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 Classic races, and gives a preview of the Ascot Trials Day that takes place on Friday. Among the rides, the most eye‑catching is a promising filly from Archie Watson’s yard in the Listed Oddschecker Ellen Chaloner Stakes. The filly, Paris Babe, starts at a very short 1.10 and will be one of six horses Doyle will be aboard on Betfred 2000 Guineas Day at Newmarket.
Paris Babe (1.10) has a lot to prove at the weight‑for‑age scale, but she showed a lot of class in her debut at 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 run down near the finish.
The filly previously won a Group race in France under trainer Gavin Hernon, so the step back to six furlongs should suit her nicely. Her coat looks glossy now that the sunshine has returned, and although she still needs to work on her rating – currently an 89 – she should be able to deliver another respectable performance. The field for the day looks much stronger than last year. Group winner Flora of Bermuda tops the ratings at 111, while proven Pattern performer Rosy Affair also makes a seasonal comeback, adding depth to the contest.
Another intriguing entry is El Bodon, a long‑shot at 1.45 in the Class Two Betfred Handicap. El Bodon is a genuine talent on his day, boasting a solid turf résumé that includes a second‑place finish in the Greenham Stakes as a three‑year‑old, a ride that Doyle’s husband Tom Marquand handled. Although his most recent run in the Sprint Final at Newcastle was below his best, he demonstrated his ability by winning back‑to‑back races at Kempton over the winter for trainer Jane Chapple‑Hyam.
The horse that many will be watching is Andrew Balding’s likely favourite, Double Rush. Doyle first noticed him at the Craven Meeting at Newmarket, where he displayed the speed and stamina of a future Group sprinter.
Even with a five‑pound penalty, he remains well‑handicapped, making him a serious contender. In the Boodles Handicap (4.45), Military Academy carries a lofty rating in a competitive field.
The colt, who impressed for John and Thady Gosden last year, has continued to improve under Jane Chapple‑Hyam, highlighted by a close third in the Winter Derby. Doyle hopes the forecast soft ground will suit him, as his best performances have come on yielding or heavy turf, and a slight weight advantage could see him finish strongly. Eve Johnson Houghton’s Kesta begins his campaign in the Turners Handicap (4.10). Although Doyle has never ridden him, Kesta won three times last season, including a victory at Nottingham in early October at this class level.
It remains to be seen how sharp he will be after a several‑month break, but his versatility on different ground conditions gives Doyle optimism for a solid run. Advancing, a big, well‑muscled horse, struggled with the tight turns at Wolverhampton last month, but the National Stud Handicap (5.55) should suit him better.
Doyle recalls a pleasant ride on him at Kempton, where he showed the stamina to stay the mile comfortably. Trainer Marco Botti’s charge has the stamina to finish strongly over the distance. Charlie Johnston’s Thunder Wonder steps into 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 form, he could be a serious factor. Aidan O’Brien’s Gstaad is a strong contender for his eleventh Betfred 2000 Guineas victory. The colt, a son of Starspangledbanner, has a wealth of experience, having placed second in the Dewhurst Stakes and then winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar. Although he heads to the Guineas without a recent run, his proven ability on the Rowley Mile and his staying power make him a reliable pick.
At longer odds, John and Thady Gosden’s Oxagon could repeat his Craven Stakes triumph with a big performance, while Doyle hopes her husband Tom can extract a good run from William Haggas’ promising four‑year‑old Needle Match, who finished fourth in the Greenham. The Betfred 1000 Guineas (3.35) on Sunday may turn into a showdown between Karl Burke’s Venetian Sun and Ballydoyle’s striking filly True Love. Venetian Sun has been training on the gallops and possesses the raw speed needed for the Classic, while True Love, a former Queen Mary Stakes winner, impressed with a dominant seven‑furlong victory at Leopardstown, suggesting she can stay the mile. On Royal Ascot’s Trials Day, the Group Three Longines Sagaro Stakes (2.35) could be a springboard for Tom Clover’s stayer Tabletalk.
Tabletalk ran well in defeat in the Group Two Red Sea Turf Handicap in Riyadh earlier in the year and may have improved enough to beat seasoned rivals such as Sweet William and Group One star Caballo De Mar. Clive Cox’s colt Coppull also attracts attention in the Group Three Commonwealth Cup Trial (3.10). He was narrowly beaten by the favourite Wise Approach in the Middle Park Stakes last year, finishing less than a length behind.
Rossa Ryan believes Coppull can develop into a top‑class sprinter this summer. Doyle encourages fans to follow Sky Sports on WhatsApp for the latest news, videos, features, analysis and more.
Godolphin’s Wise Approach continues to set a high benchmark after his Group One breakthrough at Newmarket, and a solid performance from Aidan O’Brien’s reliable Brussels would reinforce that standard. Finally, Doyle is curious about how Remmooz will fare 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 a strong runner‑up to Volterra in the Doncaster Mile, making his upcoming run against the son of Blue Point an intriguing contest.
Hollie Doyle shared these insights with Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.