Alcohol Free surges in 1,000 Guineas betting as favourite Santa Barbara rebounds

Alcohol Free is the major market mover on the day of the Qipco 1,000 Guineas and has been backed into 10-3, having been as big as 8-1 in places on Saturday night, while favourite Santa Barbara has rebounded in the betting after drifting to as big as 5-2.

Backers of the Cheveley Park Stakes winner have been out in force as trainer Andrew Balding and jockey Oisin Murphy chase more Classic glory after they tasted victory together in last year's 2,000 Guineas with Kameko.

Alcohol Free was successful in the Group 3 Fred Darling at Newbury on her way here, and is now a clear second favourite to the Aidan O'Brien-trained Santa Barbara.

O'Brien endured an underwhelming Qipco 2,000 Guineas with Van Gogh's eighth-placed finish the best of his trio, and his once-raced Santa Barbara, who was the subject of a major ante-post gamble, had been easy to back having been pushed out to 5-2 (from 6-4) at one point.

Backers of the Camelot filly have pounced since then and she is now back to a general 2-1 chance.

Stablemate Mother Earth has also been weak in the market and has drifted to 11-1 (from 7) as the Ballydoyle maestro goes in search of his first British winner of the year.

ITV Racing tips: one key runner from each of the seven races on ITV on Sunday

Statement, a short-head second to Alcohol Free in the Fred Darling, has shortened to 7-1 (from 8) while Sacred has drifted to 9-1 despite being as low as 13-2 last night. Saffron Beach, runner-up to Sacred in the Group 3 Nell Gwynn in April, splits that pair at a general 8-1.

Ladbrokes spokesman Jon Lees said: “Support for Alcohol Free is extremely strong this morning. The Fred Darling winner was available to back at 8-1 late yesterday but her price has been plummeting ever since.

"In contrast Santa Barbara has been relatively easy to back, perhaps a sign of waning confidence in the filly after the performances of the Ballydoyle team in the 2,000 Guineas.”

Paddy Power's Newmarket movers

1.15 River Alwen 7 (from 15-2)
2.25 Ashaari 13-8 (from 7-4)
3.00 Posted 15-2 (from 9)
3.40 Alcohol Free 11-4 (from 15-2)
4.15 Dig Two 9-2 (from 5)
5.20 Lovely Breeze (11-2 from 6)

Lullaby Moon is the only non-runner in the 1,000 Guineas, which headlines seven live races on ITV this afternoon.

Also featured among the action is the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes (3.00), for which Queen Power is a solid 11-4 favourite, although Lavenders Blue (7-2 from 4-1) and Freyja (13-2 from 10-1) have both come in for support.

Newmarket non-runners

1.50: 6. Rodrigo Diaz
3.40: 3. Lullaby Moon
4.50: 2. Annandale

The going at Newmarket remains good to firm with a GoingStick reading of 8.2. Three millimetres water was applied to the course after the end of racing on Saturday.

At Longchamp, last year's Grand Prix de Paris winner Mogul is being well-backed to give trainer Aidan O'Brien a third win in Group 1 Prix Ganay (3.15) and is a solid 8-11 favourite ahead of the Andre Fabre-trained Magny Cours.

Qipco 1,000 Guineas card and betting

Newmarket previews:

Newmarket tips: two 1,000 Guineas contenders who could outrun their odds

3.40: Time for the talking to stop as Santa Barbara bids to give O'Brien seventh win

2.25: Sea Karats bids to be the exception to the rule by making big step up from debut

3.00: Can Queen Power make it a magnificent seven for super Stoute?

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