THE first Classic of the season is upon us – and will we see a Triple Crown winner in Auguste Rodin?
The 2000 Guineas – which will be run at 4.40 at Newmarket on Saturday – pits the best three-year-old colts against each other.
Will O’Brien and Moore team up to land the 2000 Guineas with Auguste Rodin? Templegate’s not so sure…
Below, Templegate rates every horse out of five stars and reveals his tip at the bottom.
Back any of the runners simply by clicking their odds.
2000 Guineas runner-by-runner guide
AUGUSTE RODIN 4
HOT Rod. Impressive Group 1 winner last season, more to come but may want further and softer. Yard has great record.
CHALDEAN 4
DEAN machine. Dewhurst winner so track suits and mile ideal. Yard in form and sort-of had a comeback run. Player.
CHARYN 3
CHAR star. Good comeback second at Newbury and will stay. Has won on firm ground and can improve. Place shout.
DUBAI MILE 2
EXTRA Mile. Group 1 winner in France over 1m2f in mud so trip and ground a worry. Likely to be outpaced.
FLIGHT PLAN 1
FLIGHT grounded. Fair second in Listed race on comeback when staying the mile. Big improvement needed on that.
GALERON 1
RON gone. Held in Listed class last time and this is too much.
HI ROYAL 1
ROYAL flushed. Will prefer this mile to 7f here last time but this is a much hotter contest and he has a big gap to bridge.
HOLLOWAY BOY 2
BOY no toy. Placed in four Group contests at two including a couple here. Shapes like further would suit but can improve.
INDESTRUCTIBLE 3
IN the mix. Won Craven well after a battle here when trip and track suited. Quick ground a worry but place claims.
LITTLE BIG BEAR 4
BEAR hug. Gr1 winner over 6f last year, bred to stay at least 7f, huge chance if lasting a mile.
NOBLE STYLE 3
NOBLE hope. High-class sprint form last season, likes fast ground. A mile is the worry.
ROYAL SCOTSMAN 5
SCOT the lot. Close second in Dewhurst when finishing well, bred for this trip and has much more to come over a mile. Massive chance.
SAKHEER 3
HEER we go. Gr2 winner over 6f last season and bred to get a bit further. Capable of better.
SILVER KNOTT 4
SOLID Silver. Gr3 winner here last year and beaten on nod at Breeders’ Cup over this trip. Likes fast ground and choice of Buick.
Templegate’s 2000 Guineas tip
ROYAL SCOTSMAN would have caught Chaldean in a few more strides when first and second in the Dewhurst.
The Cole runner gets an extra furlong to get the job done now.
Auguste Rodin won the Futurity but may need further so Silver Knott looks a better bet to place for Charlie Appleby.
