GROUP 1 winners Twain and Lake Victoria could represent trainer Aidan O’Brien in the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas and 1000 Guineas next weekend.

A spokesperson for Ballydoyle told The Irish Field: “Twain and Officer are in the mix for the Irish 2000 Guineas, and Lake Victoria and January could run in the 1000, but no decision will be made until they work next week.”

Three Group 1 races dominate the racing programme, making the Curragh the centre of the racing world next weekend. There are also a couple of well-supported Group 2 races, the very influential Group 3 Marble Hill Stakes, and numerous premier handicaps.

Last year the Saturday and Sunday maidens were won by Henri Matisse, Jan Breughel, Heavens Gate and Hanalia. Two of them went on to win classics, and the other two won at Group 2 and Group 3 level.

While Ballydoyle will undoubtedly send some serious ammunition to the Curragh, the best tip at this stage might be to follow Juddmonte across the entire weekend.

Two Juddmonte stars are in the mix for the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas - Field Of Gold and Cosmic Year. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Field Of Gold was a fast-finishing second in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and is likely to be ridden by Colin Keane at the Curragh.

Like Field Of Gold, Cosmic Year is by Irish 2000 Guineas winner Kingman. Trained by Harry Charlton, he is unbeaten in three starts. Jessica Harrington withdrew her Group 1 winner Hotazhell from an engagement at ParisLongchamp last weekend with a view towards running him in the Irish 2000 Guineas. Scorthy Lad could return to the track where he won the National Stakes last season.

Dermot Weld has a brilliant record in the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas in recent years and is set to saddle the Juddmonte-owned Swelter in next Sunday’s edition.

Another by Kingman, the filly defeated Exactly in a Group 3 race at Leopardstown last month and the runner-up ran a huge race at ParisLongchamp last weekend to be fourth in Group 1 company.

British trainer Ollie Sangster is planning to send over either Flight and Simmering, who placed second and third in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. Donnacha O’Brien told The Irish Field that it is “looking likely” he will supplement his unbeaten Athasi Stakes winner Atsila for the race.

Sunday’s Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup is also shaping up into a fascinating contest. Last year’s winner White Birch is on track to attempt a repeat success and he is very likely to run into last year’s Irish Derby winner Los Angeles who defeated him by a narrow margin in the Group 2 Mooresbridge Stakes.

Group 1 winner Kalpana missed York this week due to a bad scope and could be rerouted here. She is trained by Andrew Balding for Juddmonte.

Clive Cox has indicated that he plans to run Ghostwriter here, and other possible runners include Ancient Wisdom, Anmaat, Crypto Force, Deepone and Royal Champion.

STORM Boy is expected to make his European racing debut in Saturday’s Group 2 Weatherbys Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh.

The colt was trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott to win five of his 10 starts in Australia, including last year’s Magic Millions 2yo Classic, Group 2 Skyline Stakes and Group 3 San Domenico Stakes, earning more than A$3.5 million in prize money.

Coolmore purchased Storm Boy for an undisclosed sum, believed to be around $20 million, before the Golden Slipper last year in which the colt ran third to stablemate Lady Of Camelot.

Storm Boy was sent to Ireland after he finished eighth in The Everest to Bella Nipotina last October.

His European programme is likely to mirror that given to another former Australian sprinter, Merchant Navy, who won the Greenalnds seven years ago before going to Royal Ascot where he won the Golden Jubilee Stakes.

Tom Magnier told Australian media: “I know Aidan is very happy with Storm Boy and the plan is to run him at the Curragh. Aidan is having an unbelievable start to the season, his horses are flying, and he has said Storm Boy is in a really good place.”

Storm Boy was foaled in September 2021 and will be the youngest in the field. Other likely runners in the Greenlands Stakes are the Ger Lyons-trained My Mate Alfie, and Kevin Ryan’s French import Grand Grey.

SATURDAY’S Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas card will be part of the World Pool for the first time this year.

This means that punters from at least 28 countries will be able to bet into the global pool (hosted by the Hong Kong Jockey Club) for bets such as win, place, quinella, quinella place (Swinger), forecast (Exacta), tierce (Trifecta) and treble.

Part of Tattersalls Gold Cup day will also be covered by World Pool.

THERE is plenty of off-track entertainment planned for next weekend’s three-day meeting. On Friday after racing racegoers will be treated to the Ultimate Classics After Party and on Saturday traditional Irish band the Ramblin’ Rovers will perform in Lilywhites throughout racing on Saturday.

Also on Saturday the Ashford Castle Style Icon Award takes place.

Sunday sees a return of Carnival at the Curragh, filled with activities for kids and adults alike.

EARLY bird ticket prices for next weekend’s racing apply online until Monday.

General admission tickets for Friday evening are €20 each if bought in advance. It’s €30 on Saturday and Sunday. There are discounts for students and seniors, and reserved seats in the grandstand are also available. Children up to age 18 will be admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult.

The complimentary return bus service, kindly sponsored by Manguard Plus, will operate between Kildare, Newbridge, and Naas over the three days. Please check the timetable on the Curragh website for more details.

Web: curragh.ie