Hollie Doyle blog: Paris Babe the pick of my 2000 Guineas day rides, plus Royal Ascot Trials Day preview | Racing News

Sky Sports Racing ambassador Hollie Doyle discusses her six rides at Newmarket on Saturday and runs the rule over this weekend’s Classics as well as an informative Trials Day at Ascot on Friday.

Paris set for black-type test

I partner an interesting filly from the Archie Watson stable in the Listed Oddschecker Ellen Chaloner Stakes (1.10) on Saturday – one of six rides I have on Betfred 2000 Guineas Day at Newmarket.

PARIS BABE (1.10) has a lot to find at the weights but made a pleasing stable debut in the valuable Fillies’ And Mares’ Championships Final at Newcastle on Good Friday, travelling like the winner until not quite getting home late.

A winner in France for previous handler Gavin Hernon, she should appreciate the step back to 6f and looks well in her coat now the sun has begun to shine. She clearly has work to do off a mark of 89, but hopefully she can run another good race.

This is a much stronger renewal than last year, with Group winner Flora Of Bermuda heading the ratings off 111 and proven Pattern performer Rosy Affair also making her seasonal reappearance.

Chapple-Hyam sprinter can outrun big odds

EL BODON is a big price for the Class Two Betfred Handicap (1.45), but he is a classy horse on his day and has some impressive turf form on his CV, including a second in the Greenham as a three-year-old for my husband Tom (Marquand).

His latest run in the Sprint Final at Newcastle was well below his best, but he looked smart when notching back-to-back victories at Kempton over the winter for Jane Chapple-Hyam.

The one we all have to beat is Andrew Balding’s likely-favourite Double Rush, who certainly caught my eye at Newmarket’s Craven Meeting. He looks a Group sprinter in the making and so remains well handicapped, even under his 5lb penalty.

Easing mark a help to Military Academy

Carrying a lofty rating in a competitive race is no easy task, but that’s what MILITARY ACADEMY is charged with in the Boodles Handicap (4.45).

A smart performer for John and Thady Gosden last year, he’s run some promising races for current trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam without getting his head in front, with his close third in the Winter Derby a case in point.

I’m hoping the forecast good going will suit him here, as his best turf form has been achieved on soft or heavy ground, but he’s a nice horse who can hopefully make the most of a slight ease in the weights.

Kesta well-placed on seasonal return

Eve Johnson Houghton begins KESTA‘s campaign in the Turners Handicap (4.10). I’ve never ridden him before but he did win three times last season, including at this level at Nottingham in early October.

How sharp he’ll be on this first start since the end of October remains to be seen, but he should be comfortable on the track and is versatile ground-wise, so I’m hopeful of a good run.

ADVANCING is a lovely, big horse who simply didn’t handle the two turns around Wolverhampton last month, but he should be happy with conditions in the National Stud Handicap (5.55).

He gave me a nice feel when I won on him at Kempton previously, able to do his own thing over that more-galloping mile, and Marco Botti’s charge has the stamina to see this trip out strongly.

Charlie Johnston’s THUNDER WONDER gets into the Betfred Suffolk Stakes (2.20) off a low weight and heads to Newmarket on the back of a promising run at Musselburgh earlier this month – his second since being gelded.

He’s a capable horse who won over this 9f trip at the Edinburgh track off a rating of 92 last summer, so he looks well-treated if able to build on that latest effort.

Gstaad has strong Guineas credentials

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Aidan O’Brien celebrate his 11th Betfred 2000 Guineas (3.35) triumph on Saturday with Gstaad. Not only does this colt have plenty of experience, but he’s also proven on the Rowley Mile and is a guaranteed stayer.

The son of Starspangledbanner finished second in the Dewhurst at Headquarters last autumn before stepping up to this trip to comfortably claim the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar, and heading to the Guineas without a run shouldn’t be an issue.

At bigger prices, I can see John and Thady Gosden’s Oxagon franking his Craven Stakes success with a big run, while I’m hoping my husband Tom can get a good tune out of William Haggas’ promising Greenham fourth Needle Match.

The Betfred 1000 Guineas (3.35) on Sunday could be a head to head between Karl Burke’s Venetian Sun and Ballydoyle’s strapping filly True Love. The former has been to the racecourse to gallop and certainly has the speed required to win this Classic, while last summer’s Queen Mary winner gave me the impression she will see out the mile with that commanding win over 7f at Leopardstown.

Key clues on Trials Day at Ascot

The Group Three Longines Sagaro Stakes (2.35) on Royal Ascot Trials Day at Ascot on Friday – live on Sky Sports Racing – could provide a springboard to better things for Tom Clover’s promising stayer Tabletalk.

The Gold Cup hopeful ran well in defeat in the Group Two Red Sea Turf Handicap at Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) in February and could easily be open to enough improvement to get the better of that old character Sweet William and Group One star Caballo De Mar.

I’m also quite sweet on Clive Cox’s colt Coppull in the Group Three Commonwealth Cup Trial (3.10). He was behind likely favourite Wise Approach in the Middle Park last year but was beaten less than a length, and I think Rossa Ryan’s mount can develop into a top-class sprinter this summer.

Godolphin’s Wise Approach undeniably sets a high standard after that Group One breakthrough at Newmarket and should at least be able to confirm that form with Aidan O’Brien’s ever-reliable Brussels.

Elsewhere, I’m fascinated to see how Remmooz shapes up in the Listed Membership At Ascot Paradise Stakes (3.45) for the in-form Owen Burrows. The four-year-old’s Listed success at Newbury in September was paid a compliment by the runner-up Volterra when he ran well behind Docklands in the Doncaster Mile, so it will be interesting to see how the son of Blue Point fares here.

Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.