The Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh takes centre stage on a busy Saturday afternoon of Horse Racing action. We will provide a Horse Racing tip, preview and prediction for this one mile Classic, along with one race from Haydock Park and one from York.
At Haydock we will supply a Horse Racing tip for the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes, run over 6f at 3.35pm. While on the Knavesmire we have pinpointed an value each-way selection for the competitive sprint handicap, run over the minimum trip at 3.50pm.
Our Tip for the 3.20pm at Curragh:
Five of the 12 horses declared for the first Irish Classic of the season ran in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket earlier this month, including the first and third horses home, Poetic Flare and Lucky Vega.
The winner failed to follow-up in the French version at Longchamp last weekend, which leaves the Jessica Harrington-trained Lucky Vega, who was making his seasonal reappearance at headquarters, as the one most likely to come home in front on this occasion.
Just what to make of the underwhelming performances of the Ballydoyle trio of Battleground, Wembley and Van Gogh in that Newmarket Classic is hard to determine. But history says that it would be unwise to write off any of the three after just one run, as many horses from the stable have done the same over the years before going on to prove successful at the highest level.
Jockey bookings suggest that Wembley and Ryan Moore are Ballydoyle’s number one. But, based on some excellent performances as a juvenile, it would be no surprise to see Battleground and pilot Wayne Lordan come out on top.
A combination of the good to firm ground at Newmarket, the failure to handle the undulations and lack of a prep run are viable excuses for the son of War Front. On the more even surface of the Curragh, soft ground, and with that run under his belt, there will be no excuses if Battleground fails to show what he is capable of once again.
Our Tip for the 3.35pm at Haydock:
The Archie Watson-trained Dragon Symbol has been a revelation since making his debut at Wolverhampton less than four months ago. The grey son of Cable Bay won his first three starts, all on the all-weather, before recording an impressive victory on turf at Hamilton earlier this month.
However, this is a big step-up in class for Adam McNamara’s mount who has not been missed in the market at around odds of 3/1. It would be no surprise to see the unbeaten colt continue his progression in this Group 2 contest. But, at around 8/1, Method from the Martyn Meade stable looks a better value bet.
The Mehmas colt looked a top class sprinter in the making when winning his first two starts as a juvenile (beat subsequent Qipco 1000 Guineas third Fen Rover on debut). A slipped saddle resulted in Method failing to beat a rival in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes, before ending the season by beating all bar Winter Power in the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes.
That form received a boost when that horse put up a hugely impressive performance at York last week and is now no bigger than 6/1 for the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot. On his two-year-old form Method looks more than capable of winning a race at this level with conditions to suit.
Our Tip for the 3.50pm at York:
Copper Knight and Mondammej finished first and third in a similar contest over course and distance last week and will be fancied by many to go well again, while Pendleton, Count D’orsay and Hurricane Ivor will have their supporters. However, the horse who makes plenty of each-way appeal is top weight Makanah.
The Mayson gelding was in great form last season, winning at Newmarket and Hamilton, along with several creditable efforts including the Listed Beverley Bullet. Graham Lee’s mount looked in need of the run at Chester on his first run of the season earlier this month and is fancied to go close with that run under his belt.
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