15:20 Curragh

Saturday 21 May 2022

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0317:35

Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (Group 1)

Off time: 15:21 | Winning time: 1m 39.28s

(2)

Atomic Jones¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 104| C| D

40/1

Won both juvenile starts (Group 2 latterly). 11/1, 9 lengths fourth of 7 to Stone Age in Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown (1¼m, good to soft) on reappearance 13 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Drop back to 1m may help. Remains capable of better.

Form: 11-4

(4)

Buckaroo¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: S M Crosse| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 110| CD

3/1

Smart colt. Good short-head second of 9 to Piz Badile in Ballysax at Leopardstown (1¼m, good) on return before easily going one better in C&D listed race 19 days ago. Could be the one to follow Native Trail home.

Form: 3164-21

(5)

Duke De Sessa¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Chris Hayes| T: D K Weld| OR: 105| CD

50/1

Useful colt. C&D winner. 9¼ lengths fifth of 7 to Stone Age in Derby Trial Stakes (5/1) at Leopardstown (1¼m, good to soft) 13 days ago. Not sure drop back to 1m is what is needed.

Form: 3161-35

(9)

Imperial Fighter³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Ben Coen| T: A M Balding| OR: 110| BF

28/1

Impressed when making a winning debut at Goodwood (7f) last July and better form in defeat since, notably when chasing home Coroebus in 1m Newmarket Group 3 last autumn. Met trouble and better than result when third on AW reappearance. Place claims.

Form: 1225-3

(3)

Ivy League^t1¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 107| BF| D

18/1

Improving fast this spring, winning maiden/handicap before taking another step forward when 1¾ lengths second of 6 to Pretreville in Amethyst at Leopardstown (1m, good to soft) 13 days ago. Tongue strap goes on. Capable of better again.

Form: 6112

(6)

Malex^b1¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Leigh Roche| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 98| C

100/1

Course debut winner over 7f in March and stepped up on that form when 6 lengths fourth to Buckaroo in C&D listed race 19 days ago. Blinkered first time. More to come but big jolt of improvement required to get heavily involved.

Form: 14

(1)

Native Trail²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 121| BF| C| D

2/5

Won first 5 starts, including Group 1 National here last autumn, and if anything enhanced his reputation in defeat when going down by ¾ length to stablemate Coroebus in a strong renewal of the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket 3 weeks ago. Very hard to beat.

Form: 1111-12

(7)

New Energy¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Billy Lee| T: S Lavery| OR: 102| C

40/1

Course winner. Good 4 lengths third of 7 to Buckaroo in C&D listed race (good to soft, 15/2) 19 days ago, but no reason why he'll turn the tables on Joseph O'Brien's charge.

Form: 18-33

(8)

Wexford Native¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 102| D

25/1

Navan debut winner in March. Bettered that when 4 lengths second of 7 to Buckaroo in C&D listed (good to soft) 19 days ago. Surely has more to offer after only 2 starts. Represents last year's winning connections.

Form: 12

Forecasts

Native Trail (2/5), Buckaroo (3/1), Ivy League (18/1), Wexford Native (25/1), Imperial Fighter (28/1), New Energy (40/1), Atomic Jones (40/1), Duke De Sessa (50/1), Malex (100/1)

NATIVE TRAIL was possibly a little unlucky to lose his unbeaten record in the 2000 Guineas and can emulate Kingman in 2014 who was second at Newmarket before easily going one better here. Buckaroo was a very convincing winner in listed company here recently and can give Godolphin's charge most to do. The fast-improving Ivy League looks best of the remainder.