Guineas & Jumps Season Start
It was at this time last year I put up Field Of Gold and Desert Flower for both Guineas, and so I’m having another go this year!
2000 Guineas
The Gosdens were pretty unlucky not to win the 2024 2000 Guineas with Field Of Gold when you consider what he did prior and what he’s done since. But that was just the way the race unfolded on the day. I think they might have a horse to make amends next season though.
Publish is a horse who has had people talking since his debut. He should have won on his first start, no doubt. The best horse in the race by a margin, he got trapped on the rail for ages before eventually getting out and coming 4-wide. Somehow, he almost ran down Pacifica Pier, and, in the circumstances, it was a brilliant effort. Making amends next time, he comfortably beat Catullus, who is a solid enough yardstick.
Publish’s next run was going to be the Solario, which is a tried and tested route for John Gosden. However, the rain scuppered his plans, so he went to Haydock the following week instead. He was the best horse in that race as well. Settled in last, he quickened up really smartly to take the lead at the furlong pole. For one reason or another, he hung quite badly and looked unbalanced in the final half furlong, losing momentum and giving the race to Bow Echo.
That rival has since gone on to frank that form by winning the Group 2 Royal Lodge.
I am confident that Publish is a better horse than Bow Echo and considering he’s 20/1 compared to the latter’s 10/1, this is a nice bet to be sitting on over the winter.
Recommended Bet
Back Publish @ 20/1
1000 Guineas
As is often the case, Aidan O’Brien dominates the head of the market for the 1000 Guineas. Precise is the one at the top and even at 4/1, I think she’s worth backing. What she has done since her debut is brilliant. Her temperament is faultless and no matter how the race pans out, what she does is the same.
She settles, she gets herself into the race, quickens and hits the line hard. That’s the recipe. There doesn’t seem to be a chink in her armour, and I don’t see how anything else is going to lay a glove on her at a mile in May.
I would imagine Diamond Necklace could well head to the French 1000 Guineas after she won the Marcel Boussac and True Love wouldn’t have the stamina to fend off Precise. We’re dealing with a special filly in Precise and even though 4/1 isn’t a big price for a race in May, if she gets there, she’ll be near even money.
Recommended Bet
Back Precise @ 4/1
Jump Season Start
This is the first month of the jumps season proper and I’d like to pinpoint a few horses to keep an eye out for. Whether they’ll run this soon or not I don’t know, but these are a few to look out for.
Vanderpoel was an exciting novice hurdler last season, winning twice before blowing out in a Grade 2 at Kelso. That was too bad to be true, and he reportedly bled, so that is a run to write off. He was an impressive winner of a PTP before moving to Ben Pauling and reading a recent stable tour, he could be even more exciting as a novice chaser.
The Haldon Gold Cup is a race that Paul Nicholls targets almost every year. I don’t see this time around being any different with Kalif Du Berlais. He’s a supremely talented horse who jumps extremely well. The two-mile chase division doesn’t have much strength in depth, and he is definitely one who can step up to the plate.
Haiti Couleurs has a couple of big race options at the start of the season.
Having won the Irish Grand National in April, he is a horse firmly on the up. Stamina is clearly his strong suit, and I’d love to see him in the Betfair Chase. That test would really suit him. But the Coral Gold Cup is another option and given his handicap experience, it would be an understandable route. Either way, I’d like his chances in whichever of those he lines up in.
I aim to continue with this throughout the season as well as the big race ante post bets, as I’m hopeful to unearth more winners for you than just in the ante post races.
Alex Peperell
