Sunderland Echo

Native the one to win for Charlie in Suffolk

-

Native Trail is clearly the one to beat in the Qipco 2000 Guineas - but for those who are feeling a little more adventurou­s, Dubawi Legend should give them a run for their money.

The Charlie Applebytra­ined Native Trail was in a different league to the rest at two, going through the season unbeaten and rounding off a perfect campaign in the Dewhurst Stakes.

We know he has trained on as Appleby chose to run him in the Craven Stakes earlier this month. While the trial has long been seen as the best of its type for Guineas horses, you do have to go back to 2004 and Haafhd to find the last horse to win both races.

It has worked well for Appleby, though, as he won it with Masar in 2018 and he went on to land the Derby having been third in the Guineas, and he was also successful with Master Of The Seas last year – a horse beaten in a photo for the Guineas.

While Native Trail is rock solid, he does have a slight chink in his armour in that he usually comes off the bridle quite early before powering home, something which can be overcome in the small fields he has been running in but in a big field like this there is a chance he could get caught behind some inferior horses.

If that happens the one who could take advantage is Hugo Palmer's Dubawi Legend, who of all the horses Native Trail has met is probably the one who had him in most trouble in the Dewhurst.

James Doyle made a bold bid for home some way out and it was not until well inside the final furlong Native Trail reeled him in. If he takes as long to wind up again, the principals may get first run on him.

Palmer has won the Guineas before with Galileo Gold and is on record as saying he thinks this colt is better at the same stage – and while he disappoint­ed at the Breeders' Cup, the trainer feels the experience made a real man of him.

Came From The Dark's last season was cut short by injury so Ed Walker will be keen to make up for lost time in the Betfair Palace House Stakes.

The grey was making real progress in the sprinting ranks, winning at Newbury and finishing second in this correspond­ing race before coming with a rare rattle to win a Sandown Group Three.

That is his style, so do not expect to see him on the premises before the dying throes, but this six-year-old gelding could be a big player in the division this season.

Richard Hannon's Razzle

Dazzle disappoint­ed on his last run at two, but can regain the winning thread in the Betfair Exchange Handicap.

Second to the useful Hafit on debut, he won second time out by over five lengths at Newmarket.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom