2000 Guineas at Newmarket

Newmarket, Saturday 6 May: The classic derby season gets underway at Newmarket today with the 2000 Guineas (6th race/5.40pm/550,000 pounds/1609m).

A year after Coroebus, for whom Charlie Appleby was responsible for Godolphin, the Royal Blues are trying to follow up with Silver Knott (William Buick) and Noble Style (James Doyle), but the two stallions, who have already shown great things at the highest level as two-year-olds, are not among the favourites.

At the top of the betting market are Auguste Rodin (Ryan Moore) and Little Big Bear (Wayne Lordan) from the Aidan O`Brien stable. Both won their last performances the classic way. The spoiler could be Chaldean (Frankie Dettori), who threw off his rider in the Greenham Stakes (Group 3) on his latest attempt but won the Dewhurst Stakes (Group 1) last year after struggling against Royal Scotsman (Jim Crowley). Sakheer (David Egan) is also expected to be up front. He is recommended as the winner of the Mill Reef Stakes (Group 2) against Charyn (Tom Marquand).