15:40 Curragh

Saturday 27 May 2023

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (Group 1)

Off time: 15:42 | Winning time: 1m 40.80s

(11)

Age Of Kings³¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 102| BF| C

28/1

Lightly-raced winner. Course winner. 15/8, 1½ lengths third of 5 to Proud And Regal in Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown (7f, good), needing stronger gallop. Off 10 months. Looks yard third string.

Form: 21743-

(5)

Alexander John^t1⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Nathan Crosse| T: L Comer| OR: 70| BF

200/1

Fair colt. 14/1, below form seventh of 18 in maiden at this course (6f, heavy) 41 days ago. Significantly up in trip. Tongue strap on for 1st time. Out of his depth.

Form: 3336-07

(10)

Bold Discovery²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Billy Lee| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 100

66/1

Lightly-raced winner. 8 lengths fifth of 6 to Paddington in listed race at this C&D (soft, 5/2) 26 days ago. Plenty to find.

Form: 13-25

(4)

Cairo⁶³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 107| BF| CD

14/1

Useful colt. C&D winner. Latest win at Dundalk in March. Well-beaten tenth of 13 to Derma Sotogake in UAE Derby (9/4) at Meydan (9.4f) 63 days ago. Ryan Moore prefers Paddington.

Form: 2121-10

(6)

Charyn²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: D Egan| T: R Varian| OR: 109

14/1

Useful colt. Bit below form 10¼ lengths eighth of 14 to Chaldean in 2000 Guineas at Newmarket (8f, heavy, 66/1) 21 days ago. Has work do to.

Form: 1231-28

(8)

Galeron²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Colin Keane| T: C Hills| OR: 108| C

16/1

Useful colt. Course winner. Very good 5 lengths fourth of 14 to Chaldean in 2000 Guineas at Newmarket (8f, heavy, 150/1) 21 days ago. Frame claims once again.

Form: 6641-34

(2)

Hi Royal²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: O Murphy| T: K A Ryan| OR: 115| D

11/2

Lightly-raced winner. Huge improvement when 1¾ lengths second of 14 to Chaldean in 2000 Guineas (125/1) at Newmarket (8f, heavy) 21 days ago, always to the fore. Should make a bold bid.

Form: 31-42

(3)

Paddington²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 105| CD

3/1

Improved again when completing hat-trick in 6-runner listed race at this C&D (soft) 26 days ago by 1½ lengths from Drumroll. Main contender for yard that has won this a record 11 times.

Form: 51-11

(9)

Proud And Regal²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Gavin Ryan| T: Donnacha O'Brien| OR: 112| BF| C| D

7/1

Group 1 winner over this trip at 2 yrs in France (Criterium International at Saint-Cloud). Respectable 5½ lengths third of 8 to Sprewell in Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown (10f, heavy, 6/4) on return 20 days ago. Should be sharper for that and can make presence felt.

Form: 11321-3

(1)

Quar Shamar⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| D

28/1

Twice-raced winner. Won 12-runner maiden at Dundalk (8f, 16/1) 43 days ago, driven out. This a massive ask.

Form: 0-1

(7)

Royal Scotsman²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: J P Spencer| T: P & O Cole| OR: 118

6/4

Smart colt. 11/1, excellent 2¼ lengths third of 14 to Chaldean in 2000 Guineas at Newmarket (8f, heavy) 21 days ago, nearest finish despite refusing to settle. Needs things to drop right but looks the class act.

Form: 13152-3

Forecasts

Royal Scotsman (6/4), Paddington (3/1), Hi Royal (11/2), Proud And Regal (7/1), Cairo (14/1), Charyn (14/1), Galeron (16/1), Quar Shamar (28/1), Age Of Kings (28/1), Bold Discovery (66/1), Alexander John (200/1)

ROYAL SCOTSMAN did really well to finish as close as he did when third in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket given how things panned out for him (pulled hard and met trouble) and he certainly has the ability to win this if settling better. Hi Royal finished half a length in front of the selection that day so is an obvious contender, while the progressive Paddington must be respected for a yard that has won this a record 11 times.