15:40 Curragh

Saturday 23 May 2026

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:2517:55

Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (Group 1)

3YO only | Class 1 | 1m | 10 Runners | Turf

(3)

Alparslan³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: S H James| T: K R Burke| OR: 112| C

8/1

Has met with defeat just once (when sixth in the Dewhurst) and took another step forward when landing the Greenham at Newbury on return, plenty going his way from the front. Isn't sure to stay 1m.

Form: 116-1

(9)

Bamako Beach¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Colin Keane| T: M O'Callaghan

80/1

Showed plenty when just denied in maidens at Naas and Gowran 8 months apart but he's firmly up against it in this company.

Form: 2-2

(6)

Distant Storm^p1²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Billy Loughnane| T: C Appleby| OR: 114| BF

9/2

Easy winner of a Group 3 at Newmarket in September and similar form when third in Dewhurst there following month. Decent third in 2000 Guineas on return but has 8 lengths to find with Gstaad. Headgear applied.

Form: 1313-3

(4)

Go Just Do It³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 98| BF

28/1

Showed plenty all 3 starts last season and didn't have to improve to land the odds in Gowran maiden on return. This is a big ask, though.

Form: 432-1

(8)

Gstaad²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 120| BF| D

1/2

Impressive winner of Coventry at Royal Ascot. Runner-up in Group 1s over 6f/7f on next 3 starts before going one better in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar. Returned with an excellent second (well clear of rest) in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and should take plenty of beating.

Form: 12221-2

(10)

Neolithic^p¹⁹

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

40/1

Much improved when off the mark in a Naas novice on final 2-y-o start and had little trouble landing the odds at Gowran in April. Limitations rather exposed in better company either side of that, however.

Form: 871-313

(5)

Pacific Avenue^p²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: J P Spencer| T: C Appleby| OR: 104| BF| D

40/1

Consistent rather than progressive and failed to land the odds in 4-runner event at Goodwood 3 weeks ago. Plenty to find at this level.

Form: 471-322

(7)

Power Blue²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: D Egan| T: Robson Aguiar| OR: 110| C

33/1

Smart form to win the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh (6f) last summer. However, that remains a standout effort and doubts remain whether he's fully effective at 1m.

Form: 2531-27

(2)

Take Charge Star^t1¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Ben Coen| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 97

66/1

Won maiden at Gowran Park In September. Best effort since when fifth in listed race over C&D last time, denied a clear run. Huge leap forward is required with a tongue strap now applied.

Form: 316-25

(1)

Thesecretadversary²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: J A Stack| OR: 108

8/1

Free-going sort who reappeared to win a Group 3 at Leopardstown (7f) by 2½ lengths from re-opposing Power Blue. Did well to finish where he did given how hard he pulled in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket next time and he's capable of better if settling down.

Form: 2215-15

Forecasts

Gstaad (4/9), Distant Storm (9/2), Thesecretadversary (8/1), Alparslan (8/1), Go Just Do It (33/1), Power Blue (33/1), Neolithic (50/1), Take Charge Star (66/1), Pacific Avenue (66/1), Bamako Beach (66/1)

GSTAAD is super consistent at this level and has an excellent opportunity of bagging his second Group 1 of his career having beat the rest easily when runner-up in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. There's little depth to this Classic but Thesecretadversary does at least have a bigger performance in him if racing more efficiently so is second choice ahead of Guineas-third Distant Storm, who sports headgear for the first time.