Guineas Festival 2026 Preview: 2000 & 1000 Guineas Tips, Runners & Odds

2000 Guineas 2026: Key Contenders

The 2000 Guineas (Saturday 2 May, 3:40pm) is the first Classic of the British flat season — a Group 1 over one mile for three-year-old colts. The prize fund exceeds £500,000 and the winner is immediately installed as a leading contender for the Derby at Epsom in June.

The Market Leaders

Ruling Court (Aidan O'Brien, Ryan Moore) — 7/2 favourite

Aidan O'Brien has won the 2000 Guineas a record eleven times. Ruling Court was his champion juvenile in 2025, winning the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in October — the most reliable trial for this race. Dewhurst winners have an extraordinary 2000 Guineas record: five of the last ten Dewhurst winners went on to win the Guineas.

Ryan Moore, who knows the Rowley Mile better than any jockey alive, is confirmed. Ruling Court has a high cruising speed and is drawn in stall 5 — an ideal berth on good ground.

Why he can win: The Dewhurst form is the gold standard. O'Brien targets this race above all others. Moore's tactical skills on the wide Rowley Mile are unmatched.

Risk: He has not run since October. That is a 195-day gap. History shows that colts returning after more than 180 days without a prep race win the 2000 Guineas less than 10% of the time.

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Shadow of Light (Charlie Appleby, William Buick) — 4/1

Godolphin's Shadow of Light won the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket in September, beating subsequent Group 1 winners in a fast-run race. Charlie Appleby has won two of the last five 2000 Guineas (Coroebus in 2022, Native Trail in 2021) and his preparation methods are proven.

Shadow of Light ran in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket on April 16 — finishing a close second to a 50/1 outsider on his seasonal debut. Appleby described the run as "exactly the blowout he needed" and the Craven has been a reliable 2000 Guineas trial in recent years.

Why he can win: Race-fit after the Craven. Proven at Newmarket. Appleby's Classic preparation is formidable. Buick knows how to ride the Rowley Mile.

Risk: The Craven defeat raises questions about whether he has trained on. Did the outsider beat him on merit, or was it genuinely a prep run?

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Henri Matisse (Aidan O'Brien, Seamie Heffernan) — 8/1

O'Brien's second string — but that label can be misleading. Henri Matisse won the National Stakes at the Curragh in September and has physical scope to improve. He is bigger and rangier than Ruling Court, which historically points to a horse who will be better at three than two.

Why he can win: O'Brien often wins the Guineas with his improver rather than his Dewhurst winner. Henri Matisse has more physical development to come.

Risk: Untested at Newmarket. The Rowley Mile demands a specific blend of tactical speed and sustained acceleration that not every Irish-trained colt possesses first time.

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Each-Way Contenders

Alyanaabi (John & Thady Gosden, Oisin Murphy) — 12/1

The Gosdens' Alyanaabi won the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket in October. He is bred to be a miler (by Dubawi out of a Frankel mare) and has the pedigree for this race. At 12/1 each-way he offers the best value in the upper market.

Rashabar (Kevin Ryan, Daniel Tudhope) — 16/1

A northern-trained outsider with a live chance. Rashabar won the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in June 2025 and has been trained specifically for the Guineas since. Kevin Ryan knows how to prepare a horse for Newmarket and Tudhope is one of the most underrated jockeys in the weighing room.

1000 Guineas 2026: Key Contenders

The 1000 Guineas (Sunday 3 May, 3:40pm) is the fillies' equivalent — a Group 1 over one mile on the Rowley Mile. The winner goes to the Oaks at Epsom in June or straight to Royal Ascot's Coronation Stakes.

Market Leaders

Bedtime Story (Aidan O'Brien, Ryan Moore) — 3/1 favourite

The dominant two-year-old filly of 2025. Bedtime Story won the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh and the Fillies' Mile at Newmarket, both at Group 1 level. She has already won on the Rowley Mile, which removes the track uncertainty that affects many Irish raiders.

O'Brien has won the 1000 Guineas nine times. Bedtime Story is the strongest favourite he has sent to the race since Minding in 2016 — who won by two and a half lengths.

Why she can win: Proven at the track, unbeaten at Group 1 level, trained by the record holder, ridden by Moore. There is no obvious weakness.

Risk: At 3/1 the value is minimal. She needs to have trained on from two to three — which most fillies do, but the certainty is already in the price.

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Ramatuelle (Andre Fabre, Mickael Barzalona) — 5/1

The French challenger. Ramatuelle won the Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp on Arc weekend and is trained by Andre Fabre — who has a better strike rate in British Classics than any other French trainer. She has tactical speed and the ability to quicken in the final two furlongs.

Why she can win: French-trained fillies have an excellent recent record in the 1000 Guineas. Ramatuelle's turn of foot could be decisive on the wide Rowley Mile.

Risk: Ground-dependent. She has only run on soft ground in France. If Newmarket is Good or faster, the surface may not suit.

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Canyon (Charlie Appleby, William Buick) — 7/1

Appleby's main hope. Canyon won the Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket in August and ran third in the Fillies' Mile behind Bedtime Story. She has course form, is race-fit after running in the Nell Gwyn Stakes in April, and represents a trainer who has won Classic races at a rate of one per season since 2018.

Why she can win: Race-fit, course form, top yard. If Bedtime Story underperforms, Canyon is the most likely beneficiary.

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Each-Way Picks

Fascinate (William Haggas, Tom Marquand) — 14/1 — won the Oh So Sharp Stakes and is bred to improve with age. Haggas is a master at producing a filly for a single peak target.

