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In this 1xBet Ireland review, we will look at the most interesting betting options for the Irish classic races at the Curragh Racecourse. Aidan O’Brien has strong chances of winning both events, and participants from the Ballydoyle stable are leading the list of dark horses.

Saturday 15:40 Curragh – Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (Group 1) – 1m

The brilliant 2,000 Guineas winner Bow Echo will be watching this from home and, while it is disappointing not to see George Boughey’s stable star line up, history suggests that may not matter as much as some think.

It is now seven years since the English 2,000 Guineas winner contested the Irish equivalent, when Magna Grecia finished fifth behind Phoenix Of Spain in 2019.

The recent trend has instead favoured British-trained horses that placed at Newmarket. The last two runnings have gone that way and this year’s race again revolves around the Newmarket form, with Gstaad taking on Distant Storm once more.

Gstaad Sets the Standard

Aidan O’Brien’s Gstaad is currently 4/9 with 1xBet Ireland and deservedly heads the market.

Runner-up in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, he sets a clear standard on form and arrives representing a Ballydoyle yard in exceptional form.

However, there are one or two reasons to oppose him at cramped odds.

He has won only three of his seven starts and, despite O’Brien’s extraordinary Classic record, he has won only two of the last ten renewals of the Irish 2,000 Guineas.

Five of the last ten winners were favourites and, realistically, Gstaad is the most likely winner. If he reproduces his Newmarket form, the rest may simply be playing for places.

That said, there is a compelling case for giving Distant Storm another chance.

Why Distant Storm Could Bounce Back

Distant Storm was beaten only half a length by Gstaad in the Dewhurst and his Newmarket run may be best forgiven.

He raced on the unfavoured side of the track and, more importantly, the Charlie Appleby stable was badly out of form at the time, enduring a spell of more than 20 days without a winner.

The Godolphin operation has since turned the corner in emphatic style, highlighted by Notable Speech winning the Lockinge Stakes as a heavily backed favourite.

Appleby’s last runner in the Irish 2,000 Guineas was Native Trail, who won the race in 2022, and Distant Storm has the profile of a colt capable of running much better than he showed at Newmarket.

At the very least, he looks capable of finishing in the first three and could capitalise if Gstaad underperforms.

Alparslan Adds Further Depth

Alparslan is another interesting contender.

He has won three of his four starts, including a valuable sales race at the Curragh last season, defeating Magny Cours, who has since advertised the form well.

His Greenham Stakes success marked him down as a genuine Group-class colt before unsuitable ground ruled him out of Newmarket.

One slight concern is jockey booking intentions. Clifford Lee is currently set to ride Venetian Sun and Night Raider at Haydock in Group 2 company. Passing up the opportunity to ride a live contender in a Group 1 Classic would appear significant unless confidence levels are not especially high.

Still, Alparslan has plenty of ability and should not be underestimated.

Irish 2,000 Guineas Verdict

There is every chance this is simply another major Classic success for Aidan O’Brien and Coolmore.

Gstaad sets the standard and deserves favouritism, but Distant Storm is far more interesting from a betting perspective and could emerge as the value angle if the market continues to focus heavily on the Ballydoyle favourite.

Sunday 16:30 Curragh – Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas (Group 1) – 1m

Aidan O’Brien has won five of the last ten runnings of the Irish 1,000 Guineas and it would be a major surprise if Ballydoyle did not land another success here.

The stable dominates the betting with Newmarket heroine True Love and dual Group 1-winning juvenile Precise.

True Love Sets a High Standard

True Love arrives as the deserved favourite after her excellent victory in the English 1,000 Guineas.

Unlike Precise, she benefited from race fitness at Newmarket and has already had two runs this season, which may have made a crucial difference.

Even so, her overall profile is extremely strong.

She has won five of her nine starts and her only disappointing efforts came:

in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, where she may have been unsuited by the sharp track and drop in trip

and in the Phoenix Stakes behind Power Blue, a run that looks below par considering she had comfortably beaten that rival previously in the Railway Stakes

The form of her Cheveley Park Stakes victory has already received a timely boost with runner-up Havana Anna winning on her seasonal return last weekend.

She sets the standard and remains the one they all have to beat.

If Ryan Moore rides her, expect sustained market support. If Wayne Lordan retains the partnership after steering her to both Group 1 wins, her odds could drift slightly beyond what they should be.

Can Precise Bounce Back?

Precise remains fascinating despite her disappointing seventh-place finish at Newmarket.

Her interrupted preparation was well documented and she should improve significantly for the run.

A return to the Curragh could also prove important given she won the Moyglare Stakes there last season, while her Fillies’ Mile victory confirmed her top-class ability.

