It’s Classic weekend with the 2,000 Guineas today and the fillies’ turn tomorrow with the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket and I fancy Toormore to get the ball rolling for us in the former by taking the 3.50.

Richard Hannon’s charge may only have been described as workmanlike when landing the Craven Stakes over course and distance last time out, but that gives him a fitness edge, shows he acts over the tricky undulations of the Rowley Mile and after blowing hard afterwards he should come on an absolute bundle.

The quick ground is a huge positive for him as well and a draw in stall 14 could also be considered a plus near the stands’ side rail with the front running Spanish charger Noozoh Canarias not too far away in box eight to give him a good lead through the first three-quarters of the race. At a top price of 8/1 he looks very solid each-way material.

Australia has been the talking horse all winter with his apparent superb training displays at home. He could very well be the wonder horse that Aidan O’Brien keeps on suggesting he is. 

However, he may well have to be something out of the ordinary to make his mark first time up over a mile against what looks like an above average 2,000 Guineas, especially as he is bred to appreciate a mile and a quarter plus.

Like many pundits I was hugely impressed by the Greenham success of Kingman, who has a lovely way going about his business. He looks a class animal but there have to be reservations about him on grounds of the drying ground and getting home over this stiff mile as he has plenty of speed and the likes of War Command and Kingston Hill could be much bigger dangers.

The first-named in particular looked too big in the betting last week having been 16/1, now down to 9s, and his best two-year-old form coming forward into his second season is impressive. 

I fancy that the faster the ground the better for this US-bred colt and like the selection he looks more like the definitive miler than any other of the 14 entries in this colts’ classic.

The 1,000 Guineas on Sunday (Newmarket, 3.50) has a much more open look to it. I suppose all eyes will be on the Clive Brittain-trained Rizeena, top class as a juvenile, but about which her trainer has been comparing her to the great Pebbles. If she is 90 per cent as good as that star then I fancy this is her race for the taking, but the price has gone and I much prefer an each-way bet on Lady Cecil’s Joyeuse at an each-way price.

Six and even seven furlongs as a two-year-old was always going to be too sharp for this daughter of Oasis Dream and over this extra quarter-mile I think she can reverse Cheveley Park form with Vorda, Princess Noor and Kiyoshi.

I’m not so sure Sandiva will stay this tough mile at full pelt so Miss France, disappointing in a speed test first time out, looks a bigger danger over a longer trip with Balansiya preferred to the O’Brien runners of the Irish raiders.

Away from the Classics, on Saturday Spiffer looks worth an each-way wager at Newmarket at 2.05, while in the Thirsk Hunt Cup (3.40) Off Art looks as though he has been teed up for this following a sharpener at Doncaster. Clockmaker returns to his best trip in the Goodwood 2.55.