Today's Horse Racing Tips: Three to back on 1000 Guineas day at Newmarket

Lazuli (advised at 10/3) won the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket yesterday and now looks set to contest this season’s top sprint races. My main selection in the 2000 Guineas (Master Of The Seas) was well backed before the race and ran really well to be beaten by just a short head. My other fancy in the race (Naval Crown – advised each way) was sent off at 50/1 and led the field for most of the way before finishing in a very respectable fourth place. Given that almost all online bookmakers were paying four places, it resulted in a nice each way return. 

Away from Newmarket, Nugget (advised at 11/4) finished second at Thirsk but looked by far the best horse in the race. Unfortunately, Sean Levey’s mount was caught too far back as the runners entered the straight and was beaten by a horse given a good tactical ride.

There are three bets for today’s racing at Newmarket.

Newmarket Tips

15:00 – 1m1f Betfair Dahlia Stakes (Group 2)

Freyja (tipped here) ran really well to finish a close second on her seasonal reappearance at Nottingham five days ago and it is interesting that this previous course winner is sent out again so quickly. However, slight preference is for the returning QUEEN POWER (NAP – 1 point win bet at 5/2), who cost connections 500,000gns as a yearling. A winner at two and three, this lightly raced daughter of Shamardal failed to win in four outings last season but was placed in three of them and was a close fourth to Fancy Blue in Group 1 company on the other occasion. She finished second to Terebellum in this race and also went close behind Nazeef in the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot. That form gives her a strong chance and this does not look the strongest Group 2 race.

15:40 – 1m Qipco 1000 Guineas Stakes (Group 1)

The red-hot favourite Santa Barbara could well be very special, but with several of her main rivals already proven at the course, I think she’s worth opposing at such a short price in the 1000 Guineas.

One of those is ALCOHOL FREE (1 point win bet at 11/2) who won the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes here on her final start of last season. She saw out the six-furlong trip well that day and the race often proves to be a good trial for this. Andrew Balding’s filly made her seasonal reappearance in the Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury two weeks ago. That was her first try at seven furlongs and she took it in her stride to win by a short head. Although she had reportedly been working well at home, she was always likely to be in need of that run so should have come on plenty for it and can continue her progress today. The step up to a mile is an unknown, but she looks to have every chance of getting it given that she relaxes and has a good attitude. Oisin Murphy’s mount is the top-rated horse in the line up and is an exciting prospect.

I’ve also decided to back SACRED (1 point win bet at 7/1), who made a fine seasonal reappearance in the Nell Gwyn Stakes over seven furlongs here 18 days ago. She is another that has some very smart two-year-old form and looks to have progressed extremely well over the winter. Like Alcohol Free, the trip is an unknown but she didn’t look to be stopping over seven furlongs, handles the track and should relish fast ground. Tom Marquand knows her well and gets back on board.