Newmarket (Guineas) - Saturday 4th May 2013

The sun has finally got his hat on and it's time to enjoy our truly breathtaking flat season which looks like firing into action this weekend. All trainers with big or small yards will be hoping to make a mark this weekend and in doing so may well set their stall out for the season ahead. The guineas this weekend undoubtedly sets the scene and starts the prose for a thoroughly exciting season. Guineas weekend is one of my favourite flat meetings and this year promises many things and many question marks too, can Dawn Approach live up to his fathers achievements? Will we see a shock outsider land the prize like Makfi a few years ago? Will an old timer return to form and land one of the many handicaps on offer? All this will be answered this coming weekend. On with the card... Newmarket 14.05pm Makfi Suffolk Stakes Handicap 1m 1f Four year olds have a terrific record in this race, notching up 4 of the last 5 wins and undoubtedly progressive types who seem to still be out of the handicap at this time of year. However, I backed Tartan Gigha at the track back in 2010 on paddock watch rather than a form angle and I'd certainly recommend that tactic to anyone this early in the season but as I'm not in attendance I'm looking at a six year old, who will enjoy this quick ground, who has had a performance sharpener last time out when finishing 5th and a trainer who has hit the ground running this year. LICENCE TO TILL is the horse in question and if better off for his last run then this Mark Johnson trained War Chant gelding has every chance at a massive price. Winning off a mark of 90 last June and subsequent runs at this track have resulted in solid place finishes which clearly points to an each way selection on what I see as a lenient mark. Solid bet. 14.35pm Pearl Bloodstock Palace House Stakes (Group 3) 5f Love these big quality cavalry charge size fields. Looking through this field and picking a winner is undoubtedly difficult but I'm looking for the quality angle here coupled with the fitness age and for me it's gotta be SOLE POWER. This horse has the form in the book, I saw him run an absolute blinder at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night and was there in person to witness the quality on offer that night, finishing behind She Shea by less than two lengths is the pick of the form. He's quite simply a 5f specialist who has won the Nunthorpe, finished a extremely close finish to Bated Breath last season and has been rated as high as 117 which puts him well clear of most of these on official ratings only Spirit Quartz is rated 2 pounds higher and that maybe to his detriment as he finished behind Sole Power in Dubai. To be honest I have a little soft spot for this horse but he is unquestionably the quality pick. 15.50pm Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes 1m (Class 1) The first real marker for a superstar in the making to show what may indeed be a classic winning season on more than one occasion. All attention and eyes will be firmly placed on the ante post favourite Dawn Approach, the son of New Approach won the Coventry Stakes in terrific style this year and certainly has a turn of foot to die for, a horse who has his quirks but geniuses rarely fail to portray one or two extreme idiosyncrasies. I really don't mind who wins this but my two selections really have a chance and if they fail to win I'm certain of a big run. MOOHAAJIM is my first selection and boy I'd love Marco Botti to hit the big time, yes he is a brilliant trainer and has had some top class horses on his hands but he needs to get on the map or on the classic list a bit more often. This Cape Cross colt my favourite sire since the beautiful Sea the Stars has been waiting for this quicker ground and I'm certain a huge run is on the cards, the trip doesn't bother me yes he found the Newbury race a little testing and may of left more question marks than answers but the pedigree suggest a mile is easily within his grasp and with his previous run at this track when going down by a neck to the talented Reckless Abandon over the 6 furlongs it illustrates the track will not effect his chances and experience at Newmarket can be a huge positive. If he can stay the trip and has grown, strengthened over the winter then at a huge price he must be given a chance. Talented but will he fulfil his potential?. My second selection falls to TORANADO no hidden facts here, trained by Richard Hannon who as we know he is a terrific handler of his juveniles and make no mistake this horse may indeed be a phenomenal beast in the future and will undoubtedly put up a huge fight here. His recent form over course and distance in the Craven when obliterating the field of which Havana Gold & Dundonnell two potential class acts where comprehensively beaten shows what a classy colt he is. Good Luck if your having a punt!