Sky Sports Racing’s ambassador, jockey Hollie Doyle, shares a detailed preview of the six mounts she will ride at Newmarket on Saturday, as well as her thoughts on the weekend’s Classic races and a valuable Trials Day at Ascot on Friday. Among the six rides slated for Betfred 2000 Guineas Day, one stands out: the filly Paris Babe, entered by Archie Watson in the Listed Oddschecker Ellen Chaloner Stakes at 1/10.
Paris Babe made an encouraging debut in the Fillies’ and Mares’ Championships Final at Newcastle on Good Friday, tracking the winner for most of the race before fading in the closing stages. Previously a Group winner in France under trainer Gavin Hernon, she is expected to relish the step back to six furlongs. With the sun finally breaking through, she looks glossy and healthy, although her official rating of 89 suggests she still has work to do before she can truly compete at the top level. The overall field for the day looks markedly stronger than last year.
Leading the ratings is Flora of Bermuda, a Group‑class winner rated 111, while Rosy Affair, another proven Pattern performer, is also making a seasonal return. Both horses add depth and quality to the contest, making it a compelling watch for punters and racing fans alike. Another intriguing entry is EL BODON, offered at 1/45 in the Class Two Betfred Handicap.
Despite the long odds, EL BODON has a respectable turf résumé, highlighted by a second‑place finish in the Greenham Stakes as a three‑year‑old for Tom Marquand (Hollie’s husband). His most recent run in the Sprint Final at Newcastle was below his usual standard, but he has demonstrated his class with back‑to‑back victories at Kempton over the winter for trainer Jane Chapple‑Hyam.
The horse many consider the main rival is Andrew Balding’s Double Rush, who caught Hollie’s eye at the Craven Meeting in Newmarket. Double Rush appears to be a future Group sprinter and is well‑handicapped, even after a five‑pound penalty. If he can reproduce his form from the Craven, he could pose a serious challenge to the rest of the field. In the Boodles Handicap (4/45), the task falls to MILITARY ACADEMY, a smart performer for John and Thady Gosden last season.
Since moving to Jane Chapple‑Hyam, he has delivered promising runs but has yet to break through at the front, his best recent effort being a close third in the Winter Derby. The forecast calls for good ground, which should suit him, as his finest performances have come on soft or heavy going.
A modest weight reduction could give him the extra edge he needs to finish strongly. Eve Johnson Houghton’s KESTA begins his campaign in the Turners Handicap (4/10). Hollie has never ridden KESTA, but he proved his ability last season with three wins, including a victory at Nottingham in early October at this very level. While it remains to be seen how sharp he will be after a several‑month break, his versatility on different ground types gives Hollie optimism for a solid run.
ADVANCING, a big, attractive horse, struggled with the tight turns at Wolverhampton last month, but the National Stud Handicap (5/55) should suit him better. Hollie previously won on him at Kempton, where he showed a willingness to settle and stay on over a galloping mile.
Trained by Marco Botti, ADVANCING possesses the stamina to stay the distance and could be a real contender if the ground holds up. Charlie Johnston’s THUNDER WONDER is entered in the Betfred Suffolk Stakes (2/20) at 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 with a rating of 92, and if he can build on that recent effort, he may be a strong factor in the race. Looking ahead to the Saturday classic, Hollie imagines Aidan O’Brien celebrating his 11th Betfred 2000 Guineas victory with Gstaad at 3/35.
The colt, a son of Starspangledbanner, boasts a solid record: second in the Dewhurst at Newmarket last autumn and a comfortable win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar. Although he heads to the Guineas without a prep run, his experience on the Rowley Mile and proven stamina suggest he can handle the mile with ease. At longer odds, John and Thady Gosden’s Oxagon could replicate his Craven Stakes triumph with a big run, while Hollie hopes her husband Tom can extract a good performance from William Haggas’ promising four‑year‑old Needle Match, who finished fourth in the Greenham. The Betfred 1000 Guineas on Sunday may turn into a head‑to‑head battle between Karl Burke’s Venetian Sun and Ballydoyle’s robust filly True Love, both priced at 3/35.
Venetian Sun has been working at the racecourse and possesses the raw speed needed for a Classic, while True Love, last summer’s Queen Mary Stakes winner, displayed a dominant seven‑furlong victory at Leopardstown that suggests she can stay the mile. On Friday, Ascot’s Royal Ascot Trials Day will feature the Group Three Longines Sagaro Stakes (2/35), a potential 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 seasoned campaigners such as Sweet William and Group One star Caballo De Mar.
Clive Cox’s colt Coppull also catches Hollie’s eye in the Group Three Commonwealth Cup Trial (3/10). He finished a close second to the likely favourite Wise Approach in the Middle Park Stakes last year, losing by less than a length. With Rossa Ryan aboard, Coppull could develop into a top‑class sprinter this summer.
For fans who want up‑to‑date racing news, Sky Sports offers a WhatsApp service delivering the latest videos, features, analysis and more. Godolphin’s Wise Approach set a high benchmark after his Group One breakthrough at Newmarket, and a repeat performance alongside Aidan O’Brien’s reliable Brussels would be a welcome confirmation of his class. Elsewhere, Hollie is curious about Remmooz’s prospects 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 well‑placed behind Volterra in the Doncaster Mile.
As a son of Blue Point, his pedigree suggests he could thrive on the Ascot surface. Overall, Hollie Doyle’s insights provide a thorough look at the day’s key riders, horses, and storylines, offering both seasoned punters and casual viewers a richer understanding of what promises to be an exciting weekend of British flat racing.