Qipco 1000 Guineas (British Champion Series) – Newmarket Sunday 5th May

May 2, 2013 Thatsbettingtips Staff

The leading 3 year old fillies will be putting the final touches to their preparations for Newmarket this week, with all the trials for the race accounted for. Here we reflect on some of those races and look forward to the first Classic race of the season, offering the best betting tips for the race

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Qipco 1000 Guineas Stakes (The 200th Running) (British Champion Series) (Fillies’ Group 1) – Newmarket Sunday 5th May

The Henry Cecil trained Hot Snap (11/4 with Coral) propelled herself to the head of the market with a taking performance in the Group 3 Nell Gwyn at Newmarket last month. Despite racing green and getting outpaced early on she soon got the hang of things and swept down the inside rail to victory, beating Sky Lantern (12/1 with Ladbrokes) by 2L. A half sister to the five time Group 1 winner Midday she is bred to stay further than a mile and that makes her performance over 7f in the Nell Gwyn all the more impressive. She should improve for that run and she may have to as it will be tough for her to win a Guineas if she is again that green early on in the race. The step up in trip will help her and she looks to be a worth favourite on the back of that run, and her price reflects that. Sky Lantern ran a good race in the trial and may also come on for that run but it is hard to see her reversing form with Hot Snap given the way Hot Snap was finishing her race; over another furlong she would have won by even further. She is the choice of Richard Hughes however and she has each-way claims.

Richard Hannon's other runner Maureen (14/1 with William Hill) will be ridden by Olivier Peslier and she comes into the race on the back of a smart performance in the Group 3 Fred Darling Stakes. She was suited by the way the race was run that day but a strong gallop is similarly likely here and although she could be vulnerable to stronger stayers the way in which she travelled at Newbury bodes well. She came up short at Group 1 level last year and she will need to improve again to feature here.

Aiden O’Brien won this race last year and he runs Moth (7/1 with Sky Bet) for the same connections. She didn’t make much of an impact as a 2 year old but returned last month and won in very taking fashion at the Curragh. The step up to a mile will suit her and she ought to stay further than this in time so her combination of stamina and the turn of foot she showed could make her dangerous. This clearly is a big step up in class but the yard’s runners must always be respected and it would be no surprise to see her run a big race. Above her in the market is the Charlie Hulls trained Just The Judge (11/2 with Sporting Bet) who is unbeaten in her three race career. She did all her racing over 7f last year and looked as if this mile trip would suit her well when winning the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes at this track. On the face of it she needs to step up on the form she has shown so far but she got a timely boost recently when Ninjago was an impressive winner of an Ascot Listed race; that horse had previously finished 2L behind Just The Judge at Newbury. Yet to be seen this season but yard is in good form and given the conviction of her victories last season it is unlikely we have seen just how good she could be yet

The other filly at the top of the market is the French trained WHAT A NAME (5/1 with Bet Victor) who finished 2^nd behind the Richard Hannon colt Olympic Glory in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere last season. She stayed on well that day in testing conditions and on that evidence the step up to a mile will suit her. The fact that they are bringing her over is a clear indicator that they think she can run well and it may be the better ground that she will encounter can help her improve. Her form behind Olympic Glory looks good in terms of this race and with a run already under her belt she won’t lack for fitness fascinating contender.

At bigger prices Rasmeyaa (16/1 with Coral) represents Dermot Weld on what will be just her third start. An impressive maiden winner at the end of last season she had several winners in behind her that day including subsequent Group 3 winner Rehn’s Nest. Reports are she is being rushed to make the race however and may need the run, so given her inexperience that is a worry. Winning Express (16/1 with Betfred) has run well in Group 1 company in the past and made a satisfactory reappearance behind Hot Snap in the Nell Gwyn. She met trouble in running that day and noticeably was doing her best work late on so connections must be hopeful that a mile will be in her reach. Has a lot of ground to make up on the favourite but was probably value to finish closer to her last time out and on better ground she may be able to run into a place. DIAMINDA (50/1 with Bet Victor) was a fast finishing 4^th in a Listed contest behind Winning Express when last seen and is set to take her chance without a prep run. The overall value of her form leaves her with plenty to find but after meeting trouble in running her late run that day was very eye-catching and she certainly does not lack speed. This is much tougher than anything she has faced so far but given her price in comparison to the likes of Winning Express and all the form that ties into that, she is certainly an interesting outsider with Paul Hanagan booked if her inexperience does not hold her back. Roz (33/1 with Betfred) has a similar profile with plenty to find on bare form but she did finish 2^nd behind Certify in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile on her last start. Fast ground should suit her but she may need more of a stamina test to be seen to best effect