The first Classic of Ireland’s flat season, the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh, takes place on Saturday. With significant British and Ballydoyle interest, Joe Napier previews the contest and gives his 1-2-3 selections.
ROSALLION
(Richard Hannon/Sean Levey)
Had the relatively left-field 2000 Guineas winner Notable Speech not emerged so gargantuanly from the all weather, Rosallion would be coming here seeking a Newmarket/Curragh double. As it is, the Group 1-winning juvenile is looking for compensation instead, but it could well be forthcoming given his effort three weeks ago.
He demonstrated enormous ability as a juvenile and belied any doubts about Blue Point progeny getting 1m when outpointed by the Godolphin runner late on up the Rowley Mile. It did not appear to be a lack of stamina that defeated him, as he was at least maintaining the gap to all those who finished behind him at the line. Only a significant deluge would dent his chances of going one better and he is very much the one they have to beat.
RIVER TIBER
(Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore)
All speed at two, River Tiber won on his first three starts in sumptuous fashion. It is rare to see a two-year-old begin their career with a ten-length success, but that is what he imagined, while his hat-trick was racked up in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The wheels did not exactly come off later in the season, as he twice bumped into the unbeaten Vandeek in Group 1 company. His third-placed efforts at Deauville and Newmarket still marked him out as a top class horse, but even though he shaped like a step up from 6f might suit, he comes into this with more to prove than most in terms of stamina.
HAATEM
(Richard Hannon/Jamie Spencer)
Often those who have raced prolifically at two are the same horses with doubts about how much they will train on into their Classic season and beyond. It is fair to say Haatem has put any such fears readily behind him, improving his form on Racing Post Ratings (RPRs) by 9lb and 10lb in his first starts at three compared to anything he did in nine races last term.
Although he won the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, he was far from the best two-year-olds in 2023. However, he reappeared by storming home in the Craven before an admirable third in the 2000 Guineas, ensuring both places were filled for Richard Hannon. That gives him form to reverse with his stablemate, but he looks more than capable of being in the reckoning again. His sire Phoenix Of Spain won this race in 2019 too.
UNQUESTIONABLE
(Aidan O’Brien/Wayne Lordan)
Another for Aidan O’Brien who, like River Tiber, is by former crack French horse Wootton Bassett. In more promising style, he improved throughout the season, meeting with a heavy defeat in his first start in Group 1 company in the Phoenix Stakes last August before improving to win his first top level contest at the Breeders’ Cup.
In between, he was beaten just a length by Rosallion in the 7f Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, another Group 1. With no run this season, he will have to improved significantly to turn that form around, but he did win over 1m when journeying to America, albeit in more lenient conditions. He should train on, but faces a tough task trying to win this first time out against some race fit rivals.
ITV Racing Selections – Haydock Tips on Saturday, 25th May
The ITV Racing cameras focus on three different locations on Saturday, though their primary course for the day is Haydock. In the five races from the north west venue at the weekend, our in-house tipster Joe Napier has four best bets. 1.15 Haydock – Betfred Silver Bowl Handicap The forecast could change things at Haydock…
Thu 23 May 2024
THE FIELD
The last of Aidan O’Brien’s trio is Mountain Bear, another to have improved as 2023 went on. He was runner-up to Unquestionable at the Breeders’ Cup, flashing home late on, though reports from the yard suggest he may need this, and being by No Nay Never, he is no certainty to have trained on.
The remaining three look up against it. Both Atlantic Coast and Bright Stripes were well beaten in the Group 3 Red Rocks Stakes on their mutual seasonal return. The latter did at least win at Listed level since, but the ground does not look ideal for him, but could suit the former.
Last in is Take Me To Church, who beat both of the aforementioned pair at Leopardstown, but had the benefit of race fitness. His only wins so far have been at a comfortably lower level than this.
VERDICT
Though he won with Paddington again last year, this is not a race Aidan O’Brien has necessarily had a stranglehold over, previously winning it in 2017. In between drinks, a British raider claimed the prize twice and can do so again with ROSALLION this year. With a race fitness advantage over both Unquestionable and River Tiber, he should take the world of beating as he appeared to put any stamina doubts for 1m to bed when a gallant second in the British 2000 Guineas. Unquestionable is preferred of O’Brien’s contingent with less to prove at this distance than his stablemates, though Haatem might not be far from ensuring a one-two for Richard Hannon after also running well when third at Newmarket.
- Rosallion
- Unquestionable
- Haatem
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