Lake Victoria (Aidan O'Brien, Seamie Heffernan) — 16/1 — O'Brien's second string. Finished second in the Moyglare behind Bedtime Story. Could improve enough to reverse the form at a price.

Betting Angles for the Guineas

Trend 1: The Dewhurst-Guineas link

Five of the last ten Dewhurst Stakes winners went on to win the 2000 Guineas. This is the single most reliable trial. In 2026, Ruling Court is the Dewhurst winner.

However, the other five lost — including two who started favourite. The Dewhurst points you in the right direction, but it is not a guarantee. If Ruling Court is under 4/1 by race day, the value may lie elsewhere.

Trend 2: Craven Stakes runners have the fitness edge

In the modern era, 2000 Guineas winners who ran a prep race in April have a significantly better strike rate than those who come straight from a winter break. The Craven Stakes (run at Newmarket two weeks before the Guineas) has produced three of the last eight Guineas winners.

Shadow of Light ran in the Craven. Ruling Court did not. This matters.

Trend 3: The Fillies' Mile is the 1000 Guineas gold standard

Seven of the last twelve Fillies' Mile winners went on to either win or place in the 1000 Guineas. Bedtime Story won the Fillies' Mile. On this trend alone she should be on every shortlist.

Trend 4: Aidan O'Brien's second string

O'Brien enters multiple runners in both Guineas races. The market typically focuses on his "first string" (the one Moore rides). But O'Brien has won the Guineas with his second or third string multiple times — Gleneagles, Hermosa, and Love were all not the stable's headline horse until they won.

Henri Matisse (2000 Guineas) and Lake Victoria (1000 Guineas) are O'Brien's B-teams. At 8/1 and 16/1 respectively, they may offer better value than the principals.

Trend 5: Draw matters less at Newmarket

Unlike Chester or Epsom, Newmarket's Rowley Mile is wide and straight. Draw bias is minimal. You can safely ignore draw position when making your 2000 Guineas selections — which is not the case for most mile races at other tracks.

Our Selections

2000 Guineas: Shadow of Light (each-way, 4/1) — race-fit, course-proven, Appleby in peak form. If Ruling Court disappoints on his comeback, Shadow of Light is the most likely winner.

1000 Guineas: Bedtime Story (win only, 3/1) — too good to oppose. Back her to win, don't dilute with each-way. Use the savings to back Lake Victoria each-way at 16/1 as a value play.

For the latest bookmaker offers for the Guineas weekend, check our offers page. For each-way betting explained, see our betting guide.

How to Watch the Guineas Festival

TV Coverage

ITV Racing broadcasts both days of the Guineas Festival live on ITV1:

Day	Coverage Start	Feature Race	Race Time
Saturday 2 May	1:25pm	2000 Guineas	3:40pm
Sunday 3 May	1:25pm	1000 Guineas	3:40pm

Ed Chamberlin presents with the full ITV Racing team. The build-up to each Classic starts approximately 30 minutes before the off, with paddock analysis, jockey interviews, and market moves.

Streaming

ITVX (free) — live stream of the full ITV Racing broadcast. Create a free account at itvx.com. Works on web, iOS, Android, and smart TVs. The stream runs approximately 30-60 seconds behind live TV.

Radio

BBC Radio 5 Live — commentary on both Classics. Available via FM radio, BBC Sounds app, and smart speakers.

At the Course

Tickets for the Guineas Festival at Newmarket are available from the Jockey Club website. The Rowley Mile grandstand offers excellent views of the entire straight mile. Premier Enclosure tickets start from around £35. For the full Newmarket visitor guide, see our course guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Guineas Festival 2026?

Saturday 2 May (2000 Guineas) and Sunday 3 May (1000 Guineas) at Newmarket Racecourse. Both feature races are at 3:40pm.

What is the 2000 Guineas?

The first Classic of the British flat season — a Group 1 race over one mile for three-year-old colts, run on Newmarket's Rowley Mile. Prize fund exceeds £500,000. Previous winners include Frankel, Galileo, and Sea The Stars.

What is the 1000 Guineas?

The fillies' equivalent of the 2000 Guineas — also a Group 1 over one mile on the Rowley Mile, run on the Sunday of Guineas weekend. The winner typically goes on to the Oaks at Epsom or the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Who is the 2000 Guineas favourite?

Ruling Court (trained by Aidan O'Brien, ridden by Ryan Moore) is the current favourite at 7/2, having won the Dewhurst Stakes in October. Shadow of Light (Charlie Appleby) is second favourite at 4/1 after his Craven Stakes prep run.

Who is the 1000 Guineas favourite?

Bedtime Story (Aidan O'Brien, Ryan Moore) is favourite at 3/1, having won both the Fillies' Mile and the Moyglare Stud Stakes as a two-year-old. She is the dominant filly of her generation.

Is the Guineas on free TV?

Yes. ITV1 broadcasts both days of the Guineas Festival live, free-to-air. ITVX streams it for free online.

How do I bet on the Guineas?

You can place bets with any licensed UK bookmaker. For the Guineas, each-way betting (win and place) is recommended for the 2000 Guineas (typically 12+ runners, competitive field), while the 1000 Guineas favourite Bedtime Story may be a win-only play. See our betting guide for beginners or our bookmaker reviews for where to bet.

What are the best Guineas trials?

For the 2000 Guineas: the Dewhurst Stakes (October), the Craven Stakes (April), and the Greenham Stakes (April). For the 1000 Guineas: the Fillies' Mile (October), the Nell Gwyn Stakes (April), and the Fred Darling Stakes (April).