21st May 2021
14 fillies to line up in Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas this Sunday
12 colts to line up in Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas on Saturday
Day 2 of the Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival on Sunday features some of the top fillies in Europe lining up in the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas, which has attracted 14 runner following today’s declaration of runners.
Edmond Mahony, Chairman of Tattersalls, commented,
“The Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival at The Curragh is amongst the highlights of the European racing calendar and the three Tattersalls sponsored Classic and Group 1 contests are all races of the highest quality. The Tattersalls commitment to Irish racing is long standing and we regard the Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival as one of the flagships of our global sponsorship portfolio.”
Significant rain has fallen over the past 24 hours with an inspection called for 7.30am tomorrow to agree whether Day 1 of the Festival will be able to proceed.
The O’Brien family will lead a very strong challenge with Joan of Arc, recent winner of the 1000 Guineas Trial, one of three runners trained by Aidan O’Brien, while son Joseph, will be represented by three runners including Pretty Gorgeous, winner of the Group 1 Fillies Mile last year
The Ken Condon trained Miss Amulet also features among the runners, while No Speak Alexander, Zaffy’s Pride and Fantasy Lady are other notable Irish trained runners. The Richard Fahey trained Fev Rover, third in the English 1000 Guineas, is the sole British trained runner in the €400,000 race.
Comer Group International Irish St Leger winner Search For A Song and Serpentine winner of the Epsom Derby feature among the 8 runners in the Tattersalls Gold Cup. The €300,000 Group 1 race has also attracted Broome, Cayenne Pepper and the much-travelled True Self winner of the Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia earlier this year.
The Group 3 Heider Family Stables Gallinule Stakes has attracted 10 runners including Erzindjan, Arthur Toscanini, Hector De Maris, Flying Visit, Taipan and recent Naas winner Snapraeterea. The race is a well-established trial for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby taking place later next month
There are 9 runners in the opening Tally Ho Stud IEBF Maiden, 12 in the Betway Handicap, 15 in the Betway IEBF Maiden, 16 in the Habitat IEBF Handicap and 18 in the Heed Your Hutch at Betway Handicap.
12 of Europe’s top colts will line up in the 100th running of the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas on Saturday. Declared runners were published yesterday.
English 2000 Guineas winner Poetic Flare and Lucky Vega who finished third in the Newmarket contest will renew rivalry in the Group 1 Classic.
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 7and 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,
Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas
2/1 Pretty Gorgeous
5/2 Joan of Arc
5/1 Fev Rover
8/1 Miss Amulet
9/1 No Speak Alexander
14/1 Empress Josephine
16/1 Fantasy Lady
16/1 Sense Of Style
20/1 Zaffeys Pride
25/1 Thinking Of You
66/1 Belle Image
66/1 Sweet Gardinia
100/1 Friendly
100/1 Sziget
Chad Yeomans PR Manager of Betway, Official Betting Partner of the Irish Guineas Festival said:
“It’s great to see such a competitive field for the Irish 1000 Guineas. Pretty Gorgeous has been popular all week and has over taken Joan Of Arc as favourite, with the pair now 2/1 and 5/2 respectively.
“It’s great to see Richard Fahey with another top class horse and his Fev Rover, who was a gallant third at Newmarket is next best at 5/1.”
Tattersalls Gold Cup
5/4 Broome
6/1 Serpentine
7/1 Tiger Moth
8/1 Cayenne Pepper
10/1 Search For A Song
10/1 Helvic Dream
12/1 True Self
25/1 Sunchart
Chad Yeomans PR Manager of Betway, Official Betting Partner of the Irish Guineas Festival said:
“Broome has been in great form this season and with the absence of Love, is the 5/4 favourite for trainer Aidan O’Brien. His stablemate Serpentine, who ran away with the Derby last season, is next best at 6/1 and could represent good each way value for the Betway punters.”
Link to declared runners
Saturday
Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas
11/4 Lucky Vega
4/1 Wembley
5/1 Poetic Flare
7/1 Van Gough
8/1 La Barrosa
8/1 Mac Swiney
10/1 Battleground
16/1 Monaassib
25/1 The Rosstafarian
33/1 Agrimony
66/1 Emporio
100/1 Rebel Step
Ground
Following 34mm of rain in the last 24 hours, the ground is as follows:
Straight – heavy
Round – soft to heavy
Parts of the track are currently waterlogged around the 4 and 6 furlong markers in straight
Inspection called for 7.30am tomorrow morning 22nd May to agree whether racing can take place
Track - stand side track
Stalls in centre for all sprints
Forecast:
Further rain today (approx. 5mm). Unsettled tomorrow with a chance of showers and a further 8 to 10mm of rain prior to racing on Sunday morning
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