Richard Hughes could hardly be faulted for partnering the hitherto unbeaten Toormore, trained by his brother-in-law, Richard Hannon, Jr., in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday. It must have been galling for him to see stablemate Night Of Thunder steal the thunder in front under Kieren Fallon, while Toormore trailed in seventh. Now Hughes has a chance at redemption through the medium of Rizeena (by Iffraaj) in the fillies' equivalent, the QIPCO 1000 Guineas, due to go off on Sunday, May 4th at 3:50 p.m. local time (8:20 p.m. IST). The card has already been published on this site.

Veteran trainer Clive Brittain, who is now 80, has campaigned Rizeena in admirable fashion, giving her plenty of opportunity to race last term. As a two-year-old in 2013, she made 8 starts, won four times and placed second in the Fillies' Mile at Newmarket behind the ill-fated Chriselliam at her last public appearance. She has been working well at home. However, as she has not raced this year, and is quoted at just 4 to 1 in a competitive field of 17 expected runners, value probably lies elsewhere.

Another schooler with vast experience, Andre Fabre, sends Miss France (by Dansili) across the Channel, repeating a journey she essayed last year when coming over to England to annex the Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket. That experience will surely help the French filly to give of her best, but she will have to show considerable improvement over her last insipid effort, which came in the slowly-run Prix Imprudence in April, where she finished a tame sixth. Should she make progress, the 9 to 2 price on offer may look generous.

France is double-handed with Vorda (by Orpen), from the Mont-de-Marsan yard of Philippe Sogorb. Like her compatriot, the robust filly is also familiar with conditions at Newmarket, which she visited in September last year to annex the Connolly's Red Mills Cheveley Park Stakes over 6 furlongs. Both her conformation and her subsequent efforts have suggested that sprinting  will be her forte, as reflected in the odds of 14 to 1 against.

Next in the ratings from amongst the British-trained runners is Lucky Kristale (by Lucky Story), winner of 4 of her 5 starts. She has the distinction of having beaten Rizeena in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes last year. However all her efforts to date have been recorded over 6 furlongs, and there would have to be serious doubts about her getting the stiff Rowley Mile. George Margarson trains the scopy filly down the road in Newmarket at Graham Lodge and she is an 8 to 1 shot.

Princess Noor (by Holy Roman Emperor) has recorded a higher rating at each of her last four starts following her maiden win. Only one of that quartet of appearances resulted in a winning bracket, but her close second to Vorda last time out means she is not far off the required level. Roger Varian's filly is at 28 to 1.

A combination of head and heart will draw some towards Lightning Thunder (by Dutch Art). The rational part of any assessment of her chances will suggest that a filly who was only a head in arrears to Miss France on this very track last year, but is now at 33 to 1, must represent value over that rival; the emotional part will look at Night Of Thunder's victory in the "2000" on Saturday and hope for a "Thunder" double! Olly Stevens handles the compact filly, not seen out since last October.

Despite her relative lack of stature, Sandiva (by Footstepsinthesand) showed she had trained on in 2014 by accounting for 14 rivals in the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes last month. Richard Fahey's pupil has been quite consistent and should at least get a share of the money. The filly she beat on her seasonal debut, Euro Charline (by Myboycharlie) has been supplemented by her owners, the US-based Team Valor, into the "1000" and obviously cannot be discounted. Both these fillies are on offer at 16 to 1 each.

A spell in the desert proved beneficial to the connections of the versatile Ihtimal (by Shamardal), who won both the UAE 1000 Guineas and the UAE Oaks at Meydan earlier this year, the latter by 10 lengths! Clearly the level of ability she displays is on the upgrade, and as she only has a couple of lengths to make up on Rizeena on last year's form, the Godolphin standard-bearer from Saeed bin Suroor's yard has to be regarded as a live threat. At 10 to 1, she is sixth in the betting.

What a fairy tale it would be if Joyeuse (by Oasis Dream), trained by Lady Jane Cecil, were to take the prize! The half-sister to none other than Frankel has had the benefit of a run this season, when a fair third in the Dubai Duty Free Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury, which might help her gain the edge over some of her rivals. But the 20 to 1 available suggests she will have her work cut out.

As many as 13 of the anticipated runners have experience of racing at Newmarket, but from amongst those that haven't are a pair of interesting customers from Ireland. Both Tapestry (by Galileo), at 8 to 1, and Bracelet (by Montjeu), at 10 to 1, hail from Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle Stables. The former won her first two starts, then knuckled under by less than a length to Rizeena last year. The latter is coming off an early season victory this year and is open to further improvement, particularly over further.

Winner of her only start, which came on the All-Weather at Lingfield last December, Betimes (by New Approach) does not quite fit the profile of a live Guineas contender. The mere fact that a trainer as experienced as John Gosden is running her here in the first place suggests that she has an unexposed level of ability higher than what a single public outing could reveal. She can be backed at 25 to 1.

So with so many fillies so closely matched on form – ten of them within a range of 8 pounds – who will win? That will be known later on Sunday but it's worth remembering what Clive Brittain said, in reference to Rizeena: "You always think you need a bit of luck but if you've got the best horse, you'll win. That's the way I look at it."