2000 Guineas and 1000 Guineas tips and predictions from the Racing Post

The 2000 and 1000 Guineas at Newmarket are on the horizon and Keith Melrose from the Racing Post has provided each-way selections at big prices for both races.

2000 and 1000 Guineas Tips and Predictions

2,000 Guineas - Ghostwriter each-way @ 20/1
1,000 Guineas - Skellet each-way @ 33/1

2000 Guineas Tips

Ghostwriter (Each Way) - 20/1

Each-way seems the only way to play the 2000 Guineas, with favourite City Of Troy having been odds on since he crossed the line in October's Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.

There has been talk of City Of Troy bidding for the triple crown, which would mean him winning the Derby and St Leger as well as the Guineas. That seems a bit ambitious, and it probably only gets mentioned because he is owned by the Coolmore operation, who are the only major owners who really place much stock on the triple crown these days.

Aside from anything else, City Of Troy's dam, Together Forever, peaked at two so there is reasonable doubt about him developing as a three-year-old. Admittedly, even a repeat of his juvenile form would have won a majority of the recent runnings of the 2000 Guineas.

The each-way play against City Of Troy is a horse who won the next-best juvenile race for colts held on the Rowley Mile. GHOSTWRITER was making just his third start, less than seven weeks after his racecourse debut, when winning the Royal Lodge two weeks before City Of Troy landed the Dewhurst. He handled the track deftly that day and won in the style of a horse who will keep improving into his three-year-old season.

He is also bred to keep developing. His dam peaked at three, on fast ground over longer trips. Ghostwriter has only run on good or good to firm ground himself, so a continuation of the wet start to spring that we have endured may not work in his favour. If the sun comes out, he could wind up as the main threat to City Of Troy at Newmarket.

Keith Melrose’s tip:

Ghostwriter @ 20/1 - 1pt each-way

1000 Guineas Tips

Skellet (Each Way) - 33/1

The Oh So Sharp Stakes fits a similar role for the fillies as the Royal Lodge does for the colts, in that it provides a bit of relevant match practice on the Rowley Mile for two-year-olds who are taking a more gradual build-up to the spring Classics.

Last autumn's Oh So Sharp was won by Dance Sequence. She was making just her second start and came from a way back to triumph. It is understandable why she is 8/1. But the 33/1 odds about SKELLET, who was beaten just a neck that day and finished well ahead of the rest, are generous in comparison.

Skellet was pretty inexperienced herself that day, having debuted only in late-August and run twice before. She rolled around in the Dip even more than the winner, although admittedly she was better placed through the early stages. 

Dance Sequence is on balance the more exciting filly to emerge from the Oh So Sharp. But the form has the look of being strong, and it is much cheaper to test it by backing Skellet for the Guineas.

Keith Melrose’s tip:

Skellet @ 33/1 - 1pt each-way

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.