QIPCO 2000 Guineas Preview

CAMELOT is all the range ahead of the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday May 5.

Aiden O’ Brien’s young stable star is as short as even money to romp up the Rowley Mile for the first Classic race of the 2012 Flat season.

Camelot shot to favouritism for the race all the way back in October after landing the Group One Racing Post Trophy in consummate style at Doncaster, beating Zip Top and Fencing (who re-opposes here) by just over two lengths.

And his position in the market has strengthened further in recent weeks following upbeat reports from O’Brien about his progress at Ballydoyle.

Last year’s renewal of the race will still be fresh in many peoples memory’s when the stalls open on Saturday afternoon and despite Camelot’s clear favouritism, it is unlikely that race goers and television spectators will witness a repeat of the blitz performed by the world class Frankel twelve months ago.

Nevertheless, this Montjeu colt appears to have bags of ability and a sizeable touch of class, which should see him begin to fulfil his major potential as a three year-old.

And knowing O’Brien’s reputation at priming his horses for the big occasion, it will take a lot from the rest of the field to lower Camelot’s colours at racing’s headquarters.

Fencing can probably be ruled out to win the race based on that aforementioned line of Doncaster form, but his odds of 25/1 could turn out to be superb each-way value if able to get relatively close to Camelot again.

His official rating of 111 should put him in the mix for a place assuming natural improvement has been made from two to three and John Gosden is usually good at getting his charges ready first time out.

Born To Sea from the John Oxx yard was surprisingly turned over when a fancied odds-on favourite at Leopardstown last October but he could be a dangerous challenger to Camelot if the race is run to suit.

He will be suited by the likely fast pace at Newmarket, something he didn’t get when losing to Nephrite in Ireland and can put his turn of foot to good use if able to get a handy toe through the first half mile.

Top Offer is next behind Camelot and Born To Sea in the betting and a lot is anticipated from Roger Charlton’s raider.

He only ran once as two-year-old but showed a lot of talent and potential when landing a decent looking fifteen-runner affair at Haydock and he has a lot of scope to be high class at three.

Power caught the eye on a couple of occasions last season and represents a decent second string for Aiden O’Brien.

He is another horse who could find conditions to his liking at Newmarket and can also be involved in the shake-up, along with Trumpet Major and French Fifteen, the latter returning impressively to win at Longchamp just a couple of weeks ago.

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30/04/2012     © Frixo 2026