1000 Guineas: 14/1 a right royal price given trainer's stunning strike rate

The AntePoster has already recommended one bet on the 1000 Guineas. We argued that Venetian Sun, having the best single piece of form in the race, was seriously overpriced at 14/1 despite doubts over her stamina. Those doubts have not gone anywhere, so at 6/1 she is no more than fairly priced at best now.

But with doubts swirling over the Ballydoyle squad, in particular Aidan O'Brien's admission yesterday that likely favourite Precise will not be at full fitness, and stamina concerns over a number of other fillies in the betting, we wanted another interest on the back of newsflow from France yesterday.

Specifically, we would be simply staggered if the French filly My Highness started anywhere near the 14/1 she is currently offered at now that her participation is confirmed. We expect her to start well into single figures, and so she should.

Form figures of 2111-2, a run that includes a win at Group 2 level, are eye-catching enough. Indeed, they might suggest that this article is form-based pick, which is The AntePoster's normal starting point when considering the price at which a horse is trading.

But that's actually not our angle at all here. The three wins of My Highness's juvenile campaign do not stand out in the context of the field being assembled for this year's first fillies' Classic. Indeed, it wouldn't be difficult to pick holes in even her G2 Prix du Calvados win.

But what does stand out like a dazzling beacon is that Andre Fabre considers this filly to be of 1000 Guineas potential as she embarks on her Classic season. This is a trainer who has won all five British Classics, and crucially with a remarkable strike rate. When he sends one over, it's because he thinks the horse in question has a genuine chance to win it.

What's more, that strike rate is particularly impressive at Newmarket, a course Fabre has a particular affinity for. He has won the 2000 Guineas twice, the Dewhurst three times, a couple of Champion Stakes before that race was moved to Ascot, two Middle Parks, and a July Cup on the sister course for good measure. When he comes to the Cambridgeshire/Suffolk border this legendary trainer means business.

As for My Highness's defeat last time out in the Prix Impudence, that looked extremely good to us too, and indeed surpassed our expectations. Fabre has no interest in winning trials for trials' sake as we have seen many time over the years; he uses them to bring his horses on for the big races that matter. Miss France, who he brought over to win the 1000 Guineas back in 2014, had been beaten four lengths into sixth in precisely the same race (albeit run at a different venue back then). My Highness will in all likelihood come on a tonne for that return run.

We are writing this article now as systems are now all go for this horse, who also has an entry in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) the following weekend: Godolphin's French racing manager has confirmed on the front page of today's Paris-Turf that the Rowley Mile on Sunday is the definitive target, and top jockey Oisin Murphy has apparently been booked to ride.

Logic says this must be a win-only play, as it will be a big field and three-place terms make no mathematical sense for this particular antepost bet.

Recommendation for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, 3 May 2026

Back My Highness win only at 14/1 with William Hill and 888. The 12/1 offered by Ladbrokes, Coral and BetVictor is fine too.