Betfred Guineas Festival 2025 betting preview: Who wins the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket?

With the jump season over, attention is now firmly switched to action on the flat.

The wraps have already been taken off a number of the stars set to light up the summer months, but the Betfred Guineas Festival at Newmarket racecourse is the time things start to really heat up. 

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The first two Classic races of the season, the Betfred 2000 Guineas and Betfred 1000 Guineas, are the main events of the three-day meeting, but supporting them are several other ‘Group and Listed’ races, which will act as good pointers for the rest of the season. 

Throw into the mix a number of ultra-competitive handicaps, and informative novice contests, and it makes the meeting one that is much more than just about the two classic contests that take centre stage. 

Guineas Festival 2025: Day one

The first day of the meeting might lack the presence of a ‘Group One’ on the card, however that doesn’t detract from the quality on show. 

Taking centre stage is the Group Two Betfred Jockey Club Stakes, which has been won by a number of top class performers, but has also thrown up plenty of surprise results.

This year’s race has attracted the likes of last year's Betfred Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly and globe trotter Silver Knott, who will make his first start in Britain since finishing 11th in the 2023 2000 Guineas.

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The Listed Nyetimber King Charles II Stakes is often used as a stepping stone towards targets at Royal Ascot.

And this year’s race looks a strong renewal with the likes of the unbeaten Juddmonte-owned colt Cosmic Year among those set to do battle in the race. 

Elsewhere on the card there could be further Betfred Derby clues on offer in the TrustATrader Newmarket Stakes, despite only attracting a small field. 

FIRST’s top tip Bellum Justum to win the Betfred Jockey Club Stakes - 5/1 (Coral)

Bellum Justum shaped as if he needed his comeback outing in the Group Three Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes at Newbury, but he can figure more prominently here. 

On that occasion he had no answers to stablemate Divina Grace, who looked the more forward out of the Andrew Balding-trained pair, but he will be expected to get much closer this time around with that run under his belt if he is to return to the top table. 

The son of Sea The Stars showed his best form on quick ground when winning the Grade One Nashville Derby Invitational Stakes at Keeneland last year so conditions here should be ideal over a trip that should be in range. 

Extra tips

Fifty Nifty was only just edged out on his return to action over course and distance 16 days ago when failing to reel the front running winner.

The Tom Clover-trained Ten Sovereigns gelding was keen enough on that occasion, which may have just cost him victory. 

With that effort blowing away any cobwebs, and with both his wins coming on good to firm ground, he ticks plenty of boxes here.

Although being nudged up 2lbs for his latest defeat is not a help he remains relatively unexposed compared to a number of his rivals. 

Pick: Fifty Nifty to win the Betfred “Nifty Fifty” Handicap - 7/4 (Coral)

Guineas Festival 2025: Day two

All eyes will be on the Betfred 2000 Guineas, which is the feature race of the entire meeting, during the nine race bonanza on day two of the Festival. 

In recent seasons Charlie Appleby has been the man to follow in this race having won two of the last three renewals with Notable Speech last year and Coroebus in 2022. 

This year the Godolphin handler looks to have two live contenders in the shape of last year’s Dewhurst and Middle Park hero Shadow Of Light and stablemate Ruling Court. 

Aidan O’Brien has not won the mile race since Magna Grecia in 2019, but his runners are always to be feared with the Ballydoyle master winning the race on a record 10 occasions.

Running alongside the Betfred 2000 Guineas is the Group Three Hong Kong Jockey Club Palace House Stakes, which has often had a bearing on results in Group One sprints later in the season.

FIRST’s top tip Field Of Gold to win the Betfred 2000 Guineas - 7/4 (Betway)

John Gosden has yet to win the Betfred 2000 Guineas, but Field Of Gold, who he trains in partnership with his son Thady, can change all that.

With the soft ground bogging him down on his final start at two in the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp in October, the son of Kingman looked a star in the making when blasting his rivals away upped to a mile on his return in the bet365 Craven Stakes. 

Although those at the front paid the price for going hard early on there was plenty to like about the performance put up by Field Of Gold, most notably his turn off foot late on. 

No horse has completed the Craven and 2000 Guineas double since Haafhd in 2004, but with Field Of Gold likely to improve for that run he can set the record straight. 

Extra tips

Hand Of God looked a horse going places last season after backing up his win in the bet365 Esher Cup at Sandown Park with the Golden Gates Stakes at Royal Ascot. 

A setback prevented him from being seen again in 2024, but he looks a horse to keep on the right side of this season and the Betfred Suffolk Stakes looks an ideal starting point. 

If he is to turn out to be a Group race performer he should have no trouble in carrying a big weight to glory here. 

Although only one favourite has won the nine furlong prize since 2014, Hand Of God looks among the least exposed in the field with plenty of room for improvement, while his trainer Harry Charlton is operating at around a 25 percent strike rate. 

Pick: Hand Of God to win the Betfred Suffolk Stakes 

Guineas Festival 2025: Day three

Focus switches to the fillies on the final day of the Betfred Guineas Festival with the Betfred 1000 Guineas the main event. 

In recent seasons the mile prize has been a graveyard for favourites with only Minding back in 2017 the only market leader since 2014 to have won the race. 

This year’s contest revolves around unbeaten short-priced favourite Desert Flower, who will bid to give Charlie Appleby a first win in the race. 

On the same card punters will get to see the first glimpses of potential Betfred Oaks contenders in the Betfred Pretty Polly Stakes, a race that has been won on route to success in the Epsom Downs Classic by Talent in 2013 and Taghrooda in 2014. 

FIRST’s top tip Falakeyah to win the Betfred Pretty Polly Stakes 

Owen Burrows has an exceptional strike rate in races at Listed level and above and Falakeyah can enhance that record by making a winning comeback here. 

On her sole start at two the daughter of New Bay ran out a convincing winner of a novice contest at Wolverhampton that caught the attention of many in the depths of winter. 

Given the way she finished on that occasion the step up in trip to 10 furlongs here will be a plus, while reports from her yard suggest that she has wintered well. 

Although there will be plenty of other unexposed types in the race Falakeyah looks the one to side with.

Extra tips

Duty First thrust into contention for the Betfred 1000 Guineas with a stylish success on her comeback in the Dubai Duty Free Stakes at Newbury. 

While that victory was over seven furlongs the daughter of Showcasing was not for stopping under Hollie Doyle to suggest the step up to a mile will hold no fears. 

With a number of her chief rivals yet to run this season, Duty First can put her assured race fitness to good use and at least reach the frame at a double-figure price. 

Pick: Duty First each-way in the Betfred 1000 Guineas, three places - 16/1 (Ladbrokes)

Odds correct at the time of writing.