Irish 2000 Guineas Runners - Newmarket Vanquished Among 11 Remaining

Three weeks on from the British equivalent, the Irish 2000 Guineas is run this Saturday at the Curragh, with 11 remaining in contention for the first Classic of the season in Ireland at the most recent forfeit stage. Newmarket flop City Of Troy has been taken out of the race with the Epsom Derby on the horizon, but Aidan O’Brien still looks set to field as many as six in his search for back-to-back successes.

His number one is not obvious at this point, but the likes of Unquestionable and River Tiber were top class juveniles, the former a Group 1 winner to conclude his two-year-old season, while the latter won the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. Joining them could be Igor Stravinsky, the first foal of 2019 1000 Guineas heroine Hermosa, Group 1 National Stakes winner Henry Longfellow, only eighth in the French Guineas on return, plus Mountain Bear and The Liffey.

Aidan’s son Joseph has kept Atlantic Coast in the race, though the home defence lacks significant depth away from Ballydoyle, with only Bright Stripes and Take Me To Church the others to be trained in the country.

There will likely be at least one British challenger with Richard Hannon responsible for both possible visitors left in the contest. Rosallion and Haatem were second and third respectively in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket behind Notable Speech. They arguably bring the strongest form in the race, ensuring a competitive battle between Ireland and England awaits.