Robin Goodfellow’s Racing Tips: Best bets for Saturday, May 1

Take THUNDER MOON (Newmarket, 3.40) to send shockwaves around the Rowley Mile in Saturday’s enthralling Qipco 2,000 Guineas.

Joseph O’Brien, 27, already boasts a list of sporting achievements the envy of many and the Tipperary handler may join a select band who have graduated from Guineas-winning jockey to trainer.

Victory for Galileo Chrome in last September’s St Leger gave O’Brien his first British Classic and, for a man who only seems to have been training five minutes, a roll call of two Melbourne Cups, Breeders’ Cup success and an Irish Derby represents a staggering return.

Sadly, a poor scope for Pretty Gorgeous has denied O’Brien the opportunity of a Guineas double in the Qipco 1,000 Guineas, but Thunder Moon appears to have outstanding credentials in today’s feature.

Although beaten in the Dewhurst Stakes last October by St Mark’s Basilica and Wembley, the Zoffany colt travelled like one of the best horses in the race only to find the easy ground nullifying his potent turn of foot.

It was that change of gear which was evident in the National Stakes at the Curragh a month before where he put both Wembley and St Mark’s Basilica to the sword by quickening clear to storm to victory.

The prospect of a sound surface will suit a horse whose wheels were spinning when asked to quicken on autumn ground last time he visited HQ and rider Declan McDonogh should have plenty of speed to aim at with likely pacesetter Mutasaabeq housed nearby in stall 12.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Santa Barbara, winner of her sole start in a Curragh maiden last September, has been all the rage in the ante-post markets for tomorrow’s 1,000 Guineas.

She looked very classy in trouncing a big field and may well prove a class apart in this field, but stall one is an awkward position for a filly with just one race to her name and she is a short price for a maiden winner irrespective of her trainer’s reputation.

Given O’Brien has sent out winners of this race at 25-1, 14-1 and 9-1, the Frankie Dettori-ridden MOTHER EARTH (Newmarket, 3.40) may represent a more enticing bet against, especially as she has experience of the track courtesy of her third in the Fillies’ Mile.

NEWMARKET

NEWMARKET – 3.00 Al Zaraqaan (nb); 3.40 Master Of The Seas (nap)

DONCASTER

GOODWOOD

NORTHERNER – 2.35 Fred (nap); 3.10 Desert Safari (nb).

UTTOXETER

HEXHAM

THIRSK