Weekend Review: Godolphin glory at Newmarket while Chelsea dispatch Liverpool

Losses for Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United in the Premier League this weekend helped the bookies come out on top.

Arsenal (7/10) fell to a 2-1 home defeat to Bournemouth (4/1) in less-than-spectacular preparation for their semi-final second leg against PSG tomorrow.

Champions Liverpool (7/4) slipped to a 3-1 loss to Champions League-chasing Chelsea (29/20), while Manchester United’s (5/2) terrible domestic season continued with a 4-3 loss to Brentford (17/20).

A series of draws and low-scoring affairs across the rest of the league were also bonuses for the operators, with just three Premier League games left for clubs this campaign.

On the continent, Harry Kane won his first trophy after Bayer Leverkusen (EVS) could only manage a draw at Freiburg (5/2), meaning Bayern Munich took the Bundesliga title.

Meanwhile, in horseracing, the Betfred 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas took place at Newmarket as the first two of the five Classics this season.

The 2,000 Guineas was taken by Ruling Court, beating 15/8 favourite Field of Gold in the process, giving trainer Charlie Appleby his third 2,000 win in four years.

Betfred’s Alan Firkins said: “It was a fantastic weekend for Godolphin, the trainer/jockey combination of Charlie Appleby and Will Buick, and Betfred’s sponsorship of the opening two Classics of the 2025 flat racing season.

“In the 2000 Guineas it was an impressive win by Ruling Court, an American-bred colt by Justify, who just happened to win the US Triple Crown seven years ago.

“His illustrious son could well attempt the UK version, not achieved since Nijinsky in 1970, hunting down Fred’s £2m bonus into the bargain.”

In the 1,000 Guineas, the powerhouse combination of Appleby and Buick struck again, with Desert Flower taking the win.

The evens favourite led throughout before pushing with a couple of furlongs left, leaving 28/1 Flight in second and 33/1 Simmering in third.

The 9/4 Lake Victoria could only muster a sixth-place finish behind 22/1 Elwateen in fourth and 25/1 Chantilly Lace in fifth.

Firkins added: “As for the fairer sex, the 1,000 was taken by another clad in all-blue, as Desert Flower readily justified firm favouritism.

“Likely rival Lake Victoria, Aidan O’Brien’s heavily backed and hitherto unbeaten superstar, could manage only sixth, but will surely be a major player when she’s fully tuned.

“The supporting races were top-drawer, and it was a tremendous three-day Guineas Festival, enjoyed by enthusiastic crowds in the welcome sunshine.”