Five Horses To Take Out Of The Guineas Festival

Away from Magna Grecia and King Of Change who led home the Guineas field from the stands side rail, Skardu finished first of the far side group - the much larger group, after an excellent run under James Doyle.

Looking well before hand, the Craven Stakes winner ran with much credit from a low draw; where many suffered, having now become accustom to Newmarket's dipping dynamics.

With performances like that, the three-year-old will certainly win a couple of smart races over a mile this term if connections decide to not step him up in trip.

He prevailed from the likes of Madhmoon, Kick On and Ten Sovereigns in his group; the latter who will clearly suit the return to six furlongs.

Lady Kaya ran a blinder for Ms Sheila Lavery and jockey Robbie Colgan in the 1,000 Guineas behind Hermosa, just a length down on the winner.

It was her first start over the mile distance, with all six previous outings over six or seven, but not her first appearance at HQ.

She was seen here back in September when finishing sixth to Fairyland in the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes, form she reversed with O'Brien's charge who faded on Saturday in the hands of Frankie Dettori.

Lady Kaya kept on, and a mile now seems her game, although there have been rumours she will drop back to her beloved six to campaign for the Commonwealth Cup.

Away from the Guineas, Maqsad was arguably the most comfortable winner at HQ over the weekend.

Looking well before the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes for fillies, she was held up under Jim Crowley in the colours of Hamdam Al Maktoum before readily asserting from the field a furlong out.

Just nudged by his jockey, she did it easily following up her course win from three weeks ago over a mile.

Really does look the real day, and an exciting prospect for William Haggas this season, who has a fine string of mares and fillies at his yard.

We have been used to seeing several Cheveley Park winners in the National Hunt season in the last few months, but Threat's win at Newmarket on Sunday reminded those that the red with the white sash silks can dominate the flat too.

They may even have a top class one here in Threat, who was an 100,000gns purchase as a foal and was making his debut in the Hot Streak Maiden Stakes.

Up against Ribchester's half-brother Electrical Storm - who had experience to his name with his second in a novice at the Craven meeting, Threat looked the more natural for Richard Hannon under Tom Marquand over the five furlong trip - sealing the deal from over a furlong out.

Favourite disappointing, but beaten by a good one.

UAE Jewel made it two from two for Roger Varian, under David Egan who was subbed in for the suspended Andrea Atzeni.

The three-year-old son of Dubawi is beautifully bred with Galileo links on the dam side, and he scored strikingly well on debut in the Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes here over a mile three weeks ago.

Bred to stay this trip, he scored in the Lightning Spear Listed Newmarket Stakes, and despite not looking overly-convincing, he did get the job done and will learn acres from it.

Went to the front from 3f out, and did not stretch away in the same fashion he did on his initial start. Still a taking performance, and plenty of options for Varian to consider.