Classic clues and Nicholls' great eight: four talking points from the weekend

Guineas markets remain a puzzle

Last season Pinatubo and Quadrilateral were strong favourites for the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas after wins at Newmarket's Future Champions meeting, but this time the ante-post picture for those Classics is far murkier.

The Dewhurst only added to the confusion for the 2,000 Guineas with the first three home in the National Stakes swapping positions on the Rowley Mile. St Mark's Basilica, who won the Dewhurst but was third at the Curragh, is worthy of Classic favouritism but is far from a standout contender.

Pretty Gorgeous and Shale met for the fourth time in the Fillies' Mile and Pretty Gorgeous certainly looks superior. She appears to be the best juvenile filly this season, but her two wins have come on soft ground and her 8-1 price for the 1,000 Guineas suggests punters are not entirely convinced.

It would be no surprise if the top three-year-olds are given a quieter start next year so early-season trials like the Greenham, Fred Darling, Nell Gwyn and Craven Stakes could be highly competitive.

Leading trainers often start their best horses on the all-weather, so keep an eye on those winter maidens for some Classic clues.

Only two juveniles have really captured the imagination. Beresford winner High Definition looks a star in the making for Aidan O'Brien, while Pomelo made a huge impression in a hot Newbury maiden. Expect a lot of change at the head of the Classic markets before May.

Phenomenal two days for Nicholls

Paul Nicholls is bidding for a 12th trainers' championship and struck an early blow with a phenomenal two days at Chepstow. He knows the title race is about quality, not quantity, and will have been delighted to see a few Graded prospects emerge from his eight winners at the track over the weekend.

McFabulous, already proven at Grade 2 level, made easy work of the Persian War and is open to any amount of improvement with connections looking at staying hurdling trips. It does not appear to be the deepest division and, as a strong traveller with a smart turn of foot, he will certainly give Paisley Park something to think about.

Paul Nicholls' Chepstow weekend winners

Thyme White 2m handicap hurdle, Friday
McFabulous2m3½f Grade 2 Persian War Novices' Hurdle, Friday
Flic Ou Voyou2m novice hurdle, Friday
Present Man2m7½f veterans' chase, Friday
Hell Red2m juvenile hurdle, Saturday
Secret Investor 2m7½f Native River Handicap, Saturday
Grand Sancy 2m3½f Listed novice chase, Saturday
Knappers Hill2m bumper Saturday

Elsewhere, Hell Red looks destined for big things after his emphatic juvenile hurdle win – and the Finale Juvenile Hurdle back at Chepstow is an obvious top-level target – while Grand Sancy and Secret Investor also appear capable of cutting it at higher levels.

Shark can bite again

When in doubt follow Willie Mullins. The few in attendance on the Rowley Mile witnessed another training masterclass as Great White Shark provided Mullins with an unprecedented third Cesarewitch win.

The three results exemplify the fact that Mullins likes to use the Galway festival to test out his potential Cesarewitch runners. Saturday's winner had won over hurdles at the meeting on her previous outing.

Great White Shark: a potential Royal Ascot runner in 2021Credit: Alan Crowhurst

The winner may not be finished either. It's likely there is more to come from Great White Shark, especially over further on the Flat. She won well off a mark of 85 so could just sneak into the Ascot Stakes at the royal meeting, another race Mullins always targets. That test would be ideal, while the Chester Cup is another option.

Stable stars shuffle for Gosden

It has been a disappointing few days for the John Gosden team. First Enable and Stradivarius finished out of the frame in the Arc, before Logician's desperately disappointing run at York on Friday.

The future of those stars has yet to be decided, but if they are retired it will make next year's middle-distance and staying divisions very interesting.

However, when one flagbearer leaves a powerhouse yard another so often takes their place and this week could mark a changing of the guard at Clarehaven, with Palace Pier and Mishriff looking to stamp their authority over their respective divisions on Champions Day at Ascot.

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