Betfred Guineas Festival Friday Tips: Old Firm can score in HQ sprint

It's here - the Betfred Guineas Festival at the home of flat racing, Newmarket. Three days of high octane drama (Fri-Sun inclusive) embracing the season's first two Classics, Saturday's Betfred 2000 Guineas for the colts, and the following day it's the turn of the fillies in the Betfred 1000 Guineas.

We're all over this fabulous celebration of the thoroughbred, and I'm bringing you a companion Lucky 15 piece today plus this - a look at three further races on the card, so if my maths is up to scratch that's all seven terrific contests on the day nicely covered. So - it's our opener, Friday, May 2. Let's get this party started.

Horse Racing Odds

Today's Horse Races

13:10 - Pearla @ 3/1

Three-year-old maiden fillies go 10f, and only two of the seven have any previous racecourse experience.

Wathnan Racing is an ownership vehicle that's made a big splash since entering the scene in the last couple of years. It's the Emir of Qatar's project as I understand it, and winners have flowed - including at Royal Ascot.

They line-up here with a daughter of the majestic Sea The Stars, Pearla, out of a Duke Of Marmalade mare, from the yard of local in-form trainer William Haggas (29% strike-rate in the last 14 days). Tom Marquand has the mount.

She's in July's Irish Oaks and everything screams potential, frankly. I'm hoping she's as smart as she might be, if you get my drift, and I want to be with her on debut. Could be an enthralling affair, with some very tasty pedigrees on show.

13:45 - Alpine Trail @ 6/4

A big day's racing at HQ almost demands a Charlie Appleby winner for the Boys in Blue - and we might have one here in the shape of a beautifully-bred Dubawi colt out of a Camelot mare, unbeaten so far courtesy of two little novice stakes contests.

Alpine Trail debuted at Wolves in February on the Tapeta, and dotted up under the presently-sidelined James Doyle. Similar followed when last seen at Yarmouth nearly four weeks ago, and this is a big step up now into Listed class.

Looks entirely appropriate though, and Will Buick takes over in the plate. Only six line up but it's sure to be highly competitive. Ralph Beckett's Aurel is well entered up and evidently well regarded, but this could be yet another headquarters scorer for Godolphin, Appleby, and Buick. Very well backed from around 2s as I write.

16:45 - Circe @ 6/4

A couple of weeks ago I tipped up Persica to win the G3 Earl of Sefton here at HQ for this very combination - trainer Richard Hannon and jockey Ryan Moore. He obliged with a bit to spare - and the deadly old firm combine once again on at least 6f of the fabled Rowley Mile with Circe.

Sprint handicappers (fillies) do battle here, and my selection steps down to this distance for only the second time in what will shortly be 13 starts. The four-year-old daughter of Kodiac has won two so far - a Doncaster maiden in September 2023, and a warm Newbury Class 3 handicap in July of last year off a mark of 83.

In Berkshire the third home that day, Sunfall, went on to win an £18k handicap at Haydock next time and subsequently a Listed contest at Ascot for William Haggas, so the form has a solid look to it.

Those two successes were at 7f and a mile respectively, but connections are looking to take down another Class 3 handicap at six, off 85. Newmarket is a very stiff test, with bags of power and resolve required to negotiate the Dip late in the piece and hit the line strong, so I'm not overly concerned about the distance reduction. Could be a masterstroke in fact.

When the trainer reaches out to Ryan it's invariably for a good 'un, and I like her chances a lot in what's a cracking finale for day one.

If you'd like to look at today's Lucky 15 suggestion from Newmarket, it's right HERE

Horse Racing Tips from Betfred Insights.