Thunder Moon backed to strike in puzzling 2,000 Guineas market

Thunder Moon has maintained his place as the clear favourite for this afternoon's Qipco 2,000 Guineas Stakes, with the Joseph O'Brien-trained runner now as short as 7-2 for the first Classic of the season in Britain.

He was sharing 4-1 favouritism with Mutasaabeq and Wembley earlier this morning, but the lightly raced son of Zoffany appears the clear pick for Saturday's Group 1 feature at 3.40. His two main market rivals are 5-1 shots.

The World Pool, which is open for every race at Newmarket today, is currently putting Wembley as the favourite at odds of 5.17.

Coral, meanwhile, reported earlier this morning the majority of interest was for Mutasaabeq. He was cut to 9-2 favourite with them, but is currently 5-1.

Coral's David Stevens said: “While the Qipco 2,000 Guineas market remains wide open, Mutasaabeq has emerged as the early market mover, a gamble in part no doubt inspired by Racing Post tipsters Tom Segal and Paul Kealy both headlining the colt. The supplementary entry has joined Wembley at the head of the betting."

The most significant market mover in the Classic is Godolphin runner Master Of The Seas, who has continued to attract support all morning and is now 7-1 (from 11).

The Charlie Appleby-trained runner is one of only two course-and- distance winners in the 15-runner field, having won the Craven Stakes by three-quarters of a length last month.

Master Of The Seas (near): won the Craven Stakes last monthCredit: Edward Whitaker

The going at Newmarket is good to firm and clerk of the course Michael Prosser is happy with conditions on the Rowley Mile. Best ground is towards the far side but the stalls are positioned in the centre of the track for Saturday's card.

He said: "It was a bit frosty first thing. We had an air frost of -4C and it was the same temperature on the track at about 6am. It took a little time to shift but it went fairly quickly after 7am.

"We're in a good place. The GoingStick reading is an average of 8.1 which is pretty much spot on for good to firm. The GoingStick reading is lower towards the stands' side rail but we're 8.2 in the centre and 8.3 on the far side. I'm very happy with where we're at, I think it's a super strip of ground. We'll make a decision if we need to irrigate tonight for Sunday.

"It's been dry yesterday and overnight. There's a chance of a shower later in the afternoon, it'll be 12-13C and we'll have some light winds."

Also at Newmarket, Sir Ron Priestley remains a strong 2-1 favourite for the Betfair Exchange Jockey Club Stakes (3.00).

Emaraaty Ana is the one attracting interest in the other Group race on the card, with his price cut to 7-1 (from 8) in the Betfair Palace House Stakes.

It is the final day of the Punchestown festival in Ireland and Triumph Hurdle hero Quilixios is now a joint 15-8 favourite for the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (4.00) with the Triumph third Haut En Couleurs.

Quilixios: looking to follow up his Triumph Hurdle success at PunchestownCredit: Edward Whitaker

Zanahiyr, from the Denise Foster yard that is without a winner at the five-day meeting, was as short as 5-2 overnight but is now out to 7-2.

Concertista is a strong odds-on favourite for the Coolmore-sponsored Mares Champion Hurdle, the other top-level contest on the card.

The going at Punchestown is yielding on the hurdle, chase and bumper course while it is good to firm, firm in places on the cross country track.

Read more Saturday previews

Qipco 2,000 Guineas: trainers on their contenders for the Newmarket Classic

1.50 Newmarket: 'He ticks plenty of boxes' – Appleby hoping Bright Melody shines in ITV opener

2.25 Newmarket: Came From The Dark 'in the form of his life' – but stats are all against him

3.00 Newmarket: substance over style sums up the Jockey Club Stakes protagonists

3.40 Newmarket: read the form as well as the runes to unravel Ballydoyle's 2,000 Guineas hand (Members' Club)

ITV Racing tips: one key runner from each of the six races on ITV on Saturday

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