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NEWMARKET TIPS

Newmarket Races: Tips, racecards and betting preview for the QIPCO 1000 Guineas meeting on Sunday live on ITV

THERE'S no sign of the top-drawer racing slowing down and all eyes are on the fillies on Sunday, with the QIPCO 1000 Guineas the feature.

Once again the ITV cameras are showing the action and our man Callum Jamieson takes a closer look at the card with his race-by-race preview.

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Credit: Reuters

Race 1 - 1.15 Watch Racing For Free On Betfair EBF Stallions Maiden Stakes

A race full of debutants and where do you start?

Well the race is chocca full of well-bred Godolphin horses and picking between them is probably best left to the pre-race market.

On paper Saeed bin Suroor's FUTURE VISION would get the nod. He's by Dark Angel and should know his job; Oisin Murphy is booked.

Charlie Appleby's horse Noble Dynasty has an eye-catching pedigree and with his stats at Newmarket will prove popular. He may be a horse for further down the line though.

Roger Varian also runs two and he has started the season well. Keep an eye on his pair of Haseef and Imperial Yellow.

MARKET WATCH: Future Vision

Race 2 - 1.50 Betfair Exchange Buckhounds Stakes (Listed Race)

Communique is a completely different beast at Newmarket, but he has been very well found in the betting here and can probably be passed over in a competitive race.

If he gets his way out front he could be hard to stop with the track playing to the advantage of front-runners all weekend.

First In Line remains unexposed for John Gosden and this is the perfect starting point for him this year. However, he's skinny enough too.

It looks a race to take on the market leaders with Alan King's Trueshan probably best on ground with a bit of give in too, as exciting a horse as he is going forwards.

And the one I like is Faylaq who has yet to deliver on hints of serious promise. That may change this year and the son of Dubawi could have been over-looked in this field.

He was very inconsistent last season, but looks plenty better than his bare form suggests and he's in the perfect hands to have his chinks ironed out as a four-year-old.

A mile-and-a-half on good ground is exactly what he should thrive over.

Dashing Willoughby will need plenty of rain to be competitive and will probably come on for his run although Andrew Balding remains in terrific form.

Floating Artist could be worth an each-way poke for Richard Hannon. He beat the fancy at Ascot last season and is another yet to fully live up to his potential. Double figure prices underestimate him in this wide open race.

SELECTION: Faylaq

EACH-WAY NOD: Floating Artist

Race 3 - 2.25 Betfair Exchange Bet In-Play Handicap

Good Birthday has been put in as the early favourite, but it is Sir Michael Stoute's DAVYDENKO they all have to beat.

The fancy ran a career best when upped in trip at Doncaster on his last start and I don't expect a 7lbs rise to stop the progress of this horse.

He should be better at four and Stoute has started the season with aplomb. Ryan Moore is booked and so long as the rain holds off I expect him to win this.

Good Birthday is clearly the main threat but will need to step forwards from his three-year-old form. He has been gelded though and that may ensure he does kick on now.

Desert Icon still appears on a tough enough mark, especially in such a hot race for this time of year. He may well step forward later in the year.

West End Charmer is clearly a talented individual but appears tricky to keep bang on all season long. He's hard to trust but Mark Johnston has had another fast start to his season and market support could prove key.

At double figure odds I would not put anyone off Brian Meehan's Palavecino. He beat Momkin on his debut and improved again once gelded.

He could jump forwards again this season and has only had the four starts. A mark of 86 may well underestimate him.

SELECTION: Davydenko

EACH-WAY NOD: Palavecino

Race 4 - 3.00 Betfair EBF Pretty Polly Fillies' Stakes (Listed Race)

A tricky race for punters here with a bunch of smart looking fillies up against each other, but with very little form to go on.

Plenty of the big yards are represented and it should throw up a nice horse or three heading forwards, potentially an Oaks contender too.

John Gosden once again has a top team of three-year-old fillies and his Tiempo Vuela looks top pick with Frankie Dettori booked.

She won her only start, up at Newcastle where Gosden likes to send his better types and the market should prove she is his main hope here.

He also runs Moonlight In Paris and the 105-rated Run Wild. The latter sets a solid standard but is vulnerable to a progressive type.

But the one I fancy is Ralph Beckett's debut winner TREFOIL. She has been over-looked in the market and has plenty going for her on paper.

She was an impressive winner here at the end of the season and should take a huge step forwards at three. Beckett is another top handler when it comes to progressive fillies and Trefoil could well prove capable of running in the Oaks with a big display.

Alpen Rose did not set the world alight at two, but a return to better ground could see her improve again. She was third in the May Hill last year, but did look held there.

SELECTION: Trefoil

Race 5 - 3.35 Qipco 1000 Guineas Stakes (Group 1)

The home team will be led by Roger Charlton's Quadrilateral - a top juvenile last season.

She is a beast of a horse and won three on three on the spin that culminated in the Group 1 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket.

There are plenty of positives about her chances but her price reflects that and my thinking is she took plenty of getting after that day and could be vulnerable to a speedier type.

And that brings in Jessica Harrington's MILLISLE in a big way. She finished last year an improved horse with a taking win in the Cheveley Park at Newmarket.

She needs to prove she will thrive over the mile, but there is encouragement on her page given there are even some jumpers in the family.

Oisin Murphy was an early jockey booking and the signals from Ireland have been all positive.

The race lacks some depth this year and it's surprising to see Aidan O'Brien only bring one over in Love.

