3 minute read
1. Age Of Kings (Seamie Heffernan/A P O'Brien)
Useful juvenile performer Age Of Kings makes his seasonal reappearance in the Curragh Classic, having placed in the Group 3 Tyros Stakes behind Proud And Regal on his final start of the juvenile campaign. He's the first raced foal of Group 2 May Hill Stakes winner Turret Rocks and may prefer a longer journey over time.
2. Alexander John (Nathan Crosse/Luke Comer)
Alexander John is yet to break his maiden and will be an outsider in the race. He has struggled to get involved in two maidens at the Curragh so far this season.
3. Bold Discovery (W J Lee/Jessica Harrington)
Bold Discovery faces some re-opposing rivals in the Irish 2000 Guineas, having finished behind Coolmore's Cairo, Hans Anderson and Paddington on his last three outings. His defeat in the Listed Tetrarch Stakes over course and distance would suggest this will be a tough ask.
4. Cairo (Wayne Lordan/A P O'Brien)
A maiden winner over course and distance as a juvenile, Cairo has shaped with promise in his six starts to date. He finished off the two-year-old campaign with a two and three-quarter length win in the Group 3 Kilavullan Stakes and was probably not seen at his best when down the field in the Group 2 UAE Derby at Meydan last time.
5. Charyn (David Egan/Roger Varian)
Second behind subsequent Poule d'Essai des Poulains runner-up Isaac Shelby in the Group 3 Greenham Stakes at Newbury, Charyn could only manage eighth of fourteen in the Newmarket 2000 Guineas. His juvenile form is useful, but he would have to step up on what was is required to win a Classic.
6. Galeron (Colin Keane/Charlie Hills)
Winner of the valuable Goffs Million conditions race at the Curragh at the end of last season, Galeron out-ran expectations to finish fourth at 150/1 in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. He is suited by soft ground and probably won't encounter the same conditions.
7. Hi Royal (Oisin Murphy/Kevin Ryan)
Hi Royal nearly caused a major upset in the 2000 Guineas when attempting to kick clear two furlongs out before being passed by Chaldean to finish second at 125/1. He hung badly left under pressure which he had not done before, and a similar performance would see him firmly in the mix.
8. Paddington (Ryan Moore/A P O'Brien)
It is very rare to get to this stage of the season without an Aidan O'Brien Classic winner in either the UK or France. Paddington looks capable of remedying that tally and recording a fourth straight success. He was a comfortable one and a half length winner of the Listed Tetrarch Stakes over course and distance last time and continues to improve. The good ground would be the only question mark.
Proud And Regal holds an entry in the Group 1 Irish Derby and commenced the season in the traditional Derby trial, the 1m2f Ballysax Stakes, where he finished a well-beaten third behind
Sprewell. Connections are clearly wondering whether the colt would prefer a return to a mile, having won the Group 1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud in October but in heavy conditions.
10. Quar Shamar (Shane Foley/Jessica Harrington)
Well-beaten on his sole start as a two-year-old, Quar Shamar returned after the break with a comfortable win over a mile at Dundalk. He is clearly well-regarded and should improve for the run.
11. Royal Scotsman (Jamie Spencer/Paul & Oliver Cole)
Winner of the Group 2 Richmond Stakes and second behind Chaldean in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes as a juvenile, Royal Scotsman confirmed his ability when finishing third in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. He may be seen to best effect on good ground compared to the softer surface he encountered on the Rowley Mile and will be a major player.
