Ante-Post Betting: The 2000 & 1000 Guineas

Events / Wayne Bailey / 28 April 2009 / Leave a Comment

Wayne Bailey takes a look at the main contenders for the first two classics of the season...

Saturday - stanjames.com 2000 Guineas Stakes (201st Running) (Group 1) (Entire Colts & Fillies) Cl1

Delegator

He finished off last season with a reasonable fifth in the Dewhurst Stakes and his Craven win a couple of weeks ago was an awesome spectacle - but are punters getting carried away after that race? With a vastly inferior field, it would have been a major shock had he not won in serious style so I'm not keen on taking [5.8] about a horse that's not exactly proven against serious opposition. There's also the danger of the ground coming up fast; in which case Meehan has said he'll withdraw the horse. All that considered, I'm happy to click pink in the ante-post market at the current price.

Mastercraftsman

I mentioned before on these pages that Mastercraftsman cost me a packet in France when getting turned over at [1.6] in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere back in October, but with the benefit of hindsight I think he was tiring after a terrific season and I'm willing to forgive him for that race. As expected, his price drifted a little following Delegator's win in the Craven and he's now third favourite on Betfair at [6.6]. Aidan O'Brien is starting to come into form (although Yeats was a big disappointment on Sunday), and I believe Mastercraftsman has serious claims - so I'm happy to be a backer at that price.

Rip Van Winkle

On Tuesday, O' Brien revealed that Rip Van Winkle had suffered a stone bruise in his foot - and
while he's still hopeful that the horse can run, it's definitely a worry for those punters who backed him as low as [4.7] some time back. He drifted in the betting on Monday, and at the time of writing his price is out to [7.8]. He disappointed in the Dewhurst, and with a few niggling doubts still around I'd recommend taking a watching brief here.

Evasive

It's been a while since Golan's win in 2001, but Sir Michael Stoute has a good record in this race with a total of five winners down through the years. Timeform have Evasive down as an improver and I'd certainly agree. He's shown versatility on different types of ground and I'll have a few shekels on in the place market.

Sunday - stanjames.com 1000 Guineas Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies) Cl1

Rainbow View

There were strange happenings on Betfair on Monday as Rainbow View drifted out to [9.0], but John Gosden described the filly as still very much on target for Sunday and told the press that the drift was 'bizarre'. Her price has settled back down to [2.55] which looks about right. She hasn't put a foot wrong in her career thus far, and was especially impressive last-time-out in a particularly strong renewal of the Fillies' Mile at Ascot back in September. She's an immensely exciting prospect and we'll find out if she's the real deal this Sunday.

Serious Attitude

She had a workout at the weekend, and Rae Guest reported her as being in fine form so it's all systems go. She only cost 7,500gns which turned out to be a great deal for her owners! She's been successful in all three starts but hasn't really beaten any stand-out stars as yet, so I'd rather sit on the fence for now and won't be backing or laying her on this occasion.

Cuis Ghaire

I have her down as one of my 2009 flat horses to follow and as mentioned in that article, she needs the ground to come up on the firm side for her to perform. Jim Bolger is still very excited about this horse, and while she has it all to do against Rainbow View, she's definitely worth a bet in the place market - but only if the ground conditions end up in her favour.

Lahaleeb

She's a versatile sort that can handle varied types of ground so there are no real worries on that front. She's had four career wins from ten races and Mick Channon has said that she's a horse that's "crying out for the Guineas mile". She battled back under pressure to take the Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury, and if running to her absolute best, she certainly is capable of placing.