Tenebrism on top of 1,000 Guineas market as leading rivals drift

Tenebrism has shored up as warm favourite for the Qipco 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket after her closest rivals in the market drifted on Sunday morning.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained filly is generally priced 3-1 in her bid to extend her winning streak to three in the Classic contest, but was shortened to 11-4 by some firms this morning.

Tenebrism makes her first step up to a mile on Sunday after landing the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes on her last outing at the track in September, which was also run on good to firm going.

She is one of two Ballydoyle fillies in the contest, with Frankie Dettori's mount Tuesday priced at 6-1.

Newmarket 3.40: Qipco 1,000 Guineas racecard and betting

Tenebrism's hold at the head of the market was strengthened after second-favourite Malavath drifted this morning to 6-1 (from 5).

The Francis Graffard-trained filly has record two Group victories but both were on testing ground, with her successful seasonal reappearance in the Group 3 Prix Imprudence on heavy going.

Discoveries, who was priced at 11-2 overnight, also drifted in the market for trainer Jessica Harrington, with bet365 and William Hill now pricing her at 17-2.

David Stevens of Coral said: "Tenebrism is a solid 3-1 market leader and will definitely be sent off favourite, with Discoveries and Tuesday quite weak in the betting at present.

"At bigger prices, Ameynah, 16-1 into 10-1, Juncture, 12-1 from 18-1, and Cachet, clipped into 16-1 from 20-1, have all attracted some each-way support."

Roger Varian-trained runner backed into 10-1 (from 16)

While Tenebrism remains well supported in the 1,000 Guineas market, punters have begun to rally around Ameynah to take on the unbeaten favourite in Sunday's Classic.

The Roger Varian-trained filly has been backed into as short as 10-1 (from 16) to land the Group 1 contest at Newmarket.

Ameynah's two previous starts came at the course, finishing second in her sole run as a two-year-old before making a winning return in April in a maiden fillies' stakes over seven furlongs.

Ameynah: cut in price for Sunday's Classic at NewmarketCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

She is Varian's only runner in the race and will be partnered by David Egan, with the trainer-jockey pairing combining on Saturday to finish fourth on 33-1 shot Eydon in the 2,000 Guineas.

The market support makes her the shortest-priced British runner in the field, with 2,000 Guineas winning trainer Charlie Appleby fielding 12-1 shot Wild Beauty.

Irish runners dominate the market with the Ballydoyle pair of Tenebrism and Tuesday alongside the Jessica Harrington-trained Discoveries, while French raiders Malavath and Zellie are also prominent.

Market movers

1.50
Red Verdon 14-1 (from 20)

3.40
Ameynah 10-1 (from 18)
Cachet 16-1 (from 20)

4.15
Thunder Max 3-1 (from 9)

4.50
Siamsa 11-2 (from 7)
Dungar Glory 8-1 (from 16)

Ground quickens ahead of 1,000 Guineas

The going at Newmarket for the Qipco 1,000 Guineas is good to firm, good in places on Sunday morning ahead of the second Classic of the British Flat season.

Conditions have quickened overnight at the course after Coroebus's victory in yesterday's 2,000 Guineas came on good ground.

The final day of the Guineas meeting is expected to be colder than Saturday's highs of 16C, with 1-2mm of rain forecast to hit the track this afternoon.

Clerk of the course Michael Prosser said: "I changed the ground to good to firm, good in places this morning but the track still walks very well, so we're in a good place.

"It was dry overnight, as expected, and overcast at the moment. We're forecast for some light drizzle from mid-morning, not huge quantities, just some patchy rain into the afternoon and until the early evening. It shouldn't accumulate too much, no more than 1-2mm."

Although light showers are expected, temperatures should reach around 12C on Sunday, with the absence of a strong wind making the day's conditions more tolerable at the track.

Light showers expected at Newmarket on SundayCredit: Edward Whitaker

"It's 11C at the moment and the breeze isn't that strong," Prosser said at 8am. "It's not going to get much warmer, it'll be only 12-13C when this front comes towards us, but at the moment it doesn't seem that cold at all."

The going change should prove no hinderance to the Aidan O'Brien-trained Tenebrism, who heads the market for the Group 1 1,000 Guineas.

Stablemate Luxembourg could only manage third in Saturday's 2,000 Guineas, which was sealed with a Godolphin 1-2 when Coroebus and James Doyle were able hold off the favourite Native Trail.

Prosser added: "I thought it was an exceptional day's racing yesterday, I really enjoyed it. We've had really good feedback about the course itself and the ground staff deserve huge credit for it. That's one of those days where it was just a sheer pleasure to be working."

Non-runners

Mise En Scene will miss the 1,000 Guineas on Sunday after being pulled out on a vet's certificate due to a temperature.

The James Ferguson-trained filly was winner of the Group 3 Prestige Stakes last season and was a general 20-1 shot for the Newmarket Classic, where she was set to be the ride of Cieren Fallon.

1.50
8 Blow Your Horn

3.40
8 Mise En Scene

4.15
4 Stormy Ocean

Sunday's race previews:

1.50 Newmarket: Which two runners catch the eye for this competitive staying handicap?

2.25 Newmarket: Clarehaven and Gosden aim to chase down Pretty Polly record with Crenelle

3.00 Newmarket: Will the Dahlia Stakes produce another star-studded roster this season?

3.35 Newmarket: O'Brien hoping Tenebrism will stay as he bids to extend 1,000 Guineas dominance

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