1800: Right team that's your lot. I'm retiring to barracks for a quiet night and a gentle sob. But we'll have another go at this great game tomorrow. Fancy it? Back at ten!
1745: As for the going, well we end the day as we began it. Good to soft.
Michael Prosser says: "I'm keeping the going as good to soft and it's been riding on the dead side. Given we had nearly six inches of rain in four weeks I'm happy with how it has ridden.
"The forecast for the next 24 hours si for it to remain dry with a slight grass frost on Sunday morning when there will be air tempeartures of 2-3 degrees.
"The forecast suggests Sunday will not be dissimilar to day, dry with a temperature of 9-10 degrees."
1740: Time for a few parish notices and Aidan O'Brien was fined £1000 for parading Camelot out of racecard order in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas. The stewards ruled he had failed to ensure his son Joseph was mounted as the horses began to leave the parade ring, thereby breaking the parade.
Jim Crowley, meanwhile, was suspended for two days (20-21 May) for careless riding aboard Spirit Quarts in the Pearl Bloodstock Palace House Stakes.
Patrick Mathers was banned for six days for weighing in over after his ride on Personal Touch.
1735: The market leaders dominate and under a determined Kirsty Milcarez drive Rewarded gets there to win by a nose. Ghostwriting? Last. He's now officially off the list.
1730 Result:
1st 9 Rewarded 10-3 F
2nd 6 Archbishop (USA) 7-2
3rd 4 Frog Hollow 6-1
1728: One or two threatening dark clouds here now - at least a shower or two would freshen up the ground for tomorrow.
1725: Sir Henry's in no rush to raise his sights with Noble Mission but our sponsors Sky Bet are keen to keep on the right side of him. He's 14-1 for the Investec Derby with them but Ladbrokes go 25s.
1720: It's been a fascinating day - but the evening meal now very much revolves around Ghostwriting putting his best hoof forward here.
1715: Sir Henry Cecil says of Noble Mission: "It was a funny race, they crawled and then sprinted on soft ground. He did well, he's a horse who's learning and he will improve. He's not there yet and he'll need another race before we decide where to go next. He's in the Dante but I don't want to fly too high too soon. You want to fly high at the end."
1710: Frankel's brother does well to win there, it was a really messy contest but he's well in top at the line, beating the strong-travelling Mariner's Cross by a neck. Michaelangelo runs a huge race on debut in third.
1655 Result:
1st 4 Noble Mission 7-4 F
2nd 1 Mariner's Cross (IRE) 9-4
1655: Noble Mission being taken steadily to post in his hood. He clearly has his quirks but the wheels are still firmly on at this stage.
1652: Fascinating Newmarket Stakes coming up. I said earlier I was keen on Stencile and he's solid in the market.
1642: You have to admire Alex Dunigan's style! He writes: "What are the chances of Paddy Power paying out early on Camelot for the Derby? It looks a cert now and would be great publicity for them. Would also get me out a drink-lead casino visit."
Well I asked their spokesman Paul Binfield for you AD and I think his signal meant he'd be back to me in two minutes!
1640: Apologies for missing the earlier emails! Andy In Norwich said: "Phew!! The pants can stay on now Mr Ord! Well done to young Joseph for a great ride there. It was a race with a hint of Pennekamp-Celtic Swing about it with the finish. Delighted with Hermival and felt vindicated by his far rail run but feel that tactics affected the result. Let's hope Camelot can build on this as he should do next time out and over further. Not a superstar for me but obviously smart - dare we dream?"
We have to dream in this game A. We simply have to!
1635: The less said about that effort the better...
1620 Result:
1st 19 Red Quartet (IRE) 12-1
2nd 14 Mince 5-1 F
3rd 9 Democretes 8-1
4th 21 Personal Touch 20-1
1618: Sans Loi is being re-plated
1614: It's a relentless pace here. I've taken Mezzonit and Ultrasonic here. Now Mayson's gone in we have change for the game.
1605: Interesting line from Timeform, they have Camelot running to a rating of 123p in winning today, the lowest rating for a winner of the 2000 Guineas in the last five years.
1600: The master trainer was also quick to point out his Charity Bet was a winner courtesy of Camelot. Check out his column now. Lots more ammunition to fire.
1555: Yorkshire, Yorkshire, Yorkshire! Nice performance from a horse who is really coming together now. Our star columnist Richard Fahey says: "I was a bit worried about the ground for him but he's relaxing better. That's the bare minimum for him and he's definitely better of six. He goes to the Duke Of York now, all roads lead there, and we'll put him in the July Cup on Tuesday.
