1000 Guineas

The 1,000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket - paired with the 2,000 Guineas on the previous day, for many signifies the beginning of the turf season and the official end of the jumps season. The changeover begins with the Guineas - the opening two Classics of five for the campaign, which tests three-year-old female horses [1,000] over the straight mile on Newmarket's Rowley Mile course.

The 1,000 Guineas acts as the opening leg of the Fillies Triple Crown, which is followed by the Epsom Oaks in June and the St Leger at Doncaster where they combine with the colts. The curtain raiser of the freshly new campaign, the standout two-year-old's of the previous term usually meet and clash here first - although many may arrive off the back of a trial in the Nell Gwyn perhaps; held at Newmarket in the lead-up to this card, or in fact any other seven-eight furlong novice event over the off-season.

The Guineas - won by some true queens in the years of old which we will discover below, help gets things underway in the heart of the spring and sets the tone for the new season as the summer begins to approach.

Just like the 2,000 Guineas for the colts, the 1,000 Guineas is a year in the making - with many two-year-old's staking their claims as juveniles the season before, with the opening Group One Classic for fillies in the following term in mind.

Any of them who win over a distance close to a mile in a decent affair (novice/conditions etc), usually throw their name into the hat for the prestigious contest held in early May or sometimes late April.

All winter long, we keep a close eye on the flat proceedings on the all-weather as the jumps setting take centre stage. All roads lead to the second Classic [1,000] to kick off the turf campaign for the girls - which in someways, is like the final for the two-year-olds of last season (now three-year-olds), before they go their separate ways in terms of trip, distance or grade.

Here at The Winners Enclosure, we study every single runner and look to profile them all up in our race guides, which can be found in the days up to any high-profile meeting.

Our tips and selections are all researched and backed up by our experienced team of betting tipsters for any fixture big or small, and for the Guineas, our predictions and recommended bets can be found here closer to the time, or on our main daily horse racing tips page.

Hopefully we can find the winner for you!

The 1,000 Guineas is an incredible betting opportunity for all those heading to headquarters for the races or watching them at home and fancy a bet in the race itself.

Similar to the colts event, the good thing with the 1,000 Guineas - officially the second Classic of the season, is that it attracts several top fillies from not just in the British and Irish Isles, but also from some of the leading stables throughout the world.

Trainers give their runners a starting point and a benchmark for the season in this contest, and feel they have nothing to lose in this usually open Group One fixture. In other words, it can dictate a season.

With eight or more runners, punters have a chance to back horses that finish in the top three, and with a field of double that with sixteen, it opens the door to an extra fourth place. However we all bet to find the winner!

Bookmakers around may have extra offers for new or existing customers so keep an eye on those - we certainly do and we promote them through our social media platforms.

Some people may have ante post bets on, which is a great way to get value in the lead-up to the meeting, but for all those turning up on the day shopping for different prices or those spectating away from the venue, good luck with your bets and remember to gamble responsibly!

The Newmarket filly-based feature is certainly one of the highlights of the season, as it usually provides us with individuals to follow on their respective campaigns - particularly if we did not know them already.

The race has been the birth-point for many subsequent stars, but we have not seen a Triple Crown winner for at least the last thirty years.

The closest we have been was back in 2016, when Aidan O'Brien's top filly Minding, came through the 1,000 Guineas and Epsom Oaks unscathed, but went onto tackle other high-profile Group One affairs against all ages, which included a victory in the Queen Elizabeth II on Champions Day, instead of heading to the stamina-based St Leger.

Many three-year-old's make use of their allowances against older horses in some of Europe's biggest races and sort of jump the gun instead of finishing their development in their Classic campaign. Minding was only seen once as a four-year-old until injury forced a sad early retirement.

Winter won the 1,000 Guineas feature in 2017 for the same owner and trainer, before twelve months ago, Billesdon Brook under Sean Levey caused a massive upset at odds of 66/1 for trainer Richard Hannon.

Other notable winners of this contest in past years include Attraction in 2004, who has become a very successful dam, Special Duty in 2010 for French trainer Criquette Head-Maare - who reversed the placings with first-past-the-post Jacqueline Quest, as well as Ghanaati's success in 2009 where she posted the record time.

There are plenty of other races to get stuck into on 1,000 Guineas day - which is usually held on the Sunday, with the 2,000 Guineas operating on the Saturday.

The day's other big race is the Dahlia Stakes - also for the girls aged four-year-old and up, over the mile-and-a-half distance. The contest was won last year by Wuheida, who returned off the back of her Group One success in the States at the Breeders Cup meeting - where she landed the Filly & Mare Turf. Sadly, she was never seen again on the racecourse.

Lah Ti Dar won last year's other Class One event - the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes, and she went onto finish a game second in the St Leger at Doncaster, and third when dropping in trip in the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares at Ascot behind Magical.

Aside from the Havana Gold Maiden Stakes for newcomers, there are three handicaps to unwind - the Qatar Racing Handicap over a mile-and-a-half to commence proceedings, the longholes.com Handicap over six furlongs and the Qipco Supporting British Handicap over ten furlongs completes the card.

The 1,000 Guineas meeting uses Newmarket's Rowley Mile course and not the July Course, which is kept fresh until the summer. If travelling by car, the address for the Rowley Mile is as follows:

Rowley Mile Racecourse - Cambridge Road, Newmarket, CB8 0TF

Newmarket Railway Station is just a few miles away from Newmarket Racecourses, with a free shuttle bus service in operation to transfer racegoers to and from the venue. Cambridge Railway Station is also located 14 miles away, with positive connections to London.