Big-race preview & tip: 2000 Guineas

Timeform tip - Auguste Rodin

AUGUSTE RODIN did everything right at two and can become the fourth horse (and third from his yard) since 2018 to complete the Futurity/2000 Guineas double. His stablemate Little Big Bear is bred to stay 1m and would be a major threat if reproducing anything close to his Phoenix Stakes form. Chaldean suffered an unfortunate experience on his reappearance but his juvenile form stacks up well and he can prove best of the home team ahead of Sakheer, who is already smart but isn't certain to stay 1m.

Timeform Top rated: Little Big Bear 138

Timeform Pace Map

Pace Forecast: Very Strong

Draw Bias: Favours High

Specific Pace Hint: Hold-up horses aren’t dominant here by and large but a very strong pace can see that change and LITTLE BIG BEAR will probably be vulnerable and AUGUSTE RODIN will probably be favoured in that case.

Individual Price Hint : NOBLE STYLE seems likely to take up a position at the back so in view of how the race promises to develop has a good chance of trading much higher than Betfair SP as he has done before in a similar situation.

Key Quotes

Aidan O'Brien - Auguste Rodin & Little Big Bear: “Auguste Rodin is going to get the trip – we’ve seen that before. Little Big Bear hasn’t run near this distance at all and obviously two furlongs is a long way in a horse race. He’s only run over six (furlongs). If you put them together, you don’t know. Both of them are doing most of their work over seven furlongs and it looks lovely for both.

“Little Big Bear is getting home and he seems to be covering the last furlong well. We haven’t gone any further and obviously the other horse gallops through the line, which we expect him to be doing anyway. It is going to be a very interesting race, really.

Charlie Appleby - Silver Knott & Noble Style: "He (Silver Knott) is proven on the track and we feel that he has a nice profile going into the race. He will see the mile out well, but we wouldn’t want too much rain. I genuinely feel that he could run a big race."

“I would imagine James will ride a patient race on Noble Style, as we are sitting on the fence as to whether he will get the trip. He has some great two-year-old form behind him and the Gimcrack run looks rock solid with the second and third both winning Group 3s this season, albeit over sprint distances. The trip is the big question but he settles well, which will hopefully give him the best opportunity of seeing out the mile. The sounder the better for him in terms of ground and we will be a lot wiser after the race as to where his future lies."

Roger Varian - Sakheer: “We wouldn’t be running him in it if we didn’t think he had a strong chance of getting the mile. He has got loads of ability and I thought he looked lovely out there today. You are hopeful he will get the mile but we are not going to test him over it before the Guineas and we will find out then. He has a good temperament. Today would have done him good getting a bit of gas out of him."

Frankie Dettori - Chaldean: “The way I see it, the fancied ones are drawn 11-13, so it’s not ideal being away from them, but Chaldean is a horse who can go and run his own race. He’s got plenty of speed, so hopefully he can get away well and be right up there from the off, just like he was in the Dewhurst and the Champagne Stakes. I would have liked to have been drawn a bit closer to the main rivals, but it is what it is. I’ll ride my own race.”

Oliver Cole - Royal Scotsman: “He’s very fit and well and we are expecting a good performance. He was never going to run in a trial as that would have meant starting earlier, and we were confident that on our gallops we could get him ready first time out.”

Karl Burke - Holloway Boy, Indestructible and Flight Plan: “All three are very nice colts. Holloway Boy was always going to go straight to the Guineas without a prep run. He proved last year that he could win first time out.

“The horse is in great form and we are very happy with him. Christophe Soumillon rides and I’m sure he will run a good race. He will run in a visor. ndestructible came out of the Craven great. He will definitely improve for fitness and he is obviously improving on the course, as he galloped through the line very strongly. We are looking forward to seeing him in a stronger-run race than the Craven was. I’m sure we will get a good gallop and I’m sure that will suit him even better.

“Flight Plan is a lovely horse. He lost 15 kilos when he ran at Newcastle, so he will improve plenty,” said the Leyburn handler. He has been working very, very well – his work has been exceptional at home – and I know Danny Tudhope is very sweet on him. At the prices, he’d be the one I’d be backing at 50/1 rather than the others.”

Charlie Hills - Flight Path: “He’s a massive price and he has got plenty of experience. I was really happy with his run at Newcastle, coming through the field and finishing third. He is a horse who doesn’t do an awful lot at home, but I think his experience will hold him in good stead. A little bit of rain would help, but it should be beautiful ground by the weekend.

“He stayed on really nicely at Newcastle and we were conscious of a really bad draw, so we wanted to give that away and come in though horses. He is laid back at home so that race will have brought him on an awful lot.”

Key video form

AUGUSTE RODIN, 1st, Doncaster 22/10/22

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LITTLE BIG BEAR, 1st, Curragh, 06/08/22

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CHALDEAN, 1st, Newmarket, 08/10/22

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SILVER KNOTT, 1st, Newmarket, 08/10/22

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