"I'm so pleased for the owners. They lost the dam when this fellow was born and he's always been a special horse for them. They hand-reared him.
"I still can't work out how he didn't win the Ayr Gold Cup. I fancied him off a mark of 98. I thought he was a certaintity but I probably should have run him in-between as he was too fresh and it all went pear-shaped. It was one of those best-laid plans that always go wrong."
1545 Result:
1st 9 Mayson 7-2 F
2nd 1 Definightly 16-1
3rd 2 Elusivity (IRE) 12-1
1545: Aidan O'Brien on Camelot: "It's one of those unbelievable days. We knew from the statistics that Camelot had a lot against him, we knew he had a lot to overcome but we always thought he was very special.
"I was worried about the race and I'm glad I didn't say anything to Joseph. I'm delighted for everybody and all those who work with him every day. We are very lucky to have such a horse and many special people who look after him.
"Obviously I learned a lot from running St Nicholas Abbey in the Guineas two years ago and it's only now he's getting the brilliance back he had at two. We have lots to look forward to and we'll take it one race at a time You would imagine looking at him (that) the Derby would be a very suitable race for him."
1545: Unprecedented drama - Michaelangelo is now a runner again. Confused? I am.
1544: Michaelangelo and Prince Alzain have been taken out of the Newmarket Stakes at 1655. Leaves a field of four.
1543: Call goes out for Aidan O'Brien to report to the weighing room. Could be to ask for an explanation for the running of Power who was beaten very early.
1542: The sausage fingers can't type quickly enough but more Guineas reaction to follow. First though we have the Palace House. Mayson for me but the draw is a worry.
1540: Coral are a top-priced (as far as I can see) 6-4 about Camelot for the Investec Derby and Michael Shinners, spokesman for Sky Bet, is convinced he's going to be even better at Epsom. He said: "We were very impressed with Camelot's performance as he was given plenty to do and showed enough class to beat his field. On better ground and over further he could well improve again and looks the one to beat."
1533: Thank goodness Woolies is closed...Hermival comfortably reverses Djebel form with Abtaal and wins the race on the far side.
1530: William Hill certainly impressed and they are 4-5 Camelot for the Derby. Ladbrokes and Betfred go 5-4 with the Magic Sign offering 3-1 he completes the Triple Crown.
1525: If you backed Trumpet Major each-way with Sky Bet you're paid out - he was fourth. He actually traded at 4-5 in-running on Betfair when hitting the front two furlongs out.
1522: The ground does seem to be dead - the Guineas is seven seconds over standard time. They raced in three groups and the winner's class and stamina got him home.
1519: Betting reaction is swift and our sponsors Sky Bet make Camelot an even-money favourite for the Investec Derby. Boylesports are the same price from 9-4.
1517: A beaming Joseph O'Brien says of his first QIPCO 2000 Guineas winner: "He has a lot of class and a lot of speed and I always felt happy. I didn't get the best of runs through and he'll be a lot better horse going over further."
1510 Result:
1st 5 Camelot 15-8 F
2nd 9 French Fifteen (FR) 12-1
3rd 10 Hermival (IRE) 16-1
1509: With Frankel back on track and Black Caviar heading our way this has all the makings of a vintage Flat season. In about five minutes time we could have a Triple Crown contender too. Whatever Camelot does here he looks certain to improve, physically, as the season progresses. This is very much his minimum trip. Lot of money for Power, he and Abtaal are Team Ord, and we await a fascinating first Classic of the season.
1507: An intriguing Guineas. If we have a superstar in here will it be Camelot, Born To Sea or Top Offer? Of the three Born To Sea looked best for me.
1503: Caspar Netscher has to answer a stamina question here and he's very keen going down.
1502: Do we have the potential for a messy race here? No obvious source for the early pace. Abtaal has gone from the front before but I'd be surprised if they adopted thise tactics here.
1458: Rugs are off and Camelot is certainly carrying plenty of condition today.
1455: I went to the pre-parade ring. Lot to like about Camelot but for today I preferred stablemate Power. The great and good of the racing game were down in the saddling area - one notable absentee seemed to be Michael Tabor. He, it seems, could be in Kentucky as they have a rather big race of their own tonight.
1450: Roger Charlton is facing up to one heck of a weekend here - he tried to sidestep the press after Al Kazeem's win but one or two of the more fleet-footed scribes got him (me not included). Quotes to follow.
