Betfred 1000 Guineas: guide to possible runners and 33-1 tip

The last unbeaten filly to win the Betfred 1000 Guineas was Attraction, back in 2004, but it’s odds-on that a runner with an unblemished record will scoop Sunday’s Classic at Newmarket. 

Desert Flower, undefeated after four starts, heads the betting at around Evens, while Lake Victoria, who has won each of her five starts, is chalked up at 7-2. In addition, Chantilly Lace and Elwateen, both victorious on their only races last year, are on course to take part. 

Only four favourites have won this century and one of those, Special Duty, needed the help of the stewards to prevail. 

By contrast, 14 winners have been returned at double-figure odds, with Elmalka scooping the spoils at 28-1 last year. 

Here’s a guide to the 15 left in contention. 

Official rating: 111. Rowley Mile form: --. Odds: 16-1. 

Won her first four starts last term, when the highlight was her near ten-length romp in the Chesham at Royal Ascot. Her progress stalled in the autumn, though, when she fluffed her lines in the Moyglare (said to have finished lame) and Prix Marcel Boussac soon after. A mile should be within compass of the compass of the Frankel filly, although her dam, Mecca’s Angel, was all about speed. 

Official rating: 103. Rowley Mile form: --. Odds: 33-1. 

Touched off by the more experienced Exactly (subsequently twice went close in Group One company) on her Leopardstown debut (7f) before returning to the same course and distance to win her next two starts. The altter was only a Listed affair but was worth €100,000. Has more on her plate here and you get the sense that Red Letter is the stable’s No 1 hope. 

Official rating: --. Rowley Mile form: --. Odds: 25-1. 

Th daughter of Lope De Vega is a half-sister to Ten Sovereigns, the July Cup winner, and changed hands for 375,000gns as a yearling. She paid back £5,400 of that when mastering four colts on her debut on heavy ground at Salisbury (7f), although the form looks ordinary, at least by Group One standards, and this is going to be a completely different test. 

Official rating: 117. Rowley Mile form: 11. Odds: Evens. 

Flawless in her four races last season, saving her best for last when routing her rivals in the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket in October. The chestnut filly impressed on the clock that day, having previously landed the May Hill at Doncaster. Her stable had a mixed time at the Craven meeting and it remains to be seen how she’s progressed from two to three, although it was always Charlie Appleby’s intention to bring her here without a warm-up run. The last British-trained runner to pull that off was Blue Bunting, another Godolphin runner, in 2011. 

Official rating: 109. Rowley Mile form: 3. Odds: 16-1. 

Seemed to have her limitations as a two-year-old, admittedly when encountering soft ground in pattern company, but was a revelation when thumping 14 rivals in commanding style in the Fred Darling on her return at Newbury. It’s no surprise she has been supplemented after that success – the Italian Guineas had been the plan - although she’s speedy and her pedigree points to a mile being a question mark. 

Official rating: --. Rowley Mile form: --. Odds: 33-1. 

Was sent off her odds-on for her debut at Kempton (7f) in mid-August and duly got the job done, although the form looks nothing special and it is disconcerting that we have not seen her since. Seeks to turn back the clock for Saeed Bin Suroor, who landed the 2002 renewal with Kazzia, although this contender will not carry the blue colours of Godolphin. 

Official rating: 111. Rowley Mile form: --. Odds: 33-1. 

She certainly will not fail through lack of experience, having already had eight races. Chased home Bedtime Story a couple of times in the first half of last season and wasn’t beaten far in the Moyglare or Prix Marcel Boussac before signing off with an easy Group Three success. She was odds on for Leopardstown’s 1000 Guineas Trial on her return in March but was beaten by a wide draw as much as anything. The Frankel filly has often made the running and is capable of a bold show at chunky odds. 

Official rating: 100. Rowley Mile form: 3. Odds: 33-1. 

She only had a Sandown maiden win to show from her five races last term but twice had the misfortune to bump into Desert Flower and wasn’t disgraced on either occasion. Flight is a strong traveller and can make her presence felt if she’s made a bit more progression over the winter. 

Official rating: 101. Rowley Mile form: --. Odds: 66-1. 

Unraced as a juvenile but has been making up for lost time this year, winning twice at Chelmsford before chasing home Duty First in the Fred Darling. She was no match for the winner that day, though, and is easy enough to pass over. 

Official rating: --. Rowley Mile form: --. Odds: 50-1. 

Showed promise on her Yarmouth debut last autumn before bolting up in a valuable maiden for fillies at Doncaster. She may well have been suited by the testing conditions that day – she’s a daughter of New Bay, whose progeny usually cope well with such conditions – but she still rates an interesting prospect. 

Official rating: 119. Rowley Mile form: 1. Odds: 7-2. 

Carried all before her last season, reeling off successive Grade One wins in three different countries (the Moyglare in Ireland, Chevely Park in England and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf in America) over three different trips (7f, 6f and a mile). She’s the one to beat on form but it’s a niggle that Aidan O’Brien cast doubt on her being ready to run in the spring, having given her an extended break. Newmarket’s straight mile will also ask a new stamina question although she’s by Frankel and most of her siblings are stayers. 

Official rating: 106. Rowley Mile form: 1. Odds: 66-1. 

Sprang a 25-1 surprise in the Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket in October, having looked exposed beforehand. She was slow away and never figured on her return in the 1000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown and need the return to Headquarters to spark here. 

Official rating: 111. Rowley Mile form: --. Odds: 5-1. 

The grey looked a tad unlucky not to beat the more experienced Lake Victoria on her debut and I fancied her to turn the tables in the Moyglare, having easily gone one better the next time, but she got rather locked up on the rail and could finish only a close fourth. Ger Lyons always has a twinkle in his eye when she gets a mention and, with his horses in fine form this term, don’t be surprised if she takes a big jump forward. 

Official rating: 101. Rowley Mile form: 3. Odds: 66-1. 

Booked her slot when a creditable third in the Nell Gwyn this month, and that needs marking up as he had been off track since landing a three-runner maiden at Newmarket (July Course) in June of last year. Stable hot, but this looks a big ask. 

Official rating: 109. Rowley Mile form: --. Odds: 50-1. 

Established herself as being among last season’s top juvenile fillies, winning Group races at Ascot and Deauville before running creditably in defeat in the Moyglare (second to Lake Victoria) and Prix Marcel Boussac. However, she ran poorly in the Fred Darling on her return, with her connections suggesting afterwards she would prefer easier ground. 

Desert Flower and Lake Victoria deserve their places at the head of the market, although both have to prove their wellbeing and show they have trained on. EXACTLY came up a bit short at the highest level last term but the 33-1 on offer makes each-way appeal after an encouraging comeback run, which should have put her spot on for this assignment. Red Letter also has a bigger performance in her and seems sure to run well.