Sky Sports Racing’s ambassador, Hollie Doyle, shares her thoughts on the six mounts she will ride at Newmarket this Saturday, outlines her picks for the weekend’s Classics, and offers a preview of the Ascot Trials Day held on Friday. Among the rides is an intriguing filly from Archie Watson’s yard entered in the Listed Oddschecker Ellen Chaloner Stakes at 1/10 odds.
This horse, Paris Babe, is one of the six entries Doyle will ride on Betfred 2000 Guineas Day at Newmarket. Paris Babe (1/10) carries a modest weight but showed promise in her first start in the Fillies’ and Mares’ Championships Final at Newcastle on Good Friday. She travelled well, staying with the leader for most of the race before fading in the closing stages. Previously trained in France by Gavin Hernon, she won a race there and should relish the step back to six furlongs.
With the sun now shining, she looks healthy and glossy. Although her official rating of 89 suggests there is work to be done, Doyle believes she can produce another solid performance. The overall quality of the field this year is markedly stronger than last year.
Group winner Flora of Bermuda tops the ratings at 111, while proven pattern performer Rosy Affair also returns for her seasonal debut, adding depth to the contest. Another notable entry is El Bodon, a long‑shot at 1/45 in the Class Two Betfred Handicap.
Despite the high price, El Bodon is a classy runner with a respectable turf record, including a second‑place finish in the Greenham Stakes as a three‑year‑old for Doyle’s husband Tom (Marquand). His most recent effort in the Sprint Final at Newcastle was below his best, but he has demonstrated consistency with back‑to‑back wins at Kempton over the winter under trainer Jane Chapple‑Hyam.
The horse that Doyle believes will be the benchmark is Andrew Balding’s Double Rush, the likely favourite of the day. Double Rush impressed during the Craven Meeting at Newmarket and looks like a future Group sprinter.
Even with a five‑pound penalty, he remains well‑handicapped and should be a key contender. In the Boodles Handicap (4/45), Military Academy carries a high rating in a competitive field.
The colt performed admirably for John and Thady Gosden last season and has continued to show promise under Jane Chapple‑Hyam, highlighted by a close third in the Winter Derby. Doyle hopes the expected good‑going ground will suit him, as his best performances have come on soft or heavy turf. A slight reduction in weight could allow him to exploit his stamina and finish strongly. Eve Johnson Houghton’s Kesta begins his campaign in the Turners Handicap (4/10).
Doyle has not ridden Kesta before, but the horse won three times last season, including a victory at Nottingham in early October at the same class. While his sharpness after a lay‑off since the end of October remains uncertain, he should be comfortable on the track and adaptable to different ground conditions, giving Doyle optimism for a respectable run.
Advancing, a big, well‑built horse, struggled with the tight turns at Wolverhampton last month but should relish the more forgiving conditions of the National Stud Handicap (5/55). Doyle recalls a pleasing ride on Advancing at Kempton, where the horse demonstrated the ability to settle over a galloping mile.
Trainer Marco Botti’s charge possesses the stamina to stay the distance and could benefit from a weight allowance. Charlie Johnston’s Thunder Wonder will contest the Betfred Suffolk Stakes (2/20) carrying a low weight. After a promising run at Musselburgh earlier in the month—the horse’s second start since being gelded—Thunder Wonder looks ready to build on that form. He previously won over the nine‑furlong distance at Edinburgh last summer with a rating of 92, suggesting he can handle the Newmarket trip if he continues to improve.
Looking ahead to the 2000 Guineas, Doyle predicts Aidan O’Brien could secure his 11th victory with Gstaad at odds of 3/35. The colt boasts ample experience, having won at the Rowley Mile and proven himself as a stayer.
A son of Starspangledbanner, Gstaad finished second in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket last autumn before stepping up to claim the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar. Skipping a prep race before the Guineas should not hinder him, given his proven class.
At longer odds, John and Thady Gosden’s Oxagon could replicate his Craven Stakes success with a strong showing, while Doyle hopes her husband Tom can extract a good performance 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 duel between Karl Burke’s Venetian Sun and Ballydoyle’s robust 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, last summer’s Queen Mary Stakes winner, impressed Doyle with a commanding seven‑furlong victory at Leopardstown, indicating she can stay the mile. On Friday, the Group Three Longines Sagaro Stakes (2/35) at Royal Ascot’s Trials Day—broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing—offers a stepping‑stone for Tom Clover’s promising stayer Tabletalk.
Tabletalk ran well in defeat in the Group Two Red Sea Turf Handicap in Riyadh earlier in the year and could improve enough to challenge seasoned rivals such as Sweet William and Group One winner Caballo De Mar. Doyle also has an eye on Clive Cox’s colt Coppull in the Group Three Commonwealth Cup Trial (3/10).
Coppull was narrowly beaten by the likely favourite Wise Approach in the Middle Park Stakes last year, finishing less than a length behind. With Rossa Ryan aboard, Doyle believes Coppull can develop into a top‑class sprinter this summer. For the latest sports news, videos, features and analysis, follow Sky Sports on WhatsApp.
Godolphin’s Wise Approach set a high benchmark after his Group One breakthrough at Newmarket and should be able to confirm that form when matched against Aidan O’Brien’s reliable Brussels. Elsewhere, Doyle is keen to see how Remmooz performs 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 when he ran strongly behind Docklands in the Doncaster Mile.
As a son of Blue Point, his potential remains intriguing. In summary, Hollie Doyle discussed her six Newmarket rides, highlighted Paris Babe as a standout, offered her top picks for the Classics, and previewed the Ascot Trials, all while emphasizing the depth and excitement of this weekend’s racing program.