Jim Crowley Blog | Guineas Weekend
01 May 2026
Coral Racing Ambassador, Jim Crowley, previews the first two British Classic races of the season, the 2000 Guineas and the 1000 Guineas, taking place this weekend at Newmarket.
15:35 Saturday – 2000 Guineas
I do like Group One two-year-old form when it comes to the season’s opening Classics and that is something the favourite, Bow Echo, doesn’t have. He did win the Group Two Royal Lodge well, and he is unbeaten, so of course he could be good enough to win this and his trainer, George Boughey, has won a 1,000 Guineas. I understand why he’s one of the favourites, but there are others with strong claims also and he is one I could take on.
Last year’s Dewhurst Stakes could be the key race. Sadly the winner of that [Gewan] isn’t here but the race will be well represented, with Gstaad, Distant Storm, Oxagon and Alparslan all running. The last two have won the Craven and Greenham respectively this spring, so the form holds up well, and Gstaad – who was best of them behind Gewan – went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. He’s also Aidan O’Brien’s only runner and I think he has a massive chance.
Godolphin run three and Will Buick has chosen Distant Storm, the Dewhurst third, who is another with a big chance. However, their King’s Trail is a really interesting runner. He’s only run on the Kempton all-weather, but has won both starts, and their Notable Speech had a very similar profile before he won this two years ago, so if there is one here who doesn’t have Group form in the book yet but could feature, it’s him.
15:35 Sunday – 1000 Guineas
If things had worked out differently, I’d be riding Touleen here. I know the family well, as I was actually fourth in the 1,000 Guineas nine years ago on her dam, Talaayeb. She didn’t quite stay a mile and as a two-year-old, I thought perhaps Touleen would be the same, but having watched her run over 7 furlongs in the trial last time, I thought she would appreciate another furlong. If she can step forward from Newbury, there’s no reason she couldn’t beat her mum’s fourth place finish in the race.
As I said with the 2,000 Guineas, I do like a runner with top level juvenile form in these races and that’s something the favourite, Precise, has. She won the Fillies’ Mile over this course and distance in good style and she’s the chosen mount of Ryan Moore. I think she could take plenty of beating here.
Jim Crowley, Coral Racing Ambassador
15:35 Saturday – 2000 Guineas
I do like Group One two-year-old form when it comes to the season’s opening Classics and that is something the favourite, Bow Echo, doesn’t have. He did win the Group Two Royal Lodge well, and he is unbeaten, so of course he could be good enough to win this and his trainer, George Boughey, has won a 1,000 Guineas. I understand why he’s one of the favourites, but there are others with strong claims also and he is one I could take on.
Last year’s Dewhurst Stakes could be the key race. Sadly the winner of that [Gewan] isn’t here but the race will be well represented, with Gstaad, Distant Storm, Oxagon and Alparslan all running. The last two have won the Craven and Greenham respectively this spring, so the form holds up well, and Gstaad – who was best of them behind Gewan – went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. He’s also Aidan O’Brien’s only runner and I think he has a massive chance.
Godolphin run three and Will Buick has chosen Distant Storm, the Dewhurst third, who is another with a big chance. However, their King’s Trail is a really interesting runner. He’s only run on the Kempton all-weather, but has won both starts, and their Notable Speech had a very similar profile before he won this two years ago, so if there is one here who doesn’t have Group form in the book yet but could feature, it’s him.
15:35 Sunday – 1000 Guineas
If things had worked out differently, I’d be riding Touleen here. I know the family well, as I was actually fourth in the 1,000 Guineas nine years ago on her dam, Talaayeb. She didn’t quite stay a mile and as a two-year-old, I thought perhaps Touleen would be the same, but having watched her run over 7 furlongs in the trial last time, I thought she would appreciate another furlong. If she can step forward from Newbury, there’s no reason she couldn’t beat her mum’s fourth place finish in the race.
As I said with the 2,000 Guineas, I do like a runner with top level juvenile form in these races and that’s something the favourite, Precise, has. She won the Fillies’ Mile over this course and distance in good style and she’s the chosen mount of Ryan Moore. I think she could take plenty of beating here.
Jim Crowley, Coral Racing Ambassador
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