Horse Racing Betting Tips: Madhmoon to bridge 40-year Guineas gap for Prendergast

WITH the jumps season ending at Sandown last weekend, it’s time for a change of codes with the QIPCO British Champions Series kicking off at Newmarket tomorrow with the 2000 Guineas (3.35pm).

When trying to find the winner of the season’s opening Classic, the obvious place to start is with trainer Aidan O’Brien.

The master of Ballydoyle has won three of the last four renewals and is bidding to win the one-mile contest for an astonishing 10th time.

Ten Sovereigns was unbeaten in all three starts as a two-year-old including the Group One Middle Park when last seen in action.

All those three victories came over six furlongs and the son of No Nay Never’s ability to stay the extra two furlongs has to be taken on trust.

If he does see it out, he will take some catching as he has a potent turn of foot, but I have my doubts.

Preference has to be for stablemate MAGNA GRECIA who looked all about stamina when landing the Group One Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster last October.

He was previously beaten a neck by Persian King over course and distance earlier that month, so has the all-important course form too.

A reproduction of either of those two runs is likely to put him right in the mix and he looks a leading contender at 9/2 with Coral.

However, for my main fancy I am going to side with fellow Irish raider MADHMOON for 86-year-old trainer Kevin Prendergast who is looking to land the opening Classic for a second time, some 42 years after winning it with Nebbiolo.

Winner of both of his starts as a two-year-old, Madhmoon was beaten by a combination of fitness, soft going and the inadequate seven-furlong trip on his reappearance at Leopardstown last month.

With that run under his belt, he is likely to strip far fitter for this and the better surface and step-up in trip should see him go close.

The 15/2 available with Ladbrokes looks decent each-way value and he gets my vote.

Skardu burst into the reckoning when beating Momkin in a thrilling finish to the Craven Stakes here last month.

That was only the second start of his career and he is entitled to step up again for that run.

He is dangerous to discount, but is pretty short in the betting for one so inexperienced.

Martyn Meade’s Advertise is another who warrants plenty of respect and is the pick of Frankie Dettori.

The son of Showcasing is effective on fast ground and finished second to Too Darn Hot when last seen in the Dewhurst.

That was over seven furlongs and it remains to be seen whether he will stay this trip.

Godolphin caused a bit of a surprise earlier in the week when they added Al Hilalee to this field.

The unbeaten son of Dubawi must be showing plenty at home, but this requires a big step up from the Listed race he won in Deauville last August.

My final pick goes to Saeed bin Suroor’s ROYAL MARINE who was all the rage in the market ahead of last month’s Craven Stakes.

He is again set to be ridden by Christophe Soumillon and is likely to have improved considerably for that outing.

I’d have preferred there to be a bit more rain around as the son of Raven’s Pass clearly prefers a bit of cut in the ground, but I still think he will go well.

He was finishing with some rattle last time and is likely to endure a smoother passage this time around.

For those looking for bigger prices, it would be no shock to see either Urban Icon or Great Scott outrun their odds.

They both shaped with promise in the Greenham and it would be no surprise to see them build on those efforts.

BILL ESDAILE’S 2000 GUINEAS 1-2-3