later on in the season. Distant Storm was a long way back but he will improve for the run and raced on the wrong part of the track. The Godolphin colt may be better round a bend as he's a horse with a turn of foot and the stable was under a bit of a cloud at the time. As for the 1000 Guineas on the Sunday, True Love towered over her rivals in the prelims much the same way that Gstaad had done the day before. The difference here was that the tall daughter of No Nay Never came into this off the back of a prep run and looked pretty fit for her outing here. She walked around with the better fancied stablemate Precise and duly made her look diminutive. The latter didn't look to have grown much over the winter for all she isn't an overly small filly. She didn't run a bad race from a poor draw and can be better judged on her run next time out, which may be in Ireland. True Love duly quickened up like a classy filly in the final 2 furlongs and can go down as an impressive winner. She allayed all stamina concerns here and carried on her love affair with English tracks. She is unbeaten in this country. The latest Classic winner from Ballydoyle should take all the beating wherever she goes this season with races like the Coronation Stakes and Falmouth being on the agenda for sure. Of those in behind, it would be an idea to keep Venetian Sun onside as she'll improve for dropping back down in trip and could be a threat still in the Commonwealth Cup whilst Abashiri is clearly a talented filly who will improve with time on here side. 

Ascot - Saturday 9th May

I will be at Ascot today for a fiendish days action but there's a huge runner Victoria Cup to unpick. 

13:45, Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% British EBF Fillies' Handicap

Radiant Beauty 5/1, 2pts each-way (3 places)

James Owen had a decent Chester in mid-week and now sets his sight on Berkshire. Radiant Beauty progressed quickly last year and showed her versatility between turf and all-weather when just touched off at Newmarket in the Autumn off the same mark as she races off here. She'll improve for her run at Listed level last time out and should go very well under James Doyle. 

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14:20, Carey Group Victoria Cup

Storm Free 12/1, 1.5pts each-way (6 places)
Ten Pounds 22/1, 1pt each-way (6 places)
Golden Mind 28/1, 0.75pts each-way (6 places)

With 29 runners it may pay to have a few stabs at this. Storm Free is still lightly raced and counted as progressive for James Tate. A winner at Leicester off a 4 pound lower mark in October, he shaped like a horse to keep onside of but was just badly positioned on seasonal debut at Newmarket last month and should come on for the run. The stable know how to win big Saturday races at this track. Ten Pounds has moved to Joey Ramsden and is now looking fairly handicapped after a quiet time of things. He was 3rd in the Wokingham off a pound higher mark last year and arrives here off the back of a nice prep run and has a 7 pound claimer involved. Warren Fentiman will also claim off Richard Fahey's Golden Mind. The 5 year old may not hide much from the handicapper but he's a classy sort and was 4th in the International over C&D last year. He showed he's as good as ever when finishing 2nd on his most recent start and has claims at a big price.