Ante-post tips: best bets for the QIPCO 1000 and 2000 Guineas

I’ll start by saying that it is very hard to pick holes in City Of Troy who heads the ante-post betting for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, and is by far the most likely winner. 

“There is no doubt he is the best two-year-old I’ve trained,” said Aidan O’Brien after City Of Troy’s devastating Dewhurst victory last season, and it was hard not to be taken by those comments. 

There doesn’t appear to be any chinks in his armour, especially as he’s already proved he handles this track, and stepping up in trip promises to suit. 

However, two contenders have got to fill the places should City Of Troy prove too hard to beat, and with last year’s Champion two-year-old chalked up at a best-priced 8-11, it is probably best to find an each-way alternative, anyway. 

Another contender who handled the Rowley Mile course well last year was TASK FORCE, and the Frankel colt catches the eye at the general 16-1 on offer. 

Ralph Beckett’s youngster won his first two starts – both over six furlongs - at Ripon and Salisbury with ease, despite doing plenty wrong on both occasions, and very much appeared a work in progress. 

He then took a big step up in grade to contest the Middle Park against rivals who had more experience than him and proved he's a Group One performer by chasing home star sprinter Vandeek, with Coventry winner River Tiber a close third. 

Being by the mighty Frankel out of 2010 1000 Guineas winner Special Duty, Task Force certainly isn’t bred to relish six furlongs, but Beckett was keen to stick to that trip due to Task Force’s keenness, which was also evident in the Middle Park. That effort is therefore worth marking up given he is likely to relish a mile or further.

Connections said afterwards that it’s “all about next year” for Task Force who looks sure to make a better three-year-old, and that opinion was also backed up by his physique last season as he certainly had a frame to fill. 

Beckett has advised that his charge has settled down this season plus will also go for a racecourse gallop ahead of the Guineas, which should blow any cobwebs away.

Provided he does settle better, Task Force has the potential to develop into a high-class performer as he steps up in trip this season, and while it's hard to be confident about his chances of winning with City Of Troy in the race, I'll be disappointed if he isn't capable of hitting the frame.

Contrary to the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, the QIPCO 1000 Guineas has a wide-open look to it, with Moyglare Stud winner Fallen Angel heading the betting at a best-priced 7-2. 

There are a few you can make a decent case for here, but the one who stands out at a general 10-1 is French raider RAMATUELLE. 

Christopher Head’s youngster was the top-rated juvenile in France last year, which is no surprise given she won a Group Two and Group Three with ease at Chantilly before being narrowly denied by Vandeek in the Prix Morny. 

That is strong form, too, as the third, fourth and fifth were all placed at Group One level next time out, and the winner looks a potential superstar in the sprinting division this season. 

It wasn’t hard to be underwhelmed by Ramatuelle’s effort behind Romantic Style on her return to action at Deauville in April, but the daughter of Justify was far too keen throughout (a slow pace didn’t help her cause), and it was probably to her credit she managed to finish as close as she did in the testing conditions. 

That was no doubt a pipe-opener ahead of the QIPCO 1000 Guineas, and it is wise to think she’ll take a considerable step forward for that outing. 

The selection still needs to prove she stays a mile but finishing second on heavy ground over seven furlongs suggests she should, especially as she stayed on all the way to the line, and her sire won a Group One over 12 furlongs plus Ramatuelle’s dam scored over an extended seven furlongs. 

Connections have said the Newmarket Classic is the plan and with strong form next to her name, and race fitness now on her side, she’s a shade overpriced at the double-figure odds on offer.