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15:35 Newmarket - 2,000 Guineas
The season is very odd and to think we have our first classic after just six days of the start of the flat season is crazy but with the crazy times we've had in 2020 we're just going to have to deal with the fact we're seeing the 2,000 Guineas when we are but to see racing back at all makes for amazing viewing.
There's no better place to start than with the unbeaten and powerhouse 2 year old from 2019 Pinatubo. He's demolished all of his rivals to date including some of his rivals here. He's not put a foot wrong and was one of the superstars from last season claiming multiple big race successes. It's hard to go against him but with so many uncertainties with all the participants making there seasonal reappearance it makes more sense to look for some value. That's not to say it'd be a big shock for Pinatubo to claim yet another victory of course.
Ballydoyle, as always, are represented and you have to sit up and take notice of a team who have trained the winner of 10 UK Guineas races in the past ten years. The Irish outfit are quad-handed with four entries in the form of New World Tapestry, Royal Dornoch, Wichita and Arizona and it's one of these foreign raiders who gets the vote. Wichita didn't finish miles behind Pinatubo when they met last season and he looked a horse who'd improve markedly as a three year old. A course winner who also has the massive advantage of having Frankie in the saddle. At current double figure odds Wichita seems markedly overpriced and it's worth taking advantage of the bookies generosity.
Of the remainder you couldn't dismiss the likes of Kameko, Kinross or Military March too readily but at a much bigger price the once raced Cepheus may be worth a small each way punt. A winner on debut where three of his rivals that day have subsequently claimed victory and although he's going to have to improve markedly to compete with some of these it's not out of the question to see him sneak a place.
WICHITA (E/W)
TV TIPS:
13:50 Newmarket - Major Jumbo (E/W) & Shades Of Blue (E/W)
14:05 Newcastle - Aljari (E/W)
14:25 Newmarket - Terebellum (WIN)
14:40 Newcastle - Withold (E/W)
15:00 Newmarket - Waldkonig (WIN)
15:15 Newcastle - Palace Pier (WIN)
15:35 Newmarket - Wichita (E/W)
written by Rory Paddock
TEAM NAPS:
Compton's Finale (17:05 Newc) - Rory Paddock (Jersey Evening News)
Makanah (13:15 Newm) - Steve Marriott (Norwich Evening News)
Stone Of Destiny (13:15 Newm) - Luke Tucker (Cambridge Evening News)
Major Jumbo (13:50 Newm) - Dean Kilbryde (East Anglian Daily Times)
Royal Line (14:40 Newc) - Matt Polley (Ipswich Star)