Still, there are slight concerns regarding the direction connections appear to be considering.

The Oaks has already been mentioned as a potential target and it is difficult to immediately picture a daughter of Starspangledbanner winning a mile-and-a-half Group 1 at Epsom.

Perhaps that interpretation will prove wrong, but it does slightly temper enthusiasm for her over a strongly-run mile against a race-fit stablemate.

Irish 1,000 Guineas Verdict

True Love is the obvious one to beat and fully deserves favouritism after her Newmarket victory.

Saturday 16:15 Curragh - Heider Family Stables Gallinule Stakes (Group 3) - 1m2f

This is a race Aidan O'Brien has won 15 times since 2004, and it looks highly likely he can land this year’s renewal given the strength of horses he is running, the well-bred Causeway, a Wootton Bassett colt out of a Galileo mare who is a sister to top-class Group 1 winners Magical and Rhododendron, both trained by O’Brien. The choice of Ryan Moore, he shaped as though he was ready for a step up in trip when winning a Listed race over a mile at the Curragh on his most recent start.

Amadeus Mozart is another Wootton Bassett colt out of a Galileo mare, this time a sister to a Group 1-winning sprinter. The form of his Newmarket second has been boosted by Galiyan winning at Chester. However, the winner of that Newmarket race, Maho Bay, was a major disappointment in the Lingfield Derby Trial, while the third, Guildmaster, also failed to enhance the form in the Dante Stakes.

Second on the jockey bookings is Drop Dead Gorgeous, with Wayne Lordan in the saddle. Lordan won this race last year aboard Thrice, who was promoted by the stewards. Drop Dead Gorgeous shaped like the best filly in the race when narrowly beaten by Kensington Lane in a Curragh Group 3 on just her second career start.

Her pedigree is exceptional.

She has been strongly backed on both starts so far and won the same maiden previously won by Classic heroines Empress Josephine and Tuesday.

She could be the most interesting betting alternative to the market leaders. While Epsom may not seem the most obvious target for a daughter of Dubawi out of a sister to Giant’s Causeway, she is bred to be very classy and if she were to win this race, quotes of 25/1 for the Oaks won’t last long.

17:25 Curragh – Irish Stallion Farms EBF Habitat Handicap (Premier Handicap) (4yo+) – 6f

Sarah Lynam won this race in 2022 during her training career and may have a significant role to play again after sourcing the ex-William Haggas runner Headmaster at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale. Now trained by sprint specialist Eddie Lynam, he has a beautiful pedigree, by Dubawi and out of triple Group 1 winner One Master, he runs from a mark just 3lb higher than his final British win at Newbury and shaped well on his Irish debut at Naas behind stablemate Keke. The form has worked out nicely, with Keke subsequently placing in Listed company and fifth-placed Howd'yadoit winning next time out for Ger Lyons.

Eligible to improve on his second run for the yard and second start after a lay-off, he also gets the assistance of Dylan Browne McMonagle for the first time. He looks capable of running a big race in a typically competitive Curragh sprint handicap.

15:05 Curragh – Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes (Group 2) – 6f

The sprint division remains as competitive and unpredictable as ever, but Marvelman looks overpriced at 12/1 in an open renewal of the Greenlands Stakes.

Sent off 7/2 for the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot last season, he failed to fire behind Comanche Brave, but quickly bounced back with a strong third behind More Thunder in the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes before landing the Group 2 Park Stakes at Doncaster.

Both of those performances came over 7f, but the drop back to 6f could suit even better. By Invincible Spirit, he possesses a sharp turn of foot and has the speed for this test.

He handles all types of ground, receives a first-time hood and comes from an Andrew Balding yard in excellent form. British-trained runners have also won the last four renewals of this race.

In a typically wide-open sprint, Marvelman looks a very fair each-way bet at double-figure odds.

Best Bets

• Irish 2,000 Guineas: Distant Storm each-way

• Heider Family Stables Gallinule Stakes: Drop Dead Gorgeous 

• Irish Stallion Farms EBF Habitat Handicap: Headmaster

• Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes: Marvelman

• Irish 1,000 Guineas: True Love
  

The analytical piece was prepared by Emmet Kennedy — Presenter, Producer, and Owner of The Final Furlong Podcast, Broadcaster with TalkSPORT, and Broadcast Consultant —  with the support of 1xBet Ireland.

1XBET AND TERMINUS PLATFORM IRELAND LIMITED DO NOT SPONSOR ANY OF THE EVENTS ABOVE AND HAVE NO PARTNERSHIP WITH ASSOCIATED SPORTS LEAGUES AND/OR ASSOCIATIONS.