1000 Guineas: Will Aidan’s unbeaten superstar take her chance?

The Betfred 1000 Guineas, first run in 1814, takes place on Sunday, May 4. Three-year-old fillies, hurtling down Newmarket's Rowley mile course in a Group 1 won in the past by stellar names such as Oh So Sharp, Pebbles, Bosra Sham, and Petite Etoile, to name but a handful.

Irish genius Aidan O'Brien knows what it takes to win the race, having trained the winner on no less than seven occasions in the past. Let's look at the latest betting for the first fillies' Classic, something that Aidan discusses with Betfred's Matt Hulmes along with the Classic picture as a whole and Betfred's unique sponsorship of all five of the season's 'majors.'

Horse Racing Odds

Today's Horse Races

Aidan's main 1000 Guineas hope is the precocious daughter of the mighty Frankel, out of a Showcasing mare - Lake Victoria.

At two, she was a revelation. After scraping home in a Curragh maiden she hosed up in a Newmarket G3, took in the G1 Moyglare back at the Curragh, more G1 success followed in the Cheveley Park at HQ, and how about a Juvenile Fillies' Turf success at the Breeders' Cup just for good measure?

Incredible - five starts, at distances ranging from 6f to a mile, unbeaten, and belying her age with the maturity, in three countries, to pull it off. She's certainly the Ballydoyle number one as we approach the race, but her participation isn't cast-iron, as Aidan explains to Matt in the interview below.

Fillies take their own time to come to hand, and sometimes you just have to wait. "She's a little bit behind now but she's starting to come - whether she'll be there in time, we're not sure," was Aidan's verdict.

In her potential absence (fingers crossed that she makes it), O'Brien has Exactly, ironically another daughter of Frankel, as a potential super-sub. She's experienced (eight runs so far), smart (G3 winner at 7f), but has seen the back-end of her illustrious stablemate Lake Victoria twice, including in that Curragh maiden.

One definite advantage - she had a spin at Leopardstown on March 30 and was a closing second in another G3, beaten 1.25l, advertising that she's wintered well.

She's got about 8lbs to find to match up to Lake Victoria but much can happen between two and three; meanwhile the warm and fairly short-priced favourite at present is Godolphin's Desert Flower, a Night Of Thunder filly.

She's unbeaten in four, including the G1 Fillies' Mile at HQ when last seen in October. She looks top-drawer, for the powerful Charlie Appleby yard.

So many outstanding stables are in the mix, and the picture will become clearer when we know about Lake Victoria's participation. In the meantime, with interesting chat about Betfred's unique association with all five Classics, and what Aidan thinks about Fred's massive £2 million Triple Crown bonus, have a look at the video, below.

About nine minutes only, but in the company of an absolute legend in our sport. Won't be long now ... and May the fourth be with you.

Horse Racing Tips from Betfred Insights.