Sky Sports Racing’s ambassador Hollie Doyle shares her thoughts on the six mounts she will be riding at Newmarket this Saturday, outlines her picks for the weekend’s Classic races, and gives a preview of the Ascot Trials Day that takes place on Friday. Among the six rides slated for Betfred 2000 Guineas Day, I am partnered with a promising filly from Archie Watson’s yard in the Listed Oddschecker Ellen Chaloner Stakes. She starts at 1.10 and offers a nice chance for a quick win.
The star of the day, however, is Paris Babe, also at 1.10. The filly showed a lot of potential in her first run in the Fillies’ and Mares’ Championships Final at Newcastle on Good Friday. She travelled strongly, staying with the leader for most of the race before being caught near the finish.
Previously trained by Gavin Hernon in France, she handled a step back to six furlongs with ease and looks fresh now that the sun is out. Her official rating sits at 89, so there is room for improvement, but she should be able to produce another solid effort. This year’s renewal of the race is considerably stronger than last year’s.
Group‑winner Flora of Bermuda tops the ratings at 111, and proven Pattern performer Rosy Affair also returns for her seasonal debut, adding depth to the field. Another interesting entry is El Bodon, priced at 1.45 in the Class Two Betfred Handicap. He is a classy runner on a good day and boasts a respectable turf résumé, including a second‑place finish in the Greenham Stakes as a three‑year‑old for my husband Tom (who rode for Marquand).
His most recent run in the Sprint Final at Newcastle was below his best, yet he demonstrated his class with back‑to‑back wins at Kempton over the winter for Jane Chapple‑Hyam. The horse that many will be keeping an eye on is Andrew Balding’s Double Rush, the likely favourite in the field. He caught my eye at the Craven Meeting at Newmarket and looks like a future Group sprinter. Even with a five‑pound penalty, he remains well‑handicapped and could dominate the contest.
Carrying a high rating in a competitive field is never easy, and that is exactly the challenge facing Military Academy in the Boodles Handicap (4.45). The colt impressed for John and Thady Gosden last year and has continued to run well for his current trainer Jane Chapple‑Hyam, most notably with a close third in the Winter Derby. His best performances have come on soft or heavy ground, so the forecast of good going could suit him if the weights ease a little. Eve Johnson Houghton launches Kesta’s campaign in the Turners Handicap (4.10).
I have never ridden Kesta, but he recorded three victories last season, including a win at Nottingham in early October at this level. It remains to be seen how sharp he will be after a break since the end of October, yet his versatility on different ground types gives me confidence that he can produce a respectable run. Advancing is a big, well‑built horse who struggled with the two turns at Wolverhampton last month, but the conditions in the National Stud Handicap (5.55) should be more to his liking. I enjoyed a nice ride on him at Kempton, where his natural galloping style shone over a mile.
Trainer Marco Botti has given him the stamina to stay the distance, and I expect him to settle comfortably and finish strongly. Charlie Johnston’s Thunder Wonder steps into the Betfred Suffolk Stakes (2.20) carrying a low weight after a promising run at Musselburgh earlier this month – his second start since being gelded. He proved his ability over nine furlongs at Edinburgh last summer when he won on a rating of 92, so if he can replicate that form he should be a serious contender. Looking ahead to Saturday’s Betfred 2000 Guineas, I would not be surprised if Aidan O’Brien celebrates his eleventh victory with Gstaad at 3.35.
The colt has plenty of experience, has already shown his class on the Rowley Mile, and is a proven stayer. He finished second in the Dewhurst at Newmarket last autumn before stepping up to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar, so a lack of a prep run should not hinder him. At longer odds, John and Thady Gosden’s Oxagon could try to repeat his Craven Stakes triumph with a strong performance, while I hope my husband Tom can extract a good run from William Haggas’s promising four‑year‑old Needle Match, who finished fourth in the Greenham. The Betfred 1000 Guineas on Sunday may turn into a showdown between Karl Burke’s Venetian Sun and Ballydoyle’s striking filly True Love, both priced at 3.35.
Venetian Sun has been to the gallops at the racecourse and possesses the speed required for a Classic win, whereas True Love, the Queen Mary winner from last summer, impressed me with a commanding seven‑furlong victory at Leopardstown and should stay the mile comfortably. Turning to the Royal Ascot Trials on Friday, the Group Three Longines Sagaro Stakes (2.35) could be a springboard for Tom Clover’s promising stayer Tabletalk. The horse ran well in defeat in the Group Two Red Sea Turf Handicap at Riyadh in February and may have improved enough to beat the seasoned Sweet William and Group One star Caballo De Mar.
I also have an eye on Clive Cox’s colt Coppull in the Group Three Commonwealth Cup Trial (3.10). He was a close runner‑up to the favourite Wise Approach in the Middle Park Stakes last year, losing by less than a length. I think Rossa Ryan’s mount can develop into a top‑class sprinter this summer. For the latest updates, follow Sky Sports on WhatsApp – you’ll get breaking news, video highlights, in‑depth features and expert analysis.
Godolphin’s Wise Approach set a high benchmark after his Group One breakthrough at Newmarket, and a solid performance from Aidan O’Brien’s reliable Brussels should confirm that form. Finally, I am curious to see how Remmooz performs in the Listed Membership At Ascot Paradise Stakes (3.45) for trainer Owen Burrows.
The four‑year‑old claimed a Listed victory at Newbury in September and was backed up by a runner‑up finish for Volterra in the Doncaster Mile, so it will be interesting to watch the Blue Point progeny against strong competition. Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.