Best bets for day one for the Qipco Guineas Festival 2023 at Newmarket

It is a huge weekend of racing across the globe coming up and the amuse-bouche this Friday is the first day of the Qipco Guineas Festival. ITV racing will be covering as well as Racing TV. The forecast suggests the rain could arrive during racing and may well hang about all weekend so keep an eye on the going description; as I write the going is officially good-firm, good in places but that might change quite quickly.

Best bets for the horse racing at Newmarket

They get underway at 1.15 with the Listed 1m2f Newmarket Stakes which looks a very open affair and I have decided to leave alone. At 1.50 we have the Group Two Bet365 Mile and my old mate Native Trail lines up. He was of course second in 2,000 Guineas over track and trip last year  before taking the Irish version. He was tried over 1m2f afterwards last season and it didn't quite work out suggesting this drop back to eight will suit just fine. He has gone well fresh in the past so this being his seasonal debut does not bother me and I have to be on at Evens. 

I put up Majestic Pride at the Craven Meeting earlier this season and I am backing him again today in the 2.25 the 7f Listed King Charles II Stakes. His win in April was over track and trip on soft so his chances will increase if the rain arrives in time. He was entered in the Guineas but the sights have been lowered somewhat but he should progress throughout the year as a  half-brother to seven winners including top-class, and Triple G favourite, Farhh. I am on at 5-2. 

Hurricane Lane was too bad to be true at Newbury a fortnight ago on his seasonal debut and he is out again quickly for the 1m4f Group Two Jockey Club Stakes at 3.35. I am prepared to give the  Irish Derby and St Leger winner of 2021 another chance at the 9-4 today though a sprinkling of rain wouldn't hurt his chances either. If the run at Newbury blew away the cobwebs he is far better than this line-up at his best. 

I am Appleby and Buick heavy for day one but they are more than capable of having at least three winners, hopefully I am on the right three. 

Be lucky