2026 Newmarket Guineas Meeting Saturday Tips – DS
2026 Newmarket Guineas Meeting Saturday Preview
Our three Punchestown bets were bitterly disappointing, especially Ballykinlar. He was given a poor ride and I will not be losing faith in him yet. This is a huge weekend at HQ with the 2000 Guineas on Saturday and the 1000 Guineas on Sunday. Dave Stevos’ 2026 Newmarket Guineas meeting Saturday tips are below.
1.45 Newmarket – Betfred Handicap (heritage)
The one that stands out at a big price in this valuable handicap is Brian. Trained by Stan Moore, David Egan will ride and I think this son of Shaman is more than capable of getting involved here off a mark of 91.
A two-time winner, both over 6f on soft and good to soft ground, he has run with real credit on faster ground before. Last April he was beaten just 2l when fourth behind Big Mojo, Diablo Rojo and Ain’t Nobody in the G3 Commonwealth Trial at Ascot on good to firm and those horses are now rated 117, 101 and 112.
Last time out Brian was beaten just over 5l off 93 in a class 3 handicap at Newbury but he met traffic problems and it looked to me like he could have finished much closer on another day. He got another 2lb back for that run so he’s 4lb lower than when going close at Newbury in October and if he reproduces his Ascot G3 run, he can run into the money here at odds of 28/1.
2026 Newmarket Guineas meeting Saturday Tip: Brian e/w @ 28/1 (4 places) NB
2.20 Newmarket – Suffolk Stakes Handicap (heritage)
It has been a long time between drinks for Ancient Rome (no win since 2023) but he has often threatened to get involved in one of these big handicaps and at odds of 25/1 it is worth chancing that things fall into place for him today.
Last year his best run came at Sandown (1m2f, gd-fm) when he was narrowly denied in third behind Flying Frontier and Sir Busker off a mark of 100. Previous to that he was beaten 6.5l in the Hunt Cup at Ascot off 102 when he met all sorts of trouble in running.
On his only previous visit to this venue, he was beaten 4.5l when fourth in a G3 over C&D, earning an RPR of 109. On his seasonal return at Newbury last month, he was again denied a clear run when beaten 6.5l and the handicapper has given him a real chance now, dropping him to 95.
Obviously, given his propensity to find trouble in running, he isn’t one to be having the farm on but at 25s, a small e/w interest is advised.
2026 Newmarket Guineas meeting Saturday Tip: Ancient Rome e/w @ 25/1 (4 places)
2.55 Newmarket – Palace House Stakes (Group 3)
If he is ready to rock and roll on his seasonal reappearance, and the booking of Ryan Moore suggests that Kevin Ryan thinks he is, Ain’t Nobody is capable of running a big race here at odds of 14/1.
The winner of the 2024 Windsor Castle, he has come up dry since but he showed enough in a couple of runs last year to suggest he can win at this level. One of his best efforts came on his seasonal return at Ascot last April when he was just 1.5l behind Big Mojo in the G3 Commonwealth Trial.
However, the run that makes him of major interest came in August when he ran a cracker to finish a 1.25l second in the Nunthorpe at York behind Asfoora, a 6/1 shot here. He had valid excuses for his final three runs of last season (6f/soft ground) and if he is in the same form as he was on his seasonal reappearance last year, Ain’t Nobody can go well at odds of 14/1.
2026 Newmarket Guineas meeting Saturday Tip: Ain’t Nobody e/w @ 14/1 (4 places) NAP
3.35 Newmarket – 2000 Guineas Stakes (group 1)
It is fair to say that this doesn’t look a vintage renewal of the 2000 Guineas. Gstaad, who was a very good 2yo, is the favourite but he doesn’t look invincible and I’m hoping that we might see a bit of a shock here.
Given that it looks so open, I am going to back two at decent odds. The first one I like is the Roger Varian trained son of Starspangledbanner, Avicenna. Unbeaten as a 2yo, with both wins coming at Doncaster over 7f (including a listed heat), he returned to action over C&D 16 days ago.
In that G3 he was keen, held up in rear, a bit short of room and in the circumstances, he did well to finish just 2l behind Oxagon in second. I think he’ll improve loads for that run and I also think he’ll be much better suited by a big field and, hopefully, a much stronger early pace. At odds of 14/1, he’s our first e/w bet.
Bigger Price
At a much bigger price, Padraig Dawn could go well for rookie handler Charlie Pike. We backed this son of Saxon Warrior at Newcastle last time and he was only denied by a neck in that Listed contest. To be honest, I thought he was going to win comfortably a furlong out but he was still green and just didn’t go past the winner, who got first run.
Both this lad’s starts have come on the AW but there is no reason why he shouldn’t act on turf. His sire won this race in 2018 and his dam won on grass (including a Group 1) so he is certainly bred to be better on turf. As I said earlier, this doesn’t look the strongest renewal so at odds of 501, Padraig Dawn is also worth chancing e/w.
