Appleby holds the cards for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas

Charlie Appleby, who is yet to win the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, has a strong hand in the first Classic of the year with both Native Trail and Coroebus amongst the 19 entries. The former heads the market having recently extended his unbeaten run to five after dominating the bet365 Craven Stakes two weeks back.

Full Entries (19)

Angel Bleu
Bayside Boy
Berkshire Shadow
Boundless Ocean
Checkandchallenge
Coroebus
Dr Zempf
Dubawi Legend
Eydon
Glouthaune
Light Infantry
Lusail
Luxembourg
Native Trail
Perfect Power
Point Lonsdale
Royal Patronage
Tacarib Bay
The Wizard Of Eye

Mastermind-trainer Aidan O’Brien has a record 11 wins in the race, and will have a maximum of three runners in this years renewal, headlined by Derby hopefuls Luxembourg and Point Lonsdale. Luxembourg, like Native Trail, has yet to be headed, but will have to take a huge step forward on Saturday if he’s going to continue that form.

Angel Bleu had a very productive 2021 season, ending his year with a brace of Group 1s across the channel for trainer Ralph Beckett. However, he finished third to Perfect Power in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury, who also holds an entry for Saturday’s feature. Beckett’s website on Monday reported: “Angel Bleu was keen to post in the Greenham. Perhaps Christophe Soumillion on Perfect Power sitting behind him didn’t help. He was outpaced to the line, but galloped out strongly, and has come out of the race well.”

Saturday’s classic has the potential to be a cracker, but the Appleby pair hold the cards. The race is the feature on the Saturday, day two of the three-day QIPCO Guineas Festival. The Fillies take centre stage on Sunday in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas.