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The going is described as good to firm and it’s a mix weather-wise between sun and showers.

Festivities get under way with the Zoustar Palace House Stakes G3 over 1000m for 11 3yo+ sprinters.  Sergei Prokofiev is on 5/2, Mab’s Cross 11/2 and Tarboosh 6/1.

The Roaring Lion Jockey Club Stakes G2 follows and is over 2000m for the 4y+ horses with 7 to start.  Coronet Gosden-Dettori has been fancied for this and is on 15/8 with Defoe considered the next best on 3/1.  Young Rascal is on 10/3 and Red Verdon for Ed Dunlop has Ryan Moore riding and they are on 10/1 which is tempting.  Red Verdon is owned by the Hon. Ronald Arculli in Hong Kong.

Then we have the 2000 Guineas itself, over 1600m with 19 runners.  There has been a lot of chatter about who is in and who is out but we are now down to 19 and the Aiden O’Brien pair of Ten Sovereigns and Magna Grecia top the market with 10/3 and 9/2 respectively.  We are going to take a gamble on Al Hilalee from Godolphin-Appleby with William Buick riding – he hasn’t raced since last August but showed very good form in track work at Meydan so they decided to put him in.