Betfred 2000 Guineas Tips: A Storm is forecast at HQ

The first of five Betfred-sponsored Classics, the 2000 Guineas, takes place at Newmarket on Saturday afternoon (15:35). It's also stage one of the £2m Triple Crown Bonus.

My Betfred 2000 Guineas tips consists of two for the boys in blue.

Charlie Appleby and Godolphin have won three of the last four renewals of the Betfred 2000 Guineas - and DISTANT STORM can make it four out of five on Saturday.

The Night Of Thunder colt fetched a staggering €1.9m at a breeze-up in May last year, a couple of months before his winning debut at Newmarket.

In a seven-furlong maiden on the July Course, he just about prevailed over Aidan O'Brien's Constitution River, who won his next two - including the G2 Futurity Stakes at the Curragh by a couple of lengths.

Back in third was the selection's 96-rated stablemate Catullus, while the reopposing Billecart, Oxagon and Venetian Prince were in fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.

Distant Storm was a warm order for the G3 Acomb Stakes at York next time out, but he ruined his chances by taking a fierce pull under William Buick. Ultimately, he could only manage third, just under five lengths off the pace.

Given how he went about things, it wasn't a bad effort at all. The winner Gewan, who was towards the head of the betting for the Betfred 2000 Guineas before suffering a fatal injury on the gallops at Kempton at the start of April, went on to land the Dewhurst on the Rowley Mile at the end of the season.

No such problems on return to Newmarket in September, for the G3 Tattersalls Stakes, as Distant Storm bolted up by almost five lengths, clocking a very good time.

The aforementioned Dewhurst, won by the late Gewan? That was the fourth and final run of the season for Appleby's colt, who finished third, beaten just over two lengths. I thought he was given a bit to do from out the back, so ought to be marked up a little. He also shaped like he'll relish the step up to a mile, which he of course gets on Saturday.

By all accounts, his work has been very good in the build-up to this Classic occasion, and I'm hopeful of a bold bid.

If Appleby can't provide Godolphin with their fourth win in five years, then Roger Varian can with AVICENNA.

The son of Starspangledbanner was unbeaten in a couple of starts at two, winning on debut at Doncaster over seven furlongs before landing the Betfred Flying Scotsman Stakes over course and distance.

He wasn't seen again that season, returning 216 days later in the Craven Stakes over the C&D of the Betfred 2000 Guineas and finished an eye-catching second to Oxagon, who reopposes.

Keen out of the gates, Ray Dawson's attempts to restrain Avicenna left him in rear and with a bit to do when push came to shove at around the two-furlong pole. When daylight appeared, he finished notably well, clearly best of the rest at the line.

More is needed on Saturday, but that's very possible as he's open to significant improvement. I think he'll love the test, too. There's sure to be a bit of pace on with 15 runners, a few who prefer to get on with things on the frontend.

He's the each-way play for me, with four places available instead of three.

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