1445: Quick verdicts on the ground here. Jimmy Fortune feels it's good to soft," Kieren Fallon "on the slow side", Ryan Moore "dead", Christophe Soumillon "very soft", Tom Queally "dead" and James Doyle "Good to soft and very dead. The worst is from the dip to the finish."
1438: A taking performance from the winner there - and a boost for the Top Offer team. He wins by four-and-a-half lengths. Quest For Peace is a clear second best and the strong-finishing Dunaden was just tapped for tactical speed back at this trip.
1430 Result:
1st 3 Al Kazeem 15-2
2nd 7 Quest For Peace (IRE) 12-1
3rd 1 Dunaden (FR) 9-2
1430: OMG as the kids say. Tullius was a winner for Ben Linfoot's Value Bet column. Hope he didn't shout it home at the family wedding. He's already the black sheep of the clan.
1427: Quest For Peace was nearly my bet here. Nothing to put you off in the parade ring or on the way to post either.
1425: Meandre is all the rage in the betting ring but was on his toes in the paddock and keen to post.
1422: Racegoers can have a go at being a commentator on a special "racing karaoke" machine. Don't think my gentle - nay camp - tone would be suited to it.
1420: On the way back I bumped into a friend of mine, Andrew Turton, who is one of the owners of Move In Time. He runs in the Palace House and the way Turt was pacing up and down outside the owners and trainers bar suggests they're expecting a good run.
1415: Cracking contest coming up for the Jockey Club Cup and not surprisingly they look a cracking bunch in the parade ring. Masked Marvel looks to have done plenty of work ahead of his return and I'm just glad they're all running despite the fact not a single horse was expected to be suited by the ground!
1404: An all too familar start - the Pot down. Tullius is a ready winner with only the runner-up ever threatening to land a blow. Interestingly they opted to race down the centre of the track which suggests all may not be lost for Mayson later on.
1400 Result:
1st 8 Tullius (IRE) 12-1
2nd 10 Memory Cloth 6-1
3rd 1 Fury 4-1 F
1355: Going down for the opener. Come on Circumvent and failing you Spanish Duke. It's a bold and aggressive start to the Placepot going in with just the two.
1345: To complete the Frankel coverage Tom Queally added: "He seemed very good. It was a nice piece of work and a stepping stone to Newbury. He certainly felt like the Frankel of old. It was just a piece of work, he is better than the two horses he worked with, but I was very happy."
1340: For those who prefer the written word, Sir Henry Cecil said of Frankel: "He enjoyed that and was relaxed going down, which is good as he wasn't last year.
"He did everything right. He has grown stronger since last year and is much more sensible. He will have another two or three bits of work and so long as it is decent ground then he will run in the Lockinge. He gets the mile very well and I hope he'll get further in time. Touch wood he seems fine now after his setback and it's not worrying me so it must be OK."
1330: Updates delayed by a pleasant chilli con carne - but I'm a man of my word and you can now listen to Lord Grimthorpe's reaction to Frankel's work.
1310: Stencive is one of my horses to follow this season and interesting that the excellent William Haggas pitches him straight into the Qatar Racing Newmarket Stakes. He's a massive player in against Noble Mission for me.
The regally-bred and expensively bought Michaelangelo1300: Jack In Cambridge is heading here as we speak. He asks: "Gone for Power e/w with SkyBet. Surely a top 4 finish. Seems its drying out all the time as well, sunny here at the moment. Got any tips for the 1st race? I can't decide."
I've backed Circumvent and Spanish Duke J - but I have to say neither with confidence.
1255: All the best to Mark From Norwich who says: "I can't be at newmarket today, family wedding ! but i will be there in spirit my mate Jack Daniels. i've gone in big on Trumpet Major e/w and a nice lucky 15., circumvent, eton rifles, ultrasonic, forth of june."
Ben 'Value Bet' Linfoot is also at a family wedding today M. It's the silly season. Times like this I'm glad I'm a recluse.
1250: A polite round of applause from the granstands after a routine piece of work. Jet Away and Bullet Train provide some cover until two furlongs out when Frankel is allowed to stride five or six lengths clear without being asked a question - to be fair neither were his work companions. Satisfactory for all concerned and wonderful to see the great horse heading in the right direction again. Full reaction from Sir Henry to follow.
1240: Here we go - first view in public this year of Frankel who is now on course ahead of the racecourse gallop. Not bad for a horse who was retired on Grand National afternoon!
