Focus On The Flat: Silly season underway as Einstein puzzles
Thu, 02 Apr 2026
Thu, 02 Apr 2026
In his latest Focus On The Flat column, Races Now's Adam Smith takes a look back at what has been an eventful start to the new flat season, including some unusual developments in the 2,000 Guineas ante post market.
The season is well and truly underway; the Lincoln is in the rear view mirror, Aidan O’Brien’s annual press morning has lead to ante post market movers, the Lockinge entries are out and Constitution Hill now has an official flat rating of 101.
As always from me at this time of the year, we’ll start with the Guineas.
It’s been rather chaotic since my last article for one reason or another. Albert Einstein was all the rage in the 2,000 Guineas, cut from 10/1 to 7/2 on the basis that Aiden said he was the fastest two-year-old they’ve ever had. A daft price.
Then we got a pretty surprising Albert Einstein entry in Gladness Stakes last Saturday over 7f. Albert goes off 11/10 on his first run since May 2025 and can only manage a laboured sixth-placed finish. Looking like a very unlikely Guineas runner (never mind winner) in the process.
Yes, the ground was bad but it was 100% the right thing for connections to run here given how long he has been off the track and there are now massive question marks over his stamina for a straight mile at Newmarket.
The performance at the Curragh was clearly disappointing given the hype. They’ve ridden him to relax and get the trip rather than let loose from the front, but you’d be stretching it to put sixth in a Listed race in the “promising” box. Shout out to eventual winner Big Gossy by the way – some horse for connections.
“It looks like we are going to train Albert Einstein for the Guineas” Aiden O’Brien said in the aftermath. I’ve been stung by rejecting a AOB comeback plan (see City Of Troy 2024) so I’m not going to go all out anti-Albert for the 2,000 Guineas. But it doesn’t appear a good idea to me. He might well run at Newmarket but has the back up of the Commonwealth Cup.
On Tuesday we entered the realm of the strange in regards to the 2,000 Guineas.
O’Brien blamed a 'bananas' computer glitch on both Albert Einstein and Gstaad being removed from the latest entry stage for the Newmarket Classic instead of the Dante. And it now looks like the pair will have to be supplemented for the 2,000 Guineas at a cost of £30,000 each.
And it has knock on effects for the ante post betting, too.
Some bookmakers are still listing them in their markets despite not actually being entered for the race. Could you back Albert Einstein or Gstaad now then ask for your money back if they don’t turn up on the day on the basis the bookmaker accepted an ante post bet on a horse that wasn’t entered? I think you’ll see the ‘needs to be supplemented’ marked next to their name in the markets shortly.
Over to the 1,000 Guineas where Precise, long time favourite and my fancy for the race, has had a minor set back via a temperature three weeks ago but is still being trained for Newmarket. Fingers crossed, although Precise now has top five in the Guineas and an ideal trial for the Oaks written all over her.
Lockinge Stakes entries this week always act as a nice reminder as to which older horses remain in training and the field at this stage looks packed with quality.
Field Of Gold the headline act. Cicero’s Gift and Docklands shock Group 1 winners last year. Ballydoyle pair Expanded and Twain, who both missed the whole of 2025 after exciting juvenile campaigns. More Thunder, My Cloud and Never So Brave rose up the ranks last year. Notable Speech is still going as a five year old and Godolphin stablemate Opera Ballo remains exciting. And Zeus Olympios might be the most exciting of the lot given what he did at the back end of last season.
The ante post prices will be interesting to say the very least.
We are well accustomed to disjointed starts to the flat season with Easter and Aintree getting in the way. Two days of big field flat racing at Doncaster last weekend and then there are only two turf flat meetings in the next eight days.
Rest assured there are THIRTEEN all weather meetings in that period, though! Make it make sense...
Adam Smith has been steering the ship on our Races Now channel since its inception and can usually be found trying to keep his partner SD in check over on their weekly YouTube shows.
'Smido' is a flat lover and keeps readers abreast of all the big talking points throughout the summer action via his Focus On The Flat column, which you can read exclusively here on OddsNow.com
He puts the bulk of his focus on high-quality racing, with Group 1s top of the list – previewing all the big events ante post in meticulous detail.
Away from the racetrack, Smido also loves the darts and also follows UFC, NRL and Nottingham Forest avidly – without any financial interests!
Adam Smith has been steering the ship on our Races Now channel since its inception and can usually be found trying to keep his partner SD in check over on their weekly YouTube shows.
'Smido' is a flat lover and keeps readers abreast of all the big talking points throughout the summer action via his Focus On The Flat column, which you can read exclusively here on OddsNow.com
He puts the bulk of his focus on high-quality racing, with Group 1s top of the list – previewing all the big events ante post in meticulous detail.
Away from the racetrack, Smido also loves the darts and also follows UFC, NRL and Nottingham Forest avidly – without any financial interests!
Adam's p/l
7 Days
30 Days
Year 2026
🚨 BREAKING: Aidan O'Brien has stated that Gstaad and Albert Einstein were removed from the 2,000 Guineas due to an administrative error arising from a computer glitch. The trainer is still working to try and get both colts reinstated. O'Brien said: "There was a blip on the
