Sky Sports Racing’s ambassador, jockey Hollie Doyle, shares an in‑depth look at the six mounts she will be riding at Newmarket on Saturday’s Betfred 2000 Guineas day, while also offering a preview of the weekend’s Classic races and the Ascot Trials Day that will be broadcast from Friday’s meeting. One of the highlights of her card is the filly from Archie Watson’s yard, Paris Babe, who starts at a very attractive 1.10 in the Listed Oddschecker Ellen Chaloner Stakes on Saturday. Paris Babe is a promising youngster who has already shown a great deal of stamina and class.
She made a respectable debut in the Fillies’ and Mares’ Championships Final at Newcastle on Good Friday, staying on strongly and travelling like the winner before being caught in the final stages. Her previous trainer, Gavin Hernon, campaigned her to a win in France, and the step back to six furlongs should suit her well now that the weather has turned milder and she looks healthier in the sunshine. Although her official rating of 89 suggests she still needs to improve, the filly has the pedigree and the recent form to deliver a competitive run.
The overall quality of the field this year is markedly higher than last year’s renewal. Group‑class performer Flora Of Bermuda tops the ratings at 111, and the proven Pattern runner Rosy Affair is also back for a seasonal re‑appearance, indicating that the race will be fiercely contested. Another intriguing entry is EL BODON, who goes off at 1.45 in a Class Two Betfred Handicap.
Despite the relatively long price, he is a genuine talent with a solid turf record, including a second‑place finish in the Greenham Stakes as a three‑year‑old for Hollie’s husband, Tom Doyle (who rides under the name Tom Marquand). His most recent effort in the Sprint Final at Newcastle was below his usual standard, but he has previously demonstrated his ability by winning back‑to‑back races at Kempton during the winter for trainer Jane Chapple‑Hyam.
If he can rediscover that form, he could be a serious contender. The race also features Andrew Balding’s Double Rush, who is likely to be the favourite. Double Rush impressed Hollie during the Craven Meeting at Newmarket and appears to be developing into a Group‑level sprinter.
Even with a five‑pound penalty, he remains well‑handicapped and could dominate the field if he continues his upward trajectory. In the Boodles Handicap (4.45), Military Academy carries a high rating into a competitive field. Trained by John and Thady Gosden last season, the colt showed promise, and under his current trainer Jane Chapple‑Hyam he has been placed in several notable races, most recently a close third in the Winter Derby. The forecast calls for good to soft ground, which suits Military Academy, as his best performances have come on softer surfaces.
A slight reduction in weight could give him the edge he needs to finish strongly. Eve Johnson Houghton’s KESTA makes his debut in the Turners Handicap (4.10).
Although Hollie has never ridden him before, KESTA proved his ability by winning three times last season, including a victory at Nottingham in early October at this same level. While his sharpness after a break since the end of October is uncertain, he is known to handle a variety of ground conditions, and Hollie is optimistic about a solid run. ADVANCING, a large, powerful horse, struggled with the tight turns at Wolverhampton last month but should thrive in the National Stud Handicap (5.55) where the course layout is more forgiving.
Hollie previously won on him at Kempton, where his long stride and stamina allowed him to settle into a comfortable rhythm over a mile and a half. Trainer Marco Botti has placed him in a race that should suit his stamina, and the softer ground could play to his strengths. Charlie Johnston’s THUNDER WONDER will contest the Betfred Suffolk Stakes (2.20) off a light weight after a promising run at Musselburgh earlier in the month.
This is only his second start since being gelded, and he previously won over the nine‑furlong distance at Edinburgh with a rating of 92. If he can replicate that performance, he should be well‑placed. Looking ahead to the main event, Hollie predicts that Aidan O’Brien could secure his 11th Betfred 2000 Guineas victory on Saturday with Gstaad (3.35).
The colt, a son of Starspangledbanner, boasts a strong resume: a second place in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket last autumn and a commanding win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar after stepping up in distance. The lack of a recent run should not hinder him, given his proven ability on the Rowley Mile.
At longer odds, John and Thady Gosden’s Oxagon may try to replicate his Craven Stakes triumph with a big performance, while Hollie hopes her husband Tom can extract a good run from William Haggas’s promising four‑year‑old, Needle Match, after a solid fourth in the Greenham. The Betfred 1000 Guineas on Sunday could turn into a duel between Karl Burke’s Venetian Sun and Ballydoyle’s robust filly True Love (both 3.35). Venetian Sun has been seen galloping at the racecourse and possesses the speed required for a Classic win, while True Love, last summer’s Queen Mary Stakes winner, displayed the stamina to see out a mile with a dominant seven‑furlong victory at Leopardstown. On Friday, the Group Three Longines Sagaro Stakes (2.35) at Ascot – part of the Royal Ascot Trials Day and streamed live on Sky Sports Racing – offers a stepping‑stone for Tom Clover’s promising stayer Tabletalk.
Tabletalk ran admirably in defeat in the Group Two Red Sea Turf Handicap at Riyadh in February and could improve enough to challenge established stayers such as Sweet William and the Group One winner Caballo De Mar. Clive Cox’s colt Coppull is another horse to watch in the Group Three Commonwealth Cup Trial (3.10). Coppull finished a close second to the favourite Wise Approach in the Middle Park Stakes last year, losing by less than a length. Rossa Ryan believes the colt can develop into a top‑class sprinter this summer, and the trial could be a springboard for that progression.
Fans can stay updated on the latest sports news, video highlights, feature stories and in‑depth analysis by following Sky Sports on WhatsApp. In the broader context, Godolphin’s Wise Approach continues to set a high bar after his Group One breakthrough at Newmarket, and a strong showing from Aidan O’Brien’s reliable Brussels would further cement that standard. Elsewhere, Hollie is intrigued by the prospects of Remmooz in the Listed Membership At Ascot Paradise Stakes (3.45) for trainer Owen Burrows.
The four‑year‑old secured a Listed win at Newbury in September and was subsequently runner‑up to Volterra in the Doncaster Mile, demonstrating his ability to handle a mile distance. As a son of Blue Point, he possesses both speed and stamina, making him a compelling candidate for the Ascot contest.
Overall, Hollie Doyle’s insights provide a comprehensive snapshot of the key horses, their form, and the tactical considerations that could shape the outcomes of Newmarket’s 2000 Guineas day, the 1000 Guineas, and the Ascot Trials. Her experience as a Sky Sports Racing ambassador adds credibility to her analysis, and her enthusiasm for the sport shines through as she looks forward to a weekend of high‑quality racing.