2000 Guineas 2020 Tip And Preview

The racing season is currently on hold thanks to the Coronavirus. A number of possible return dates have been floated, including mid-May. I won’t be holding my breath though because Covid 19 might have other ideas. The prevailing public mood will determine when racing comes back and at the moment there is still lots of resentment over Cheltenham. The BHA and in Ireland the HRI have handled things as well as possible so far. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said about a couple of prominent trainers. This is a time for the sport to pull together. If some try to force a return it could do terrible damage to racing’s image in the short and long term. Anyway, for a bit of a distraction here is Dave Stevos’ 2000 Guineas 2020 tip and ante-post preview. 

2000 Guineas 2020 Tip Ante-Post

The 2000 Guineas should be going ahead this Saturday but unfortunately that won’t be happening. Instead, the race has been postponed to a future date. At the moment, we haven’t had one prep race to gauge whether horses have wintered well and trained on during the off season. As a result, this preview is based solely on 2yo form. The ante-post favourite for the race is the mighty Pinatubo. I was at the Curragh for his National Stakes win and he was extremely impressive. Charlie Appleby’s son of Shamardal won 6 from 6 last season and while his final start here over 7f wasn’t quite as good as his previous efforts, the ground was soft.

He still beat Arizona by 2L that day and he also hammered him by almost 10L that day at the Curragh. If it comes up good or better for the 2000 Guineas it is hard to see anything getting close to Pinatubo. Arizona is trained by Aidan O’Brien and he is a 2 time winner from 7 starts. A son of No Nay Never, his biggest win came on quick ground at Royal Ascot over 6f. He ran an absolute blinder in the Juvenile Turf at the Breeders’ Cup on similar ground over a mile. The way he stayed on that day suggested that he certainly has potential over a stiff 8f at Newmarket, particularly if the ground is on the quick side.

Light Could Shine For Fabre

The biggest threat to Pinatubo could come from another Godolphin owned son of Shamardal. Earthlight is based in France with Andre Fabre, a trainer regular readers will be familiar with thanks to Waldgeist. He too is undefeated, after 5 starts, and he too has course winning form in the book. His win came over 6f though and he has yet to race beyond that distance. He is out of a New Approach mare though, so stamina ought not to be a major issue on pedigree. The manner of his win at Newmarket back in September suggested that going up in trip would be a positive and he certainly has place claims at least at around 10/1 if turning up.

Palace Pier is a totally unexposed type who won his maiden and novice races at Sandown in great style. Injury robbed us of the chance to see the son of Kingman upped in class and he is undoubtedly an exciting prospect. However, the form of his two wins last season looks decidedly modest. He will need to improve over 30lb to get within shouting distance of a peak Pinatubo on their 2yo form. He is only a 14/1 shot because of who trains him and at those sort of odds he isn’t very tempting.

Lyons’ Charge Looks A Big Price

One horse that the market has maybe overlooked a little bit is Siskin. He too brings an undefeated 2yo record into the new season, moving from Listed into Group 1 company with no issues at all. He is 16/1 because of his antics at Newmarket when withdrawn in the Middle Park. Siskin lost it in the stalls and that does raise some questions about his temperament. However, there is no doubting the son of First Defence’s ability and if he has trained on and his mind is right, he could go well in this if the ground is anyway decent.

Another Irish raider, Mogul, is one horse who is going to have no issues getting the trip. Another Ballydoyle inmate, this son of Galileo is 3 from 4 with all his runs coming over a mile. His sole defeat came in the Vertem Futurity at Newcastle when he finished 4th behind Kameko. Maybe the all-weather didn’t suit as well as turf and back on grass he is one to watch closely. He could turn the form around with Kameko on decent ground. However, chances are he will be more interesting stepped up in trip and he is only 12/1 with some firms for the Epsom Derby.

Al Could Go Well For Hannon

Of those at much bigger prices, I really like the Richard Hannon trained Al Madhar. He won his only start last season, beating Al Suhail a shade cosily here on the July Course (7f). The horse he beat has since hacked up in a Novice and was placed in a pair of Group 3s at the backend of the season. He is now rated 112 and the 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 11th and 12th placed horses in that Newmarket maiden have all won races since.

Al Madhar has a pretty nice pedigree and is by a top class sire in Siyouni. Picked up for 200k guineas as a yearling, his Galileo dam was effective at 12f+ and she is related to a couple of German Group 3 winners over a mile. I thought he showed a very willing attitude under Jim Crowley to score on debut. He gave the impression there was plenty more in the tank. Of those at bigger prices, he definitely looks interesting for the trainer that pulled off a shock win in this with Night Of Thunder in 2014.

2000 Guineas 2020 Tip

All things considered, Pinatubo looks impossible to oppose on all known form. He looked a special horse last season, especially on good ground. If he stays sound and has improved at all over the Winter he could show them a clean pair of hooves. However, there is no value in backing him at odds on now. Siskin could be a big danger if he rediscovers his best form from last year but his antics behind the stalls last year are off putting. 

Earthlight is another one with each way claims if staying the trip. However, I would much prefer to take a chance on Al Madhar at 33/1. He really impressed me with the manner of his debut win and the form has worked out very well. Given the doubts about the race even going ahead, stakes should be kept small.  At 33/1 Al Madhar is our each way ante-post 2000 Guineas 2020 Tip.

 2000 Guineas 2020 Tip Ante-Post: Al Madhar e/w @ 33/1