She's by Galileo and should improve again this season but looked well-held when third in the Fillies' Mile. It's hard to rule her out though, you only have to look at who she is trained by.

But the fact Cloak Of Spirits is 8-1 with some bookies demonstrates the weak feel to this beforehand. She has only won a novice and been beaten in two Group 2s.

Trainer Richard Hannon likes her but this would be an under-par renewal if she lifts the trophy.

Of the outsiders Boomer may be of interest for each-way players. She looks a tad over-priced and her run in the Fillies' Mile was better than it looked on paper.

Given a more efficient ride that day she would have been closer and would be shorter for this had she been from a more fashionable yard.

Raffle Prize needs to prove herself over a mile, while Shimmering cannot be ruled out with Frankie Dettori booked and hailing from John Gosden's.

SELECTION: Millisle

Race 6 - 4.10 Setting Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap

Only 10lbs split the field here and it's as competitive as you'd expect for a top mile handicap on Guineas weekend.

Bell Rock is very interesting and not just because of Andrew Balding's fast start to the campaign. He's very lightly-tried, but has shown glimpses of being a good bit above average.

It's his handicap debut after being tried in Listed and even Group 1 company since his debut win and a mark of 98 could be lenient. Keep an eye on the betting with Oisin Murphy booked a plus on paper.

Ebury is another lightly-raced type, he needs watching in the market too. He has form on soft ground and good ground and is another that could be better than he's shown so far.

Baltic Baron is a likeable type in races like this but his hold up style might mean he can be passed over in this, especially with how races have panned out at Newmarket so far during the meeting.

The one I lean towards is ZHUI FENG who loves going from the front and with Jim Crowley going from pillar to post on stablemate Tinto on Friday, expect a similar attempt here.

He has dropped to a near career low mark and has to be of interest in this at likely a good price.

Ouzo could not stop winning last year but may be a bit high in the weights now.

Top weight Kuwait Currency looks against it not on his preferred all-weather surface.

SELECTION: Zhui Feng

Race 7 - 4.45 Betfair Exchange More Ways To Win EBF Stallions Novice Stakes (Div I)

Twelve runners are set to go to post for the first division of this novice and I expect EASTERN WORLD to be a warm order after his second to Starcat on debut.

That form has proved smart and Charlie Appleby is sure to have brought him forwards. He'll be short enough, but with little form to go on he is the obvious pick.

The main danger will be debut winner King Leonidas, trained by John Gosden with Frankie Dettori booked.

He looked smart when on top at Newmarket - albeit in an average enough race - but does have to carry a penalty for that and that could leave him open to the selection.

Roger Charlton runs his last time out winner Bullfinch who improved markedly on his debut. There's more to come from him, but this looks tricky under a penalty.

SELECTION: Eastern World

Race 8 - 5.20 Betfair Exchange More Ways To Win EBF Stallions Novice Stakes (Div II)

The second division doesn't look quite as strong on paper, but has a similar feel with little form to go on and a Charlie Appleby once-raced horse likely to be a warm order after a second on debut.

But Spectrum Of Light's first start wasn't as promising and not in the strongest of heats. I can pass over on him.

Boss Power was four of four on debut for Sir Michael Stoute when weak in the betting. Oisin Murphy is booked here so keep an eye on the betting.

It's really not a race to go wild in, but the newcomers may be worth siding with depending on a market steer or two.

The Gosden-Dettori double act team up with Juddmonte's SUNRAY MAJOR and Charlie Fellowes has put up Duel In The Sun as a horse to follow this season.

Debut winner Monthather carries a 7lbs penalty for his debut win and is the one that sets the clear standard.

MARKET WATCH: Sunray Major

Race 9 - 5.55 Betfair Weighed In Podcast Handicap

Three-year-old handicaps can be tricky at the best of times, but at this stage of a shortened season, they are even more of a puzzle.

A good number of these will be setting their sights above a Class 3 Handicap come the end of the season and ENCIPHER will have John Gosden planning away for Group races already.

After a promising second at Haydock he impressed when winning a decent race at Newbury and anything at two always looked as if it may be a bonus.

I expect him to kick on now and a mark of 90 could be history, sooner rather than later. But that applies to plenty of these and it will be small stakes.

Owen Burrows has spoke of the Derby with Hukum. If that's the case then he would be chucked in off the same mark of 90. He is obviously a clear threat.

Native Tribe was second to Encipher on his debut and won next time out at Sandown. He is of course of interest too, but lacked a bit of professionalism.

His stablemate Al Maysan is unbeaten in two starts, while Andrew Balding gives Bronze River his first start at three. It's a red-hot race.

TENTATIVE NOD: Encipher

Race 10 - 6.30 Betfair Each Way Edge Handicap

The lucky last is another tough one for punters but I'm willing to take a dart on bottom-weight MERRY BANTER.

He has dropped to a tempting mark and the booking of Harry Bentley is a tick for the Paul Midgley stable. The yard have started quite steadily but this horse is quick and speed has been to the fore all weekend at Newmarket.

He is only 2lbs higher than his last win and looks to have snuck into a good spot here.

Mountain Peak is another with a big chance. Ed Walker has started the season well and his sprinter is consistent enough and appears on a fair enough mark. He goes well at Newmarket.

I'd be taking Motagally on at the prices. He has a bit to prove off a mark of 90 and was well beat in a number of handicaps last season.

SELECTION: Merry Banter

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