Six to follow on Saturday

UNBEATEN Irish raider DAWN APPROACH (3.50) is the logical, if unoriginal, selection to scoop the Qipco 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Trainer Jim Bolger has kept him under wraps since completing a perfect first-season six from six in the Dewhurst Stakes at HQ but will have him at concert pitch for the first Classic of the season. Dawn Approach holds Aidan O’Brien’s Cristoforo Colombo on Coventry Stakes form at Royal Ascot but O’Brien believes fast ground at Newmarket gives his first-string choice the chance of reversing placings. Hopefully, the on-course bookmakers, without massive ante-post liabilities staring them in the face, will push out Dawn Approach’s skinny odds of around 11-8 but punters preferring an each-way option at a double-figure price may want to consider another O’Brien challenger, George Vancouver. Although well held by Dawn Approach in the Dewhurst, George Vancouver really bounced off the firm ground when landing the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita and looks sure to relish underfoot conditions.

There are some seasoned speedballs lining up in the Palace House Stakes and TANGERINE TREES (2.35) can cause something of an upset. Bryan Smart’s sprinter smashed up his rivals when making all to win this Group 3 dash in 2011 and again led all the way when scoring at Musselburgh on his reappearance at the end of March.

Richard Hughes, who has a good mount on Richard Hannon’s impressive Craven winner Toronado in the Guineas, has winning prospects aboard GLEAN (5.35), surprisingly turned over by One Word More at Kempton (pair clear) on his first start. Glean’s third to stablemate Havana Gold at Newmarket last September sets the standard.

One top rider missing the Guineas action is Kieren Fallon, with the former champion heading for Goodwood to ride two fillies in Betfred-sponsored Listed events for Luca Cumani. KHIONE (2.20), a daughter of Dalakhani, brought the curtain down on her three-year-old campaign with a fourth behind Hazel Lavery in the Group 3 St Simon Stakes at Newbury in September, while HIPPY HIPPY SHAKE (4,05) looked ready for a step up in grade after landing a Newmarket handicap in late October.

In Sunday’s Qipco 1,000 Guineas, the Hannon-Hughes combination entertain high hopes that SKY LANTERN (3.50) can overturn recent placings with favourite Hot Snap on this slicker surface, especially back on level weights.