Pinatubo steps up Guineas prep at Chelmsford as Palace Pier is ruled out

Odds-on Qipco 2,000 Guineas favourite Pinatubo stepped up his preparations for the opening Classic of the revised season with a racecourse gallop at Chelmsford on Thursday, as it was confirmed a leading rival Palace Pier will bypass Newmarket on June 6.

Palace Pier was unbeaten in two starts in minor company last year for trainer John Gosden, but was ruled out of the big autumn juvenile prizes after sustaining a leg injury in September and has not raced since.

Owned by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed, the crown prince of Dubai, Palace Pier was the general 10-1 third favourite for the 2,000 Guineas behind Pinatubo and Arizona, but could instead head to Newcastle where he could potentially contest a 0-100 handicap for three-year-olds on the same day as the colts' Classic.

Peter Shoemark, racing office manager for Gosden, said on Thursday: "Due to the fact that there was no racing in April or May, Mr Gosden did not want Palace Pier to run in the 2,000 Guineas without a prep race. Therefore he will most probably start at Newcastle in a three-year-old race."

Palace Pier: unbeaten colt has not run since getting injured last yearCredit: Edward Whitaker

Pinatubo is the general 10-11 favourite to extend his unbeaten record to seven in the 2,000 Guineas and was the subject of a positive update from trainer Charlie Appleby this week, who described his champion two-year-old as being bigger and stronger than last year.

Regular rider William Buick partnered Pinatubo for the first time this year in a workout in Newmarket last weekend, and was back aboard the Shamardal colt as he worked seven furlongs with two lead horses in a racecourse gallop on the all-weather at Chelmsford on Thursday.

Appleby, who is bidding to win the 2,000 Guineas for the first time, said: "We took Pinatubo and two lead horses this morning to Chelmsford, who kindly allowed us to use the track. He worked over seven furlongs and it was a nice, sensible bit of work with him picking up well up the straight.

"William rode him, like he did last Saturday, and he was very pleased with him. Hopefully all roads lead to the Guineas with him now."

The 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas are the highlights on what is scheduled to be a blockbuster first weekend of action for racing in Britain after the shutdown of the sport, provided the government gives the all-clear for the sport to resume as planned on June 1.

Read more:

'He's gone the right way' – bigger, stronger Pinatubo primed for Guineas bid

Pinatubo kept isolated as Godolphin team ready star juvenile for 2,000 Guineas

Sheikh backs Appleby to produce new Pinatubo in multi-million vote of confidence

Wow! Pinatubo in a different league as he destroys National Stakes rivals

Pinatubo shatters juvenile track record in Chesham romp

Keep up to date on the must-have news, tips, photos and more by following the Racing Post across all social channels