The Tattersalls Irish Guineas Weekend will see Aidan O’Brien go in search of his 56th Irish classic success at the Curragh, with last season’s Breeders’ Cup winner Gstaad heading his four-strong challenge for Saturday’s Tattersalls 2000 Guineas following the latest entry stage this afternoon.
O’Brien has accumulated a record dozen wins in the first Irish classic of the season at Ireland’s premier flat racing venue and, having performed a career best when clear of the field in second place behind Bow Echo in the Newmarket equivalent, Gstaad will be a warm favourite to go one better.
He could be joined by stable companion Hawk Mountain, the Beresford winner last season and recent Group 3 scorer at Chantilly with first-time blinkers fitted, while Tetrarch Stakes third Neolithic and Flushing Meadows, who trailed home last of five behind Constitution River at Chester, also remain.
Other notable entries include Fozzy Stack’s Group 3 winner Thesecretadversary, fifth behind Gstaad last time. “The intention is to run on Saturday, but we have a lot of ground to make up with the favourite. He pulled hard in Newmarket, but that experience should stand to him and we’re hoping for better,” said Stack.
Joseph O’Brien, successful three times as a rider in this race aboard Roderic O’Connor (2011), Power (2012) and Magician (2013), has recent French Group 3 third Hardy Warrior and Go Just Do It, a wide-margin winner of a Gowran maiden, as possible starters.
Cross-channel raiders have won the last two renewals and Distant Storm, eight lengths adrift of Gstaad in third at Newmarket, could represent the back-in-form Charlie Appleby, who won this race in 2022 and has also left stable companion Pacific Avenue among the 13 remaining.
Karl Burke’s recent Greenham winner Alparslan will have his supporters making his second trip to the Curragh having won the valuable Tattersalls Sales race in good style over six furlongs last September.
Greenlands Stakes
The Group 2 Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes (3.05pm) includes another strong overseas challenge, with six British-trained entries bidding to extend their grip on this race having captured the last four renewals.
Among the 12 remaining are last year’s winner James’s Delight representing Clive Cox and last season’s shock 200/1 winner of the Group 1 Ascot Champions Sprint, Powerful Glory (Richard Fahey). Robson De Aguiar’s Bucanero Fuerte, a four-time winner at the Curragh, is also left in along with stable companion Valiant Force, while William Haggas is double-handed with Almeraq and Montassib.
At 4.15pm, the Group 3 Heider Family Stables Gallinule Stakes has 10 entries including three — the 107-rated Tetrarch winner Causeway, Amadeus Mozart and Drop Dead Gorgeous — trained by Aidan O’Brien, who has landed this race 19 times. His winner 12 months ago, Thrice, got the race in the stewards’ room.
Joseph O’Brien is responsible for both Shosholoza and Sinmara, seeking his third win in the race after victories with Crossfirehurricane (2020) and Hannibal Barca (2022).
On a day where the World Pool will be in operation for all nine races, the action gets underway at 1.20pm with 14 entered for the Tally Ho Stud Irish EBF Maiden, while the Sherry Fitzgerald Country Homes-sponsored Orby Stakes at 1.55pm has attracted 17 entries.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, May 24th, 16 remain in contention for the Tattersalls 1000 Guineas, with Aidan O’Brien responsible for four fillies including True Love, who banished any stamina doubts in convincing fashion earlier this month to provide the Ballydoyle trainer with his 49th British classic success in the Newmarket 1000 Guineas.
Last season’s Keeneland Phoenix Stakes runner-up could be joined in the fillies’ classic, also under the World Pool umbrella, by Moyglare heroine Precise, who was sent off favourite when fourth behind True Love in Newmarket, while Beautify and Drop Dead Gorgeous complete the Ballydoyle quartet.
Unbeaten
The unbeaten Hope Queen (Karl Burke) is one of five overseas entries remaining in the fillies’ classic, with Abashiri (Charlie Appleby), fifth behind True Love in Newmarket, set for a possible renewal.
Fethard trainer Joe Murphy, who removed Cercene from her intended target, the Tattersalls Gold Cup on Sunday due to a slight setback, has left two in the 1000 Guineas.
“Pivotal Attack was third behind True Love in the Guineas Trial and is a lovely filly. Her form is standing up and we’re taking the same route with her as we did with Cercene last season, who was also third in that Trial and then ran third in the Guineas, so we’re hoping for a big run.
“Alphecca will be suited by a fast pace and while she really is a mile-and-two filly going forward, if the ground turned up soft next weekend she would take her chance.”
Magny Cours, a place in front of Pivotal Attack when second behind subsequent Newmarket Classic winner True Love in the Priory Belle Stakes in April, will be a first Irish 1000 Guineas runner for 24-year-old local trainer Danny McLoughlin.
“Stepping up to a mile is an unknown but on her last run we’d be confident she should get it, though you never know until you try. Based on her work and her race the last day she ticks a lot of the boxes as she was coming home well in Leopardstown, so hopefully she’ll get the trip,” said McLoughlin, who confirmed Ben Coen will take the big-race mount on Sunday.
Rematch
Kensington Lane (Donnacha O’Brien), who defeated last season’s Weld Park Stakes winner Black Caviar Gold (Paddy Twomey) in the Group 3 Athasi Stakes over two weeks ago, could clash again with both trainers seeking their first Irish classic win. O’Brien won an Irish Derby during his riding career for brother Joseph aboard Latrobe in 2018.
Minnie Hauk, successful over course and distance in the Mooresbridge on her return after providing trainer Aidan O’Brien with the Epsom-Curragh-Yorkshire Oaks treble last season, heads the 14-strong entry list for the Tattersalls Gold Cup, rated one of the top 10 races in the world in 2025.
The world’s highest-rated race mare on any surface could face several British challengers in this World Pool race. George Scott intends running Bay City Roller, who was narrowly beaten on his seasonal debut by dual Derby winner Lambourn, while Royal Rhyme, fifth in that race, is also possible for Karl Burke.
Gordon Richards Stakes winner Saddadd is a likely starter for Roger Varian, who sent over Defoe to finish third in the corresponding race in 2018, while Almaqam (Ed Walker), a place behind Ombudsman in the Champion Stakes at Ascot last October, also remains.
The Group 2 Lanwades Stakes has 15 entries including dual winner this season City Of Memphis, bidding to provide Paddy Twomey with his third win in the race following the successes of Pearls Galore (2022) and Just Beautiful (2023). One Look, a late absentee on vet’s advice at Naas on Sunday, also remains, with Catalina Delcarpio completing the Twomey trio.
Clerk of the course Paddy Graffin reported the ground as “good, good to yielding in places” on Tuesday afternoon. “It’s meant to be unsettled today and tomorrow but with rising temperatures over the next few days, we’ll be keeping a close eye on conditions.”