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Timeform predicts 'away' wins in 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas

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Ireland and France have the likely winners based on ratings, while two of Godolphin's contenders are over-priced on form...

The prizes for the two Newmarket Classics could both be heading overseas this weekend, according to ratings gurus Timeform.

They have the Irish-trained New Approach, the current [3.1] favourite on Betfair, at the top of their 2,000 Guineas pecking order, whilst French raider Natagora, current second choice in the Betfair market at [5.5], brings the best form into the 1,000.

Kieran Packman, Timeform's Communications Manager, commented: "New Approach confirmed himself as the leading European juvenile of 2007 when winning the Dewhurst on his final start. We're firmly of the opinion that his beating of Fast Company and Raven's Pass at Newmarket is the key piece of form with Saturday in mind.

"However, although Jim Bolger's charge clearly deserves top billing, he's perhaps not quite as formidable as his unbeaten record might suggest.

"He's obviously highly strung, and come this weekend he'll have to partake in more drawn-out preliminaries than he has so far. He's certainly entitled to be favourite on what he has achieved, but there seems little mileage in current odds of around [3.1].

"Fast Company has been friendless in the market since the turn of the year, as the vibes from his new owners, Godolphin, have been largely negative. His Dewhurst effort makes his odds of [14.0] look very big though, and the nature of his run there suggested the step up to a mile would benefit him.

"We took the view that Raven's Pass's run in the Craven upheld the Dewhurst form and John Gosden's colt remains a potentially top-class colt. The time figure he recorded when winning the Solario was an excellent one.

"As for the 1,000 Guineas, Natagora sets a fairly stiff standard and shaped last time as though she'll stay another furlong, which she's bred to in our opinion.

"With Listen injured and Zarkava staying in France, she has the best form on offer. Of course, it's hard to pick holes in the unbeaten fillies Infallible and Muthabara, and both could find the requisite improvement come Sunday.

"At this stage, strictly on ratings, Laureldean Gale, likely to represent Godolphin, looks over-priced at [24.0], her second to Proviso in August franked by that filly's subsequent effort at Ascot, albeit Andre Fabre's filly disappointed on her reappearance on Sunday."

Timeform Ratings - 2,000 Guineas Contenders

New Approach 127
Fast Company 126
Raven's Pass 125p
Rio De La Plata 120+
Ibn Khaldun 119+
Henrythenavigator 115
Jupiter Pluvius 114p
Stimulation 114p
Strike The Deal 113
Scintillo 109
One Great Cat 108
Alfathaa 104p
Moynahan 104p
Dream Eater 104
Plan 97p
Perfect Stride 97p
Fireside 97p
Stubbs Art 94
Bahamian Kid 54p

Timeform Ratings - 1,000 Guineas Contenders

Natagora 116
Laureldean Gale 114
Infallible 112p
Muthabara 112p
Savethisdanceforme 110p
Saiorse Abu 108
Nahoodh 107+
Royal Confidence 107
Spacious 106p
Kitty Matcham 104p
Nijoom Dubai 104+
Lush Lashes 103p
Halfway To Heaven 103
Max One Two Three 102p
Lady Deauville 102
Spinning Lucy 101
Francesca d'Gorgio 95
Psalm 83P