1230: I bet my new favourite racecourse bar, the Adnams one here (five real ale pumps and complimentary pork pie and scotch egg) is heaving today. Decent crowd building up - and that's only in the press room. A call has gone out for more chairs.
1225: Frankel due to arrive at the track very shortly ahead of his racecourse gallop. He is expected to work with Bullet Train and Jet Away at around 1255.
1220: I have many failings as a man - too many to list here. One is being loyal to horses I should have long waved goodbye to. Anyway with that in mind I've backed Ghostwriting each-way in our finale. No way should he be 22-1 racing from only two pounds higher than his Doncaster nursery win. He may have his quirks but still strip fitter for the run at Kempton the last day.
The buzz horse in here is Archbishop and he features - albeit briefly - in our new Catching Pigeons column.
1215: I'm worried about Sam 'I don't work weekends' Barnard's lifestyle. He says: "I woke up bleary eyed this morning to have a look at the Newmarket card....confused to find a fair few bob in my account...a drunken treble last night came in! happy days!
"8.00 Bangor - Plein Pouvoir, 8.05 Dundalk - No No Charlie, 8.15 Fontwell - Moldowney (yes i was drunk by 8pm...awful)
"Anyway! Circumvent, Meandre, Sans Loi hopefully will see me REWARDED today."
You'll certainly start well SB - that's my prediction.
1210: Clerk of the Course Michael Prosser doesn't think there'll be any big track bias here today. The GoingStick reading is now 7.1 having improved from 6.8 on Friday.
He says: "It walks even and feels even. It may be slightly slower bang underneath the rails but we are taking such fine margins here that I think the important thing will be where the pace is. If jockeys are more positive on one side rather than the other and they pinch a length then that may make the difference and be decisive."
1200: Our sponsors Sky Bet report all the money in the Guineas to be for Team Ord aka Abtaal (13-2 from 7s) and Power (8s from 10s). Camelot friendless but with the four-place offer they're attracting each-way money for his main rivals.
1145: Another non-runner and a significant one too. Es Que Love is out of the Al Rayan Handicap at 1620 because of the ground.
1140: I'd have been very sweet on Mayson in the Pearl Bloodstock Palace House Stakes but for fears he may be drawn away from the action in two. If he gets a tow into the race he's going to take the world of beating, of those who will be closer to the stands;' rail Eton Rifles makes most appeal.
1130: It's a cracking renewal of the Qatar Bloodstock Jockey Club Cup but too hard for me. Andre Fabre warns Meandre will come on for the run and would prefer better ground. Dunaden could be outpaced in a tactical affair, John Gosden fears the ground for Masked Marvel as does Ryan Moore with Fiorente. Al Kazeem seems sure to run his race but needs a career best , a comment that applies to Sadeek's Song. David O'Meara is a trainer to follow but Blue Bajan is likely to find one or two too quick.
That leaves Quest For Peace and Kieren Fallon was sweet on him in his excellent Racing Post Weekender column but wouldn't he prefer better ground too? So I'm going to sit out. Intriguing puzzle nonetheless.
1125: The Qatar investment into British racing has been a huge shot in the arm for the great game but I bet Hamdan Al Maktoum hopes they soon invest in a new stallion or two. He'll again be greeted at HQ but at least 20 posters of Makfi including a 20 square feet one on the main grandstand.
1110: Pack the gloves is my advice to Nick Milne who writes: "Really fancy Sans Loi to gain revenge on Es Que Love in the 420. Was really well backed at the Craven meeting and I am convinced that had it been drawn on the far side that day with the evetual winner that it would have won. Will be coming along this afternoon well wrapped up!"
It's a real hit and hope job that race NM - despite all the pre-race talk focused on the favourite and Al Khan. I've backed Mezzotint each-way in the hope he'll be finishing strongly and get the breaks. Wouldn't surprise me if Ulstrasonic also went well although she'll definitely need luck in running from her draw.
1100: Wonderful support card today. I could have backed five in the opener but in the ended settled on Circumvent with a saver on Spanish Duke. The latter goes well fresh and clearly I need Ryan Moore to have a very good day.
1045:There are three non-runners thus far, great word thus. Masamah (going) and Katla (not eaten up) are out the Palace House Stakes and Swedish Sailor (lame) the Newmarket Stakes.
Katla clearly not offered the excellent Full English I managed to down in one in Bury St Edmunds this morning. Somehow I was first down for the advertised 7.45 kick-off time although the second arrival's quip of "you'd need to be up early to beat this lad to breakfast" was unnecessary. I had to smile when his request for a vegetarian sausage was quickly dismissed. He ended up with beans and tomatoes on toast. He who laughs last and all that.
