Hot Snap new favourite in 1000 Guineas betting after Nell Gwyn win

Hot Snap’s surge to victory in the Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket has caused ructions in the 1000 Guineas betting with Sir Henry Cecil’s filly cut into outright favouritism for the Rowley mile classic on the back of a most taking performance. Sky Lantern and Winning Express, second and third in the race were left unchanged by Coral at 12/1 and 20/1 for the Guineas respectively, but this year’s their Nell Gwyn conqueror is now as short as 5/1.

Her win was especially impressive as she was held up in last under stable jockey Tom Queally until the 2f pole hove into view, at which point she quickly moved up on terms with favourite Sky Lantern, before moving away from the Richard Hannon filly all the way to the line. Sky Lantern – seemingly keen to deviate off a true line when the going got tough – was not disgraced in defeat.

The daughter of Pivotal had made a low key late-September debut on the all weather at Kempton on her sole start last term, beating Sir Michael Stoute’s Mango Diva by half a length over 1m.

Few but the most keen-eyed of form scholars may have noticed but Naalatt, the well backed favourite who could only finish third that day, duly bolted scooted in by eight lengths on her seasonal debut in February.

Sir Henry Cecil sounded less of a note than a foghorn of caution for those considering backing the filly for Newmarket glory in the immediate aftermath of her Nell Gwyn victory, suggesting “The idea is to take our time with her and she could go for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.”

Whether this was just a spot of kidology on the part of the elfin knight of the paddock remains to be seen, but it will have ante-post backers of Certify, Just The Judge and What A Name – 6/1 joint second favourites in the 1000 Guineas betting with Coral – resting a little easier nonetheless.