Ante-Post tip – Qipco 2000 Guineas 30-04-16

Saturday’s Qipco 2000 Guineas, the first classic of the season, has already been decided if the ante-post market is anything to go by with the Aidan O’Brian-trained Air Force Blue (the best juvenile he has handled according to the master of Ballydoyle) a general 8-13 chance for the race run for the first time in 1809.

While there is no doubt the case for the son of War Front is a strong one those odds represent nothing in the way of value so with most bookmakers going a quarter the odds the first three an each-way investment in something with a good chance of making the frame has to be the way to go.

Stormy Antarctic ran out a comfortable winner of last week's Craven Stakes at headquarters although with hot favourite Foundation just ahead of a couple of exposed colts in second place the form could be suspect.

Racing Post Trophy victor Marcel is still unexposed as is Owen Burrows' Massaat but at the 12-1 generally available the vote has to go to Mark Johnston's runner for Godolphin, Buratino.

The only horse to have beaten Air Force Blue, the Exceed And Excel colt achieved that in emphatic style when landing the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, and while the form was reversed next time at the Curragh that was patently not the real Buratino who later went on to run the exciting two-year-old Shalaa close in the Middle Park.

The selection faces a tough task in trying to confirm that Ascot form with the favourite but is certainly capable of making a race of it and rates a decent value each-way alternative to the 'good thing'.

1 Point each-way Buratino 12-1 generally