Antepost look forward to the Irish 1000 Guineas The first Irish Classics of the season take place at the Curragh across the weekend of the 24th/25th May as the Kildare venue hosts the Tattersalls Irish Guineas Weekend. It's a three-day meeting, with action on Friday before the Classics on Saturday and Sunday. Aidan O'Brien came up short at Newmarket in the English Guineas' races and the Ballydoyle supremo will be eager to do better on home soil. Lake Victoria couldn't get the job done on the Rowley Mile but is favourite to atone on home soil as we take a look ahead to the opening Curragh Fillies' Classic of 2025. Irish 1000 Guineas ante-post tips NAP: January @ 16/1 with Paddy Power Next Best: Cathedral @ 33/1 with Paddy Power Irish 1000 Guineas Odds Irish 1000 Guineas Betting Offer Enjoying the PGA Championship? Check out our new guide to the best golf betting sites. O'Brien dominates the list of contenders Aidan O'Brien's dominant position atop the Irish racing pyramid is illustrated in the fact that he has 21 entries remaining amongst 79 in the ante-post list of possible contenders for this Curragh Classic, a stunning show of strength and depth from the Ballydoyle chief. High rank amongst them goes to Lake Victoria, the Frankel filly having finished sixth at Newmarket at the start of the month. That ended her five-race unbeaten sequence from a stellar two-year-old campaign that ended with wins in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh (7f), Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket (6f) and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar (1m). She just appeared to flatten out very late on in the Rowley Mile contest as Desert Flower won stylishly for Godolphin with Flight and Simmering completing the podium. Lake Victoria should soon leave that run behind and will be a big contender if turning up here. January a good starting point? O'Brien has an endless list of possibilities for this race and perhaps it's worth taking a chance on JANUARY. The Kingman filly is entered here as well as the English and Irish Oaks next month and the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. She has form at the mile trip that would make her a leading contender if she lines up. Her juvenile season was busy, with figures of 213122 that included a 7f Gowran Park maiden win and a Listed score at Tipperary over an additional half-furlong in August. She was then second-best behind Desert Flower in the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster over a mile at the St Leger Festival and chased home the same rival in the Fillies' Mile at Newmarket. That form was advertised to great effect when the Godolphin filly won the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. She doesn't scream of a filly who wants the mile-and-a-half trip of an Oaks and there could be plenty more to come here over the mile and three. There hasn't been much talk of her in recent weeks, but this race could set up nicely for her. Keep the faith with Beckett's Cathedral Ralph Beckett has found the Irish Classics a happy hunting ground, winning the Derby with Westover in 2022 and the Oaks with You Got To Me last season. He also won the Pretty Polly Stakes with subsequent Arc winner Bluestocking last season and the Kimpton handler knows the value of targeting top races on this side of the Irish Sea. CATHEDRAL ran below expectations in the Chartwell Fillies' Stakes at Lingfield on her seasonal return. The Amo Racing filly was a bit gassy early doors and never really looked like getting on terms as Great Generation beat Jabaara to the prize. She looked like she might retreat badly two furlongs out, but actually stuck on well and was only beaten two lengths at the line. This mile trip should be within her grasp when she starts to settle better and the Too Darn Hot filly could be an interesting British raider after Fallen Angel won for Karl Burke last season. If you already have a Paddy Power account, check out more of the best betting sites and casino bonuses
