2000 Guineas tips as Royal Scotsman napped for Newmarket glory in first classic of the season

ROYAL SCOTSMAN (4.40) can return Paul Cole to the big time in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. The son of Gleneagles rates a serious value bet for the Whatcombe Ace and Scottish owner Jim Hay.

The colt made eye-catching late headway to finish fourth on debut over five furlongs at Ascot. The three-year-old clearly relished tackling six when bolting up from Bluelight Bay at Goodwood.

He built on that effort when a slightly unlucky third behind Bradsell in the Coventry at Royal Ascot. The three-year-old gained due compensation when routing Al Karrar in the Richmond at Goodwood. The bay then seemed to resent being held-up when a lacklustre fifth in the Gimcrack Stakes at York. However, he atoned with a cracking second to Chaldean in the Dewhurst over seven furlongs here. The star was staying-on powerfully at the death so he can turn the tables on his old rival up in trip.

The trainer can also bag the closing Howden Confined Handicap with YACOWLEF (5:50). The colt ended last season with a decent fourth to Quantum Impact in a Newbury nursery. He looked even better when chasing home Once More For Luck on his return at this venue. The bay was doing all his best work late so he can defy a welter-burden over seven furlongs.

Charlie Johnson’s CAPITAL THEORY (1.40) can earn us a few quid in the Howden Handicap. The gelding put in a career best on the all-weather when chinning Chichester at Chelmsford. He wasn’t disgraced yet again when fifth behind Max Mayhem in the Roseberry at Kempton. The bay was then unfortunate to encounter the progressive Aaddeey back on Turf at Ripon. The four-year-old is admirably consistent so he can go one better on the likely faster ground.

SPRING FEELING (2.15) can shade the Chaloner Stakes for Irish