1025: A very good morning to Andrew In Norwich who says: "Sad to see the demise of Woolies on the High Street although I normally frequent the Bull for a slap up breakfast.
"Given the prevailing conditions I fear you may be resorting to a Bernie Slaven moment later this afternoon. The bare-faced cheek of it all! I respect Msr Delzangles greatly and his preference for Hermival over Dragon Pulse and the colt's likely improvement make him a danger to the innocent public!
"Meandre's best form makes him a standout in the Jockey Club Stakes given his trainer's excellent record too and I will be watching the Gosden newcomer in the Newmarket Stakes with huge interest - quite a starting point to run in a Derby trial so he must be good. Anyway, best of luck to everyone for the day."
And to you Norfolk's finest. I do fear I could pay the price for a moment of madness. To be fair I was reacting to a surly performance from Nic 'Doggers' Doggett who fancied him. He brought Nasty Dave out.
1015: I'm slightly concerned that - having vowed on our podcast to bare my buttocks in the now defunct Woolworths if Hermival reverses Djebel form with Abtaal today - Tom Segal has but the H bomb up as his Pricewise tip. I could say it's squeaky bum time but that would be an awful mental image for all former employees of the once great chain.
1000: Don't forget the Armchair Jockeys are back. Here's their preview of the QIPCO 2000 Guineas as well as look at The Dip and its potential impact on races here.
0945: I've recently become an uncle for the first time and Darren Fleming is offering up a very good example of modern parenting. He writes: "The Fleming's are heading to Newmarket in force with 5 year old daughter, Masha making her classic debut
"Liking Margot Did at 8-1 in the Palace House. In fact I have a few selections in common with your 'Man on the spot' as I like Dunaden and Fourth of June too. No real strong view in Guineas now that Parish Hall is out. May have a few quid on Power as their form is similar
"Looking forward to seeing Frankel and getting my face painted and having a go on mechanical horse. Should be fun!"
Be careful on that mechanical horse DF. Played havoc with my thighs the only time I went on one. The supervisor had to help me off amid guffaws in the Hall Of Fame at Cheltenham.
0940: I've had two bets in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, Power and Abtaal. The former is the mount of Ryan Moore. He offers at least some encouragement in his new column at www.betfair.com/ryanmoore.
He writes: "To my mind, Power proved himself the best 2yo colt last season and is in many ways tailor-made for a normal Guineas. Whether or not this is a normal Guineas or that juvenile form is good enough - or if he has improved - we will soon see. But for what he has achieved, I can see why some would fancy him at around the 14-1 mark.
"He didn't run a bad race last season, winning the Coventry Stakes for me, the National Stakes and then, for me at least, proving himself the best horse in the Dewhurst. Things didn't go his way at Newmarket, where he was a strong-finishing second to Parish Hall. We were drawn on the stands rail there and started a bit sluggishly, so was held up behind the leaders. He was unlucky.
"One slight concern here, apart from the opposition, would be soft ground. I know he won the National Stakes with plenty of cut but to me he will be a better horse on better ground, and I think that comment applies to a few in here."
The whole column is a cracking read with a guide to all his weekend rides but I am a little perturbed to see he is very much a believer when it comes to Camelot.
0925: Before I grab a coffee and remove the coat just a reminder that Frankel works here at 1255. Remember him? I had planned to jog alongside him so you can gauge how quick he's going. Sadly a sore calf after playing squash on Wednesday (honestly I did) means I'll be watching from the stands.
0920: Good morning and welcome to Newmarket where after a dry night (bar the odd drop of drizzle) we're good to soft for day one of the QIPCO Guineas Festival.
If it was October I'd label this a glorious morning but the temperature on the old VW Golf told me it was six degrees as we pulled into the car park (wrong one and moved on by a steward within 30 seconds of arriving). At least it's bright but while the ground should continue to dry out it could be a slow process.
Those better placed than me to judge these things (and believe it or not there are one or two) suggest it will ride dead today.
Anyway cracking card to get our teeth into and as ever your emails are craved at daveord55@gmail.com. Are we for or against Camelot? Has the draw done for Mayson in the Palace House? Why was the Newmarket postman wearing knee-length shorts, sandals and brown socks this morning? Answers to those teasers and your thoughts on the day's action in general will be greatly appreciated.
