Well the day is finally here, the first classic of the year, to think that this time last year we were having doubts about how good Frankel was. This year the hype is about Aiden O'Brien's Camelot. A great support card and supporting meetings at Goodwood and Thirsk to look forward to. Also a big well done to Graham Lee who rode two winners this week, his first since switching to the flat. Without further ado onto today's racing.
2:35 - Qatar Bloodstock Jockey Club Stakes
MASKED MARVEL attracts the eye first up here after breaking the course record when winning the St. Leger last year at Doncaster. He went on to disappoint in the Arc when it was most likely too short for him in distance. His participation today relies heavily on the ground drying out which it shouldn't do over night. AL KAZEEM is a bit of a bridesmaid at the top level, however the only time he has encountered soft ground he was disappointing. But that was in his first run and can be forgiven. His best hope looks to be for a place today though. BLUE BAJAN won at Sandown last year but this will be much to short for him and he will have a bigger target down the line. FIORENTE is another that looks a bit short in the top class category and today looks tougher than he has experienced before. He is open to improvement and will need to show it if he is going to land the spoils today. MEANDRE ventures outside of France for the first time today and is good enough if he handles the ground but 2/1 is plenty short enough for a horse who isnt proven on going like this. If he handles it then he could win easily though. QUEST FOR PEACE beat Arctic Cosmos last year but all his best form is on faster ground than today and is easily opposed as is SADEEK'S SONG who is yet to encounter ground like this. That leaves us with confirmed mudlark DUNADEN who won the Melbourne cup back in November and went on to win the Hong Kong Vase the next month. His early form in France is all on soft and heavy but is in very useful races which is why he is fancied to make his first visit to England a winning one.
3:10 - Qipco 2000 Guineas
BORN TO SEA is closely related to Sea The Stars through Urban Sea, and his half brother needs no introduction at all. He lost his second race by one and a half lengths but it was revealed after the race that he had tore a muscle and did well to finish so close to Nephrite. BRONTERRE is a very buzzy sort and the preliminaries wont help him tomorrow and neither will the step up in distance. If he can remain calm before the race and throughout he will have a huge chance, but its more likely that the ground will be good to firm. POWER wont have any worries with the ground and the distance should be no problem at all, Ryan Moore gets on well with him and has to be one of the leading chances today. His stable mate is the hot favourite for this race and has been for some time. Of course I talk about CAMELOT who won the Racing Post trophy easily, compared to some others in the field he is relatively inexperienced and there are major doubts about the ground for him. FRENCH FIFTEEN beat ABTAAL last time out by a neck but in all you have to question how strong the French form is. The most I can say Olivier Peslier's mount is that he ticks the ground box. CASPAR NETSCHER was a top two year old last year but there are major doubts about him staying the mile here, especially in testing ground, even though he has won in similar conditions. FENCING is inexperienced but is probably better than he has shown thus far, if he handles the ground he could well be the surprise package in the race this year. TOP OFFER has only had his single run but was very impressive when winning it, if he can handle everything today he shouldn't be too far away from the principles. TRUMPET MAJOR comes here race fit after destroying the Craven field here last month when giving weight all round. There is a doubt that he will handle really testing ground but last time out he looked a very much improved horse. If he progresses again then he could well be the winner. TALWAR won a Listed race well at Lingfield first time out so is another that comes here race fit, he has won on soft ground at Sandown so the going shouldnt really be too much of a problem. Connections supplemented him into the race for £30,000 and its clear that you dont do that for a day out. He could well come up with a shock today and is today's selection at a juicy price.
4:55 - Qatar Racing Newmarket Stakes
Frankel will have a racecourse gallop today at 12:30 and his full brother races later in this race. NOBLE MISSION won nicely on very testing ground at Newbury last time out, the time before that he lost on his debut at Yarmouth to a very smart horse in SWEDISH SAILOR who unfortunately wont be going to post today. STENCIVE looks a bit outclassed today unless he improves markedly on his debut. PRINCE ALZAIN is experienced but has pretty much all his form on the fibresand, if he transfers his form to the turf then he could go close but looks one to avoid today and MISTER MUSIC looks exposed now. MICHELANGELO is thrown in here and the son of Galileo may be better good enough to win first time up but looks very much up against it. MARINERS CROSS won the Wood Ditton here last month and looks like the step up in trip will be ideal. The ground also shouldn't be a problem which is why he is today's selection.
Nap - Mariners cross
NB - Dunaden
I shall try and put more races up later, but as for now i'm off to bed, I hope everyone has a successful day and you find a winner or two through my guidance. Happy Punting
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