Guineas/Guinness

I guess you want a little review of the big races over the weekend.
I was at the Rowley Mile on Saturday and it was absolutely packed full of people. The big races really do pull the spectators in.
I think the runner-up New Approach was the best horse in the 2000 Guineas and he only got beat because he had to do all the donkey work in front. Nevertheless, Henrythenavigator put up an exceptional performance to win but he may not be of the right calibre to win the Derby.
These first two were well clear of the rest and the only one to follow from them is Ravens Pass who didn't stay the trip and will run better when dropped to 6/7 furlongs.
The 1000 Guineas on Sunday was a bit of a strange race and Natagora was in the best place in front where she could avoid all the trouble in behind. One who did suffer interference was Nahoodh and Richard Hughes was adamant that he would have won with a clear run. I don't. Saoirsie Abu is the one to take out of the race; the firmer the ground, the better and I can see her winning at Royal Ascot or Glorious Goodwood this year.
The Guineas may have been the big race on Saturday, but the strangest must have been the 5.45. Henry Cecil's Anjaan was extremely immature and in the final furlong he drifted across the course to smash into another runner, nearly knocking both of them over. Despite this, Anjaan managed to rally in the last strides and win the race. How connections managed to keep the race in the stewards' room, I will never know.
But the highlight of the sporting weekend was the Championship matches on Sunday. I think Stoke won't last a minute in the Premier League but they seem to be happy anyway. Southampton put up a mammouth display to win their game and stay up but Leceister weren't so lucky. They've never been relegated to the third tier of football before and the current squad is a far cry from the one of the 90s I remember of Casey Keller, Robbie Savage, Muzzy Izzet etc.