2000 Guineas tips as Scorthy Champ napped for Newmarket glory in first classic of the season

A field of 11 will line up in the first British Classic of the season and our man has you covered

SCORTHY CHAMP (3:35) can rule the roost for Joseph O’Brien in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. The three-year-old wasn’t overly fancied ahead of his debut in a maiden at Leopardstown last May. However, he oozed class when routing Dahlia Noir in a typically strong event at the Foxrock venue. That win led the Owning Hill handler to aim the colt at the Group 2 Futurity Stakes as the Curragh. He didn’t start well but finished strongly to claim third behind Henri Matisse in a red-hot renewal. The son of Mehmas was then pitched into the Group 1 National Stakes back at the Kildare track. He completely justified that decision with a power-packed length defeat of old rival Henri Matisse. The star is a sure-fire improver over a mile this year so he can bag the first Class for his shrewd yard.

UNEQUAL LOVE (1:10) can land the opening Ellen Chaloner Stakes for the second year running. William Haggas’ filly went on to finish second to Mitbaahy in a Group 2 at the Curragh next time. She put in an even better shift when outbattling Dark Trooper in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot.

The five-year-old ended last season with some creditable performances back in Group company. The sprinter goes well fresh so she can take advantage of a drop in class for her thriving trainer.

Haggas can immediately double-up with MORE THUNDER (1:45) in the trappy Betfred Handicap. The colt looked useful over 1m 2f when narrowly claiming a Redcar novice for Sir Michale Stoute. He ran well again over that distance when third behind Burrito in a warmer contest at this venue. The bay wasn’t disgraced again when placed in competitive handicaps both here and at Chester. The four-year-old was surprisingly dropped to six furlongs on debut for his new handler here. That proved a very wise decision as he showed potent speed to hammer the useful Aramram. The son of Night Of Thunder is nicely unexposed as a sprinter so he can deny that rival again.

HAND OF GOD (2:20) can hit the target for Harry Charlton in the tricky Suffolk Handicap. The colt built on some solid efforts when caning Classic Encounter in a maiden here in 2023. He showed class and guts to pip Blue Lemons on his handicap bow after a break at Sandown. The bay improved for a step-up to 1m 2f when thrashing Cambridge in the Golden Gates at Ascot.

TROPICAL STORM (2:55) can blow his rivals away for Robert Cowell in the Palace House Stakes. The speedster hit new heights when edging-out Vadream in this Group 3 last year for George Scott. The gelding wasn’t disgraced again when third to Kerdos in the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Haydock. He then had his limitation exposed when well-beaten at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood.

He showed signs of a revival when a fifth to No Half Measures down on trip and class at Newbury. The four-year-old goes well fresh so he can retain his crown for a yard who excel with speedsters.

DARK CLOUD RISING (4:40) can make it a dark day for his foes in the TrustATrader Handicap. David O’Meara’s horse looked promising when comfortably denying Bonnie's Boy at Thirsk. He shaped well again when a good third to Defence Minister in novice company at Haydock. The gelding then found Listed level too much when seventh in the Rockingham Stakes at York. He bounced back when decisively defeating Cayman Tai switched to handicaps at Pontefract. The three-year-old scored with plenty in hand so he can shrug-off a 7lb penalty upped in class.

ROGUE DIPLOMAT (5:15) can turn on the charm for James Owen in the Aston Martin Handicap. The colt showed genuine potential when third to The Trickster on debut over a mile at Beverley. He then failed to stay 1m 2f when filling the same spot behind Devil's Advocate at Chelmsford. The bay proved that seven furlongs was his trip when blowing away Dark Tornado at Leicester. The three-year-old won with real authority so he can defy a stiff opening mark for his skilled yard.

George Boughey also knows the score so I’m backing CLASSIC ENCOUNTER (5:50) in the last. The gelding handled this track well when second to Hand Of God in a maiden in October 2023. He kept up the good work with a string of respectable efforts in handicaps on the all-weather. The bay benefitted from the return to Turf when cosily dismissing Austrian Theory at Redcar. That race is working out pretty well so the four-year-old can follow-up in this weaker contest.

NEWMARKET

1:10 UNEQUAL LOVE

1:45 MORE THUNDER

2:20 HAND OF GOD

2:55 TROPICAL STORM

3:35 SCORTHY CHAMP (NAP)

4:05 FRENCH MASTER

4:40 DARK CLOUD RISING

5:15 ROGUE DIPLOMAT

5:50 CLASSIC ENCOUNTER