Jamie Radford looks at the odds, entries and TV races for the Guineas Festival 2024, which gets underway tomorrow at Newmarket.
Although the flat season officially starts in March, the three day Guineas festival at Newmarket really delineates the transition from Jumps to Flat.
As can be derived from the meeting's title, the weekend hosts both the 1000 and the 2000 Guineas races, the first two Classics of the season.
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Guineas Festival Races & Schedule
Below are the key races scheduled to be covered by ITV throughout the three days.
Friday Guineas Races on ITV
- 2.25 Newmarket Stakes (Listed)
- 3.00 William Hill Epic Boost Handicap (Class 2)
- 3.35 King Charles II Stakes (Listed)
- 4.10 Jockey Club Stakes (Group 2)
Saturday Guineas Races on ITV
- 1.45 William Hill Handicap (Heritage Handicap)
- 2.20 Suffolk Stakes (Heritage Handicap)
- 2.55 Palace House Stakes (Group 3)
- 3.35 Qipco 2000 Guineas (Group 1)
Sunday Guineas Races on ITV
- 1.50 Pretty Polly Stakes (Listed)
- 2.25 Dahlia Stakes (Group 2)
- 3.00 William Hill Handicap (Heritage Handicap)
- 3.40 Qipco 1000 Guineas Stakes (Group 1)
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Guineas Festival Entries
Let’s look at some of the key entries for the 2024 Guineas Festival, starting with the unbeaten Endless Victory, who is entered in the Newmarket Stakes on Friday.
Charlie Appleby's colt was last seen winning at Newmarket's Craven Meeting in April by a short head. The son of Teofilo holds a Derby entry next month and will need to be winning this if he is to take up that engagement.
On Saturday, the beloved 10-year-old Summerghand has been declared in the handicap at 13:45. The son of Lope De Vega was last seen at Newmarket Craven meeting where he was a significant eye catcher having repeatedly been denied a clear run before running on strongly into fifth.
Later on in the card Karl Burke's Beautiful Diamond is an interesting runner in the Group 3 Palace House Stakes. This daughter of Twilight Son finished 3rd at Royal Ascot in the Queen Mary Stakes before finishing off her season with a Listed win at Ayr.
The horse she beat that day, Purosangue, reappeared on Wednesday with a respectable 3rd in the Commonwealth Cup Trial at Ascot and so it will be interesting to see how Beautiful Diamond gets on herself.
The 2000 Guineas looks a fantastic field with both City of Troy and Rosallion making it to the race. City of Troy (backed by Racing Lee) is unbeaten in three starts but it is interesting to note that his sire, Justify, has had notable drop offs in his progeny's performance at three compared to at two.
Dewhurst 2nd Alyanaabi also runs here with Jim Crowley taking the ride, whilst the unbeaten Notable Speech, Night Raider and Ghostwriter all take up their engagements in what looks a fascinating renewal of the classic.
On Sunday, Andrew Balding's Kalpana launches herself straight into Listed company in the opening Pretty Polly Stakes after a sauntering success at Newmarket's Craven meeting. Oisin Murphy takes the ride over from Ryan Moore.
In the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes the admirably consistent Caernarfon reappears for Jack Channon. The daughter of Cityscape was 4th in the 1000 Guineas last year before finishing 3rd in the Oaks and 6th at Royal Ascot.
Ylang Ylang and Fallen Angel are both expected to run in the 1000 Guineas. Ylang Ylang is already a course and distance winner courtesy of her win in the Fillies’ Mile whilst Fallen Angel steps up to the 1 mile trip for the first time.
Interestingly, Charlie Appleby's Dance Sequence, who was beaten at Odds on at last month's Craven meeting, not only runs but has been well supported into third favourite.
2000 Guineas Odds
| 2000 Guineas Runner | Best Odds | Worst Odds |
|---|---|---|
| City Of Troy | 4/6 | 4/7 |
| Rosallion | 11/2 | 4/1 |
| Notable Speech | 10/1 | 9/1 |
1000 Guineas Odds
| 1000 Guineas Runner | Best Odds | Worst Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Fallen Angel | 7/2 | 5/2 |
| Ylang Ylang | 4/1 | 3/1 |
| Dance Sequence | 5/1 | 4/1 |
Guineas Festival Betting Tips
I fancy See the Fire to run well in the 1000 Guineas on Sunday. Although she was 3rd behind Ylang Ylang in the Fillies’ Mile, she just seemed to weaken out of it on the soft ground.
Having developed over the winter, she should see out the trip better on a sounder surface. She won her maiden on good ground on Newmarket's July course and I think this daughter of Sea The Stars, a horse who preferred good ground himself, can go very close.
