Britain’s No 1 tipster Sam Turner highlights six home candidates for the 2,000 Guineas

Taking a serious view on the ante-post Classic markets is often a perilous enough exercise as it is without the current uncertainty on whether racing may or may not resume in the short term.

However, there will come a time when the sport will find a pathway back to a restart and there is clearly a serious intent from the powerbrokers to stage the four British Classics, even if the prospect of Irish or European involvement appears uncertain at this stage.

In the first of four articles, SAM TURNER (Robin Goodfellow) analyses half a dozen of the most interesting home candidates in each Classic, beginning with the 2,000 Guineas.

Kameko (16-1) – Trained by Andrew Balding

The winner of the first group one race run in Britain, Kameko appears a colt that should thrive as a three-year-old. His emphatic victory on Newcastle’s Tapeta surface last November in the rearranged Vertem Futurity Trophy enforced the view he is a colt of substance and a tilt at the 2,000 Guineas over one mikle before stepping up in trip is a valid aim. He already boasts form at Newmarket courtesy of a narrow defeat there last summer and appears a sizeable threat to favourite Pinatubo at this stage of proceedings.

Kenzai Warrior (33-1) – Trained by Roger Teal

The form of Kenzai Warrior’s Salisbury debut (when well-backed at big prices) could barely have worked out any better with runner-up, Max Vega, winning his next two starts by an aggregate of nine lengths. There were also victories for Shandoz (4th), Khalifa Sat (6th), two wins for eighth-home Summeronsevenhills, while Glorious Caesar (twice) and Sea Voice in 9th and 10th also won. A subsequent win in the rearranged Horris Hill Stakes at Newmarket saw the son of Karakontie lengthen powerfully exiting The Dip and he appears a live candidate for Group One glory this season.

Kinross (16-1) – Trained by Ralph Beckett

There were few more impressive debut winners than the son of Kingman, who turned a seven-furlong Newmarket Novice event in October into a rout with an eight-length win. A half-brother to three winners, Kinross sauntered through that event before exploding clear at the furlong pole to lay down a significant marker even if his subsequent effort on the Tapeta surface at Newcastle was a little subdued. He remains a colt of immense promise and, given the fact he was good enough to win first time out for a yard which invariably leave something to work on first time, his potential clearly hadn’t been missed at home.

Military March (25-1) – Trained by Saeed Bin Suroor

There weren’t many more resilient juveniles to grace British Group races last season than Military March. A handsome, well-built son of New Approach, the brother to Clongowes overcame considerable inexperience and an awkward draw to win on Newmarket’s July Course first time out. However, he left the bare level of that form behind in the Autumn Stakes where, after cutting out the early running, he gamely fended off fellow Godolphin counterpart, Al Suhail, to win readily, endorsing the view that races beyond a mile will be within his remit this season. In the short term though, a tilt at the Guineas would be seriously worth considering given his attitude and affinity for Newmarket.

Mums Tipple (40-1) Trained by Richard Hannon

It is a fair comment to suggest this striking chestnut colt posted one of the marquee performances of last year’s Flat season by demolishing a 21-runner field in a York sales race at the Ebor meeting in August. Sadly, Mums Tipple couldn’t build on that 11-length victory in the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket, but he returned lame that day and it will be interesting to see if connections allow him to test himself over the mile this year.

Pinatubo (11-8 favourite) Trained by Charlie Appleby

With an unblemished six-race record, this outstanding son of the sadly recently-departed sire, Shamardal, correctly sits at the top of the tree in the ante-post markets. A workmanlike, but ultimately emphatic, defeat of Arizona in the Dewhurst Stakes confirmed Newmarket’s Rowley course holds no terrors and he is clearly the horse with the outstanding credentials. Understandably, given the margin of victory, his nine-length romp in the National Stakes at the Curragh in September has been highlighted as Pinatubo’s marquee performance of a thrilling juvenile campaign and, with even a small amount of physical improvement, he remains the standout candidate.