Pinatubo ready to take Guineas

PINATUBO can confirm himself as a horse for the ages with victory in today’s Qipco 2000 Guineas, writes Captain Wessex.

Charlie Appleby’s Shamardal colt ended last season as the highest-rated juvenile since Celtic Swing in 1994, with a mark of 128 – and not even Frankel managed that.

Celtic Swing was beaten in the Guineas, but all the signs are that Pinatubo, pictured, is the real deal, and market confidence has tightened up in the last couple of weeks.

He is said not to be the flashiest of workers at home, but Appleby has been making the right noises lately and his charge brings the best form to the table by far.

There is no obvious reason why Arizona should make it third time lucky against him, even with Aidan O’Brien’s stellar record in the race, so while he is respected it could be that another Godolphin runner, Military March, is the danger.

He is the apple of Saeed bin Suroor’s eye, although the suspicion is it will be in excess of a mile that he really comes into his own. Kenzai Warrior is another who should not be dismissed. In the care of Roger Teal, he has done nothing wrong in his two runs to date and his trainer went close with 50-1 shot Tip Two Win in 2018.

Tomorrow, meanwhile, Love can give Aidan O’Brien a fourth 1000 Guineas win in the last five years.

She does have to reverse form with Quadrilateral from their meeting in the Fillies’ Mile over the course and distance in September, but the vibes surrounding the favourite do not appear too strong, which is concerning for her backers.

In contrast, Love is just the type that O’Brien can find improvement from.