A BIG weekend for the reconstructed flat season with the first two classics of the new campaign at Newmarket and a wealth of brilliant contests to look forward to as well.

Let’s start with the colts with the 2,000 Guineas this afternoon at 3.35 and all eyes will be on Pinatubo as he attempts to maintain his 100 per cent record after a sparkling two-year-old season.

All the talk has been of the opinion that he won those six races because he was more mature than his rivals and able to use to the maximum his talents in his first year of training.

If you look at most of his races the Godolphin colt looked at his most vulnerable on his final start in the Dewhurst Stakes when Arizona closed the margin of defeat to two lengths from the yawning chasm of nine-and-a-quarter lengths in the National Stakes.

Common sense tells you that the physically imposing O’Brien colt will get even closer this time around yet Pinatubo is a shade of odds-on and the Irish raider is a top price of 6/1. The latter to my eyes is no watertight certainty to stay but the gap on the two offers are way too big.

So to my eyes that leaves the possibility of some massive prices worth considering for the remainder of the 13 runners and I have had a two-horse wager to see off the market leaders with KENZAI WARRIOR and AL SUHAIL (nap) at 25/1 and 16/1 respectively.

The last named looked a pacier horse than Derby favourite Military March in the Autumn Stakes last back end and wouldn’t have been suited by the sticky ground that day. I think he will take his revenge on his Godolphin teammate here.

James Doyle is back on board the colt after partnering him on his career debut last year.

Kenzai Warrior was hugely impressive when powering through the mud in the autumn to take the Horris Hill at Newmarket. His trainer Roger Teal has of course “form” in this race and he reckoned that he won that day despite the ground.

Of course that is not a definitive conclusion to weigh his chances upon here being a huge, heavy son of Karakonite whose progeny do like some juice. On the other hand for such a unit he does flow nicely across the ground.

The 1,000 Guineas (Sunday 3.35) is also interesting with Quadrilateral at the top of the list since her tenacious success in the Fillies Mile. However, there have to be concerns on two accounts with her.

Firstly, this will be by far the quickest ground that she has encountered and she has very little in hand over Love in third spot, beaten a length and three quarters, and Boomer a further length and a half back in fifth.

It is interesting that Karl Burke is running his once raced YES ALWAYS, a maiden winner at Newcastle as he rarely over faces his horses and I shall be having a small each-way play at 66/1, but my main bet will be on the Kingman filly SUMMER ROMANCE, so desperately disappointing on her last two starts in the Princess Margaret (lame) and then the Dick Poole Stakes at Salisbury. 

She is reportedly over all her problems and can only benefit from the step up to six furlongs on this quicker surface and is huge value if bouncing back.

Of the other races over the weekend, on Saturday I think we will get a big run for our money from Portland Handicap fourth ARECIBO in the Palace House Stakes at 1.50, while AL AASY (nb) has been tearing the house down on the gallops and I know is fancied to land the Newmarket Stakes at 3.00 before lining up for the Derby next month.

On Sunday, there are some competitive handicaps to get our teeth into and I shall be supporting SKY DEFENDER at 2.25 and BREATHLESS TIMES at a big price in the 6.30.

My main bet though will come on RAAKIB ALHAWA in an outstanding renewal of the Listed Buckhound Stakes at 1.50. This colt hated the soft ground in the Cumberland Lodge Stakes last time out at Ascot and is thoroughly unexposed over this mile-and-a-half trip.