16:10 Curragh

Saturday 26 May 2018

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:2017:55

Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (Group 1)

Off time: 16:13 | Winning time: 1m 38.93s

(1)

Elarqam²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 116

2/1

Lost his unbeaten record in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket but looked like the winner at one stage and he ran well in defeat, finishing fourth of 14. Still more to come and seemingly doesn't mind the ground; the one to beat on form.

Form: 11-4

(9)

Gustav Klimt²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 113| C

9/2

Ran well in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket last time, finishing a couple of places behind Elarqam. Perhaps a shade more exposed than that rival though and may struggle to reverse the form. Moore prefers U S Navy Flag.

Form: 511-16

(4)

Landshark²⁷²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 99

33/1

Bated Breath colt, cost 5,000 gns as a yearling and €210,000 as a Breeze-Up purchase. Won on debut at Leopardstown before finishing second of eight last time in a Group 3 here over 6f. Needs significant improvement to land a blow here up in trip.

Form: 12-

(10)

Romanised^t¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S Foley| T: K J Condon| OR: 107

25/1

Not won since his maiden success on debut but highly tried and placed behind a useful sort in a Sandown Group 3 last year. Needs to step up on a disappointing reappearance at Naas though.

Form: 1762-6

(6)

Spanish Point^b1,t²³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P B Beggy| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 85| BF

50/1

Improved from his debut here to place on next two starts but looks well out of his depth here. May be in here on pacemaking duties and would need to improve markedly for the potential better ground, step up in trip and first-time blinkers.

Form: 622-

(8)

Symbolization²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 106| BF| D

6/1

Handicap winner over 1m at Newmarket earlier in the month but hard to imagine he can take a big enough step forward from that to win this. Game sort and interesting connections try him in here so not ruled out for a place.

Form: 21-21

(3)

Theobald¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 101| D

66/1

Gained a first win since debut when winning at Dundalk in December. May have needed the run on return at Leopardstown last time but struggled at this level as a juvenile and has plenty to find on form.

Form: 28701-7

(5)

Threeandfourpence²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 108

20/1

6f maiden winner at Fairyhouse and ran well behind reopposing U S Navy Flag at Newmarket at the end of 2017. Another promising effort behind Mendelssohn in a Dundalk Listed race in March but disappointed in Meydan and US since. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 214-290

(7)

U S Navy Flag^b,t¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 117| C

10/3

Produced two taking performances to win back to back Group 1 races at Newmarket last year, particularly the latter over 7f. While the ground is a plausible excuse for his latest efforts, he needs to prove he can be as effective as a three-year-old.

Form: 1110-45

(11)

Would Be King¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 100

33/1

Still a maiden after five starts. Placed twice in Listed class including last time out at Naas but has plenty more on his plate here and others look more likely.

Form: 3223-2

(2)

Zihba¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Chris Hayes| T: J A Stack| OR: 108| D

8/1

Puts his unbeaten record on the line here after a Group 3 win at Leopardstown when last seen. There's a chance he will be able to come on for that run and less exposed than most so there's plenty to like.

Form: 1-11

Forecasts

Elarqam (2/1), U S Navy Flag (10/3), Gustav Klimt (9/2), Symbolization (6/1), Zihba (8/1), Threeandfourpence (20/1), Romanised (25/1), Landshark (33/1), Would Be King (33/1), Spanish Point (50/1), Theobald (66/1)

ELARQAM is hard to oppose here. Mark Johnston's charge lost nothing in defeat in what would appear to be a strong 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket last time and with the prospect of more to come, he looks like the one they all have to beat here. U S Navy Flag could be worth giving another chance to provided the rain stays away after a couple of poor efforts on heavy ground. Zihba is less exposed than most in here and may take a step forward from a run at Leopardstown last time out.