20th May 2021
12 of Europe’s top colts to line up in Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas this Saturday
12 of Europe’s top colts will line up in the 100th running of the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas, following today’s declaration of runners.
English 2000 Guineas winner Poetic Flare and Lucky Vega who finished third in the Newmarket contest will renew rivalry in the Group 1 Classic taking place at The Curragh this Saturday.
Other leading contenders in the €400,000 contest include a strong challenge from Aidan O’Brien with Battleground, Van Gogh and Wembley. Trainer Kevin Prendergast, who has won the race twice with Awtaad and Northern Treasure, is set to be represented by Monaasib, while trainers Donnacha O’Brien, Joseph Murphy and Andy Slattery will look for their first Classic race success with Emporio, Agrimony and Rebel Step respectively.
La Barrosa trained by Charlie Appleby and The Rosstafarian trained by Hugo Palmer are the sole British trained runners.
Saturday’s top class programme also features the Group 2 Lanwades Stud Stakes with last year’s Group 1 Matron Stakes winner Champers Elysees among the 7 runners, who also include Epona Plays, Too Soon To Panic and Valeria Messalina.
The Archie Watson trained Glen Shiel, winner of the British Champions Sprint last year at Ascot, heads the 12 runners for the Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes with Hollie Doyle in the saddle. The strong British trained team also includes Summerghand trained by David O’Meara and the Charlie Hills trained Royal Commando. Sonaiyla, Make A Challenge and Speak In Colours are among the home trained team in the Group 2 sprint.
The GAIN Marble Hill Stakes also taking place on Day 1 of the Festival has attracted 9 runners including Castle Star, recent winner of the GAIN First Flier Stakes, Cadamosto and The Entertainer trained by Aidan O’Brien and the Jim Bolger trained pair Celtic Times and Strapped.
There are 12 runners in the opening Tally Ho Stud IEBF Maiden, 14 in the Betway Sprint Fillies Handicap, 27 in the Betway Handicap and 14 in the Heed Your Hutch at Betway Handicap.
Latest Betting
From Betway, betting partner of the Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival
Chad Yeomans, PR Manager of Official Betting Partner said:
“A classic in every sense of the word. Lucky Vega, who was unlucky at Newmarket, still heads our betting at 2/1. Wembley has been the biggest mover this week and with the conditions set to be in his favour, the 7/2 might not be around for too long and he could be closer to favourite come Saturday afternoon. Next in the betting is English Guineas winner Poetic Flare at 9/2. The Jim Bolger trained colt has taken in the French Version on route to The Curragh and it’ll be some training performance were he to win!”
BETWAY Prices:
2/1 Lucky Vega
7/2 Wembley
9/2 Poetic Flare
7/1 La Barrosa
8/1 Mac Swiney
8/1 Battleground
10/1 Van Gogh
12/1 Monaassib
33/1 The Rosstafarian
33/1 Agrimony
50/1 Emporio
66/1 Rebel Step
Link to declared runners
Sunday – declared runners’ close tomorrow at 10am
Ground
Round Course: Soft, yielding to soft
Straight Course: Soft
Track - stand side track
Stalls in centre for all sprints
Forecast: Heavy rain today, scattered showers tomorrow. Mainly dry Saturday with chance of some showers and unsettled on Sunday.
Television Coverage
RTE 1: Sat from 2pm, Sunday from 1.50pm
ITV and Virgin Media: Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas
Racing TV: all races
Tipperary Crystal Virtual Style Competition
Bringing "Style back into Racing" - Tipperary Crystal are sponsoring the first Virtual Style Event of the Season which will take place on Saturday , The winning style entrant will win a €1,000 Online Tipperary Crystal Voucher plus a host of incredible prizes including a magnus of Taittinger champagne and tickets to the 2022 Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival. Judges include Virgin Media Presenters and Top Irish Stylist Judy Gilroy and Lorna Weightman. See https://www.curragh.ie/what-to-wear-at-the-races