There’s Classic action from the Curragh this weekend with the Irish 2,000 Guineas on Saturday and Irish 1,000 Guineas on Sunday as well as a stellar renewal of the Tattersalls Gold Cup.
Phill Anderson provides his best bets for the weekend’s action in Ireland.
Saturday
2.30 Greenlands Stakes
This doesn’t look like the most competitive Group 2 contest in the world and Art Power might be the one that can take advantage.
He’s becoming a bit of a course specialist at the Curragh having won on his two previous visits, landing back-to-back renewals of the Renaissance Stakes and he won both of those contests in good style.
The grey loves being able to dominate his rivals from the front and that looks to be on the cards here with Moss Tucker his only pace rival in the eight-runner field. That rival would have wanted some rain to arrive and he may find Art Power too much to cope with on a quicker surface here.
Like most of Tim Easterby’s runners, Art Power clearly needed his reappearance at York where he showed some early zip before fading in the closing stages and this will have been the target for a yard that has an impressive 7-17 strike-rate in Ireland.
Fellow British raider, Garrus, is probably the main danger, particularly with a favoured high draw, and he arrives on the back of a career-best win at Newmarket, but his best recent form has come on stiffer tracks than the flat six at the Curragh.
3.40 Irish 2,000 Guineas
Royal Scotsman was too keen in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket last time out but that run should help take the fizz out of him and he did particularly well to stay on for third given his early exertions that day.
Soft ground wasn’t in his favour either and he should relish getting back on a quicker surface this time in a race that has far less depth.
Having shown he’s trained on already and a decent pace to aim at with some of the Ballydoyle runners likely to go forward, expect him to go close with Jamie Spencer taking over in the saddle; a jockey that appeals as a perfect fit for the horse.
One at an each-way price that may be able to outrun his odds is Age Of Kings. Paddington is the yard’s first-string but Age Of Kings showed plenty of ability over shorter trips as a juvenile and he can only improve for the step up in distance given his pedigree.
4.50 Guineas Festival Handicap
Later on the card, there’s a few reasons to think Vega Magnifico can get in the mix in the Premier Handicap.
Joseph O’Brien’s charge is less exposed than his rivals and there was plenty to like about his sixth-career start when making his seasonal reappearance at Limerick last month.
He stayed on well and was an eyecatcher in the closing stages that day. There’s every chance he will progress from that run back at his optimum trip here. Quicker ground is in his favour too and he can take in this handicap before moving on to Pattern level.
His stablemate, Timeless Soul is another that could be in the mix if she handles conditions.
Selection: Vega Magnifico 12-1
Sunday
2.45 Tattersalls Gold Cup
The Tattersalls Gold Cup is the first of two Group 1 contests on Sunday and Bay Bridge may be a favourite worth taking on if the ground continues to dry out.
He was well below his best in last year’s Eclipse on good to firm ground and Vadeni may be up to confirming that form.
The French raider was impressive that day, showing a useful turn of foot to come from rear to deny Mishriff, with Bay Bridge only back in fifth.
Vadeni couldn’t follow up in the Irish Champion Stakes where he met some trouble in running, but he posted a career best when battling on gamely in defeat in a good renewal of last year’s Arc and that’s the best form on offer in this contest.
His reappearance run was admittedly low-key but it was a similar story last season before winning second time out and he could be hard to beat if he’s retained all his ability from last season.
Luxembourg finished ahead of him in the Irish Champion Stakes and he could be the main danger again, but he was turned over at odds on when making his reappearance and he’s another that would probably have preferred some rain to arrive.
3.50 Irish 1,000 Guineas
Tahiyra is likely to be a warm order for the fillies’ Classic but she had a very tough race at Newmarket and she may be worth taking on.
Meditate wasn’t given a hard time once her chance had gone at Newmarket and there was plenty against in that contest, including a low draw and very soft ground.
Her career-best effort came when bolting up at last year’s Breeders’ Cup meeting on fast ground where she overcame plenty of trouble in running.
Back on a Flat track here around a bend on a forecast quicker surface, the daughter of No Nay Never may be able to overturn the odds-on favourite with much more in her favour this time.
You Send Me is another filly of interest and she may be capable of outrunning double-figure odds. She’s shown plenty in three starts so far and has a less exposed profile than many of her rivals.
Given that she’s a daughter of Starspangledbanner, there’s a decent chance she could improve for a much quicker surface this time around and she was only narrowly denied in a decent Group 3 at Leoaprdstown on her first try at Pattern level last time out.
