Four bets for Newmarket this weekend |
Trainer George Boughey is convinced that his horse Bow Echo has a big chance of landing tomorrow’s Betfred 2000 Guineas (Newmarket, 3.35 p.m.) after a ‘faultless’ preparation. This unbeaten three-year-old colt is a course and distance winner who is proven on fast ground so he is going to take a lot of beating in the first classic of the 2026 flat season.
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Irish handler Aidan O’ Brien’s only runner Gstaad is officially the highest-rated horse in the 15-runner field and, with Ryan Moore in the saddle, he also looks likely to run a big race in which the first prize for winning connections is nearly £300,000. Gstaad was heavily backed yesterday meaning he and Bow Echo are now vying for favouritism in this one-mile contest.
The John and Thady Gosden trained Oxagon showed his well-being with a tidy course and distance victory last month in the Group 3 Betway Craven Stakes, which is often a good trial for the 2000 Guineas. However, this year’s Craven was some way below its usual high standards with just five runners so that form looks moderate.
At big prices, I would rather back NEEDLE MATCH for the William Haggas/Tom Marquand trainer/jockey combination........