WATCH: What A Shout: Cole sweet on Royal Scotsman’s Guineas hopes

On this week's What A Shout, host Dave Orton is joined by trainer Oliver Cole, the Racing Post’s Graeme Rodway and Robbie Wilders, as they preview the opening to British Classics of the season, the 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas.

The panel chat to Cole about his 2,000 Guineas hopeful Royal Scotsman. He gave an update on how the winter has gone for his Classic contender and how he rates his chances in the 1m race at Newmarket. 

We've picked out some highlights from this week's edition of What A Shout.

Cole would not swap Royal Scotsman for any other

The 2,000 Guineas is the opening British Classic of the year and Cole goes into the race at Newmarket on Saturday with one of the leading runners for the 1m contest. 

Royal Scotsman is 9/1 to give the Cole team a first success in the race. Cole told the panel he could not be happier with the way the preparation has gone for Royal Scotsman going into his British Classic assignment. 

He said: “We are all very excited to have him and we didn’t have any hiccups over the winter. He has grown and developed. We could not be happier with him at this stage. 

“After the Gimcrack, his bloods weren’t right. He has a bit of mucus which explains why he didn’t run to his best. In the Coventry, we could not get any cover at all, and he is a horse who needs something to aim at. In the Dewhurst, his sectional times in the first furlong were huge. He then had a lot of ground to make up and he was just beaten by a nose. 

“Jim Crowley felt he went through the seven furlongs and galloped along nicely in the Dewhurst, so we are confident he will get the 1m. I think he is a good horse, and I would not swap him for any other. From what we have seen at home, we could not be happier. 

“The O’Brien pair are clearly good, and Andrew Balding’s runner, Chaldean, is smart, so they are the horses we have to beat.”

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Wilders and Rodway are both happy to take Auguste Rodin on 

Auguste Rodin is the 13/8 favourite to give Aidan O’Brien a record-extending 11th success in the 2,000 Guineas this weekend. 

Wilders and Rodway believe he is too short in the betting and they are looking at alternatives in the race. 

Wilders said: “At the prices, I don’t think there is any value in Auguste Rodin. I will be taking him on with Silver Knott (12/1) and Holloway Boy (16/1), as both of those horses are overpriced in the betting. 

“Silver Knott should have won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. He was boxed in at a crucial time and Victoria Road got first run on him. I think you need a strong stayer in the Guineas, and he looks like he will be competing over further. 

“Holloway Boy must improve but he won a Chesham first time out over 7f. You need to stay to win that race. He clearly goes well fresh. At Doncaster, he hung across the track and threw away a lot of ground. Karl Burke has booked Christophe Soumillon who is an excellent rider.” 

Rodway said: “Auguste Rodin does not have the form to be so short in a race like this. If there is a lot of rain, I will be having a bet on Charyn, who is a massive price. He ran a cracker in the Greenham last time behind Isaac Shelby. The form of that race is very good. If it rains, he has a great chance of being placed and possibly even winning. If there is no rain and the ground is good, I expect Chaldean will be hard to beat.”

Tahiyra could be a superstar says Wilders 

It is the turn of the fillies on Sunday when they feature in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Unbeaten Irish runner Tahiyra is the 9/4 favourite and Wilders believes the market has it right for this race. 

He said: “I think Tahiyra is a superstar in the making. At the start of the season, I put her up to go unbeaten this season. There is likely to be a lot more to come from her over 1m. I see no issues over stamina and the ground is right for her. 

“Looking at this field, I am not sure there is too much depth in there and Tahiyra could simply outclass them all.”