THE Qipco 2000 Guineas may be missing one or two of the names that we thought might be there, but it is still an intriguing contest. It always is.

Ten Sovereigns is set to go to a seventh and eighth furlong for the first time, and that is a significant part of the intrigue. Aidan O’Brien’s horse was campaigned exclusively over six furlongs last season. He won a 25-runner maiden at the Curragh by seven lengths and he danced in in the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes, before going to Newmarket and winning the Middle Park Stakes.

The No Nay Never colt sets the standard, he is three for three and, if he can stretch his pace out to a mile, we could be set to witness something special.

Ten Sovereigns’ stable companion Magna Grecia is proven over a mile, the Futurity Trophy winner, and Skardu won the Craven Stakes on his seasonal debut, and just his second run ever, and Advertise won the Phoenix Stakes and chased home Too Darn Hot in the Dewhurst, and Royal Marine is the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner who is probably better than he was able to show in the Craven.

It’s the thing about three-year-olds at this stage of the season: there are many unknowns. That’s what makes the 2000 Guineas such an interesting race every year.

UNDERRATED

That said, we know a fair bit about Madhmoon, and the market may have underrated his chance. Kevin Prendergast’s horse was impressive in winning his maiden at Leopardstown on his racecourse debut last August, and he was even more impressive in winning the Group 2 KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes back at Leopardstown on Irish Champions’ Weekend.

He had Broome two and a half lengths behind him in second place that day, and Broome came out next time and ran Royal Marine to a neck in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. Then, on his debut this season, Aidan O’Brien’s colt won the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes by eight lengths.

Madhmoon was beaten on his debut this season, in Leopardstown’s 2000 Guineas Trial, and that was viewed by many at the time as disappointing. Default position when an odds-on shot gets beaten is ‘disappointed’. In reality, however, Madhmoon probably enhanced his reputation in defeat.

He was racing over seven furlongs that day on ground that would have been softer than ideal for him. Also, he was conceding 3lbs to Never No More, a talented and race-fit rival who had been impressive in winning the Madrid Handicap on his seasonal debut. And Madhmoon only went down by a half a length. It was a fine run.

The Dawn Approach colt could come on significantly for that run. Also, he will be happier stepping up to a mile and he will be happier back on the better ground that he will get this afternoon. It would be some story, if octogenarian Kevin Prendergast could win the 2000 Guineas again, 42 years after he won it with Nebbiolo. He could win it too.

GOOD CHANCE

Joseph O’Brien could win the Qipco 1000 Guineas tomorrow with Iridessa. The Ruler Of The World filly caused something of a mild surprise when she won the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile last October.

She did well to win that day. She travelled well into the race just behind the leaders, but she had to be brave in going through an ever-narrowing gap between Hermosa and Pretty Pollyanna. Once in the clear, she kept on strongly up the hill for Wayne Lordan to get home by a length and a half.

Like Madhmoon, she was beaten on her debut this season, in the 1000 Guineas Trial at Leoparstown, but she also ran well in defeat. Drawn wide that day, she was wider than ideal on the run out of the back straight, and she was four horses wide around the home turn. Even so, she picked up nicely on the near side to chase Lady Kaya before her early exertions told and her run flattened out, and she was just caught by Happen for the runner-up spot.

Lady Kaya ridden by Robbie Colgan winning The Ballylinch Stud Priory Belle 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes at Leopardstown Photo.carolinenorris.ie

It was still a fine run by Iridessa, a fine start back. Lady Kaya is a talented and fast filly, and Iridessa was conceding 3lbs to her. She didn’t have the run of the race, she had to do a lot of running just to get into a position from which she could challenge. Also, that was over seven furlongs on soft ground. She should improve for the run, and she should improve for stepping back up to a mile and getting back on better ground.

We know that she handles the track, she put up the best performance of her life in the Fillies’ Mile, over the Guineas course and distance, and she could run a big race.

Recommended

MADHMOON: 1 point win, 3.35 Newmarket today, 7/1 (generally)

IRIDESSA: 1 point win, 3.35 Newmarket tomorrow, 8/1 (generally)