KEVIN Prendergast stole the show at the Curragh last weekend. He had told us that he thought that Awtaad could be very good indeed, that he would have no difficulty seeing out the mile, and the Cape Cross colt proved his trainer’s hypothesis with a thoroughly professional and impressive performance to land the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas on Saturday. There was never a point in the race at which you thought that he would not win.

Prendergast is one of racing’s stalwarts, still plying his trade at the top level of Irish racing, 40 years after he sent out Northern Treasure to win his last Irish 2000 Guineas, and still eminently quotable. “Some of the lads here weren’t even born then,” he said.