2000 Guineas

The 2000 Guineas meeting at Newmarket - the home of flat racing, 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 Classic of the campaign, which tests three-year-old's over the straight mile on Newmarket's Rowley Mile course.

It is the opening Group One of the flat season on any account, and acts as the opening leg of the Triple Crown for the colts, which is followed by the Epsom Derby and the St Leger at Doncaster.

The curtain raiser of the freshly new campaign, the champion and 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 Craven or the Greenham, or in fact any other seven-eight furlong novice event.

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

The 2,000 Guineas is essentially a year in the making - with as mentioned, many two-year-old's staking their claims in their juvenile season for the opening Group One Classic in the following term.

Any horse who wins over a distance close to a mile in a decent affair (novice/conditions etc), usually throws 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 Guineas to kick off the flat turf campaign - which in some ways, 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 and distance.

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 2,000 Guineas is a fantastic betting opportunity for all those heading to the Newmarket meeting or watching the races at home and fancy a little flutter in the race itself.

The good thing with the opening Classic is that it attracts several top names from not just in the British and Irish Isles, but also from some of the leading stables throughout the world.

There is the freedom to not only find the winner of the race, but also to whom fills the places. Back in the 1820's and 1830's, it was not a surprise to see two or three runner fields, but that simply is just not the case today.

Even with eight 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.

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

The race has been the birth-point for many subsequent stars, none more so than the great Frankel who went to Suffolk for the second time on a five-race unbeaten run, after victory in the Greenham on his first start as a three-year-old.

Frankel went onto establish himself as one of the greatest horses of all time, as he bashed up everyone over the retained mile distance. He ended his career the undisputed champion of the world when succeeding first-time over ten furlongs in the Champion Stakes, retiring with a crown on his head for the late great Sir Henry Cecil.

Read more: See the current foals of the great Frankel

As touched upon, the 2,000 Guineas is the opening leg of the Triple Crown for the colts, and Camelot was the last horse who went for the prized accomplishment let-alone managed to complete it.

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.

Camelot trained by Aidan O'Brien proved his versatility by winning this back in 2012, before victory in the Epsom Derby later in June. He stepped up to 1m6f for the St Leger at Doncaster, for which he was sent off the 2/5f but could not reel in the Godolphin trained Encke.

In 2018, Saxon Warrior followed up his victory in the now-named Vertem Futurity Stakes at Doncaster, and went onto have many memorable clashes with John Gosden's Roaring Lion over a further distance.

If not continuing to race over a mile, many see the 2,000 Guineas as a real stepping stone for a horse's future career.

Of course the 2,000 Guineas is not just one race on the day - there are six others to get stuck into including the Group Two Dunanden Jockey Club Stakes over 1m4f and the Group Three Palace House Stakes over five furlongs.

Won last year by the Roger Varian-trained Defoe, the leading contenders from the Jockey Club Stakes often go on to compete in the Coronation Cup at Epsom at the Derby meeting. The last to win both races in the same year was Shirocco in 2006.

The Palace House Stakes also gives you plenty of names to keep an eye on in the sprinting category for three-year-olds and upward.

Last year, the race was won by Mabs Cross twelve months ago - who went onto win the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp at the Arc meeting, beating Judicial (subsequent Group Three Coral Charge winner) and Alpha Delphini (subsequent Group One Nunthorpe victor). Need I say more?

The Listed Havana Gold Newmarket Stakes is the day's other Class One feature over ten furlongs, with three handicaps completing the 2,000 Guineas Card.

The 2,000 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.