Auguste Rodin© Photo Healy Racing
The Curragh Racecourse is gearing up for the opening Classic action of the Irish Flat racing season with the Tattersalls Guineas Weekend kicking off on Friday evening and showcasing some of the finest equine talent across Saturday and Sunday.
A total of 11 colts have stood their ground for Saturday's Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas, including the Richard Hannon-trained duo of Rosallion and Haatem who were second and third respectively in the English 2,000 Guineas.
Success in Saturday's Irish 2,000 Guineas would be a career highlight for County Tyrone-based trainer Andy Oliver who looks set to run course and distance winner Bright Stripes or Jack Davison who looks likely to be represented by Take Me To Church.
Aidan O'Brien is responsible for six of the 11 entries, including Group 1 winning juvenile Henry Longfellow and Coventry Stakes winner River Tiber, while the Joseph O'Brien-trained Atlantic Coast has also stood his ground.
Hannon is one of five British trainers represented in the Group 2 Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes. Shouldvebeenaring is set to travel across the Irish Sea alongside the William Haggas-trained Unequal Love, the Ed Bethell-trained Regional, Tim Easterby's well travelled Art Power and the Charlie Hills-trained Mitbaahy.
Ken Condon's two time course and distance winner Moss Tucker and the Kieran Cotter-trained Matilda Picotte lead a strong team of local sprinters which also includes last Sunday's Naas winner Aesop's Fables and last month's course and distance winner Yosemite Valley.
An action-packed eight race card on Saturday also features the Group 3 GAIN Marble Hill Stakes which will be run in memory of Theresa Marnane and the listed Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Orby Stakes. Other races include the Tally Ho Stud Irish EBF Maiden, the Infinite Energy Handicap, the Finlay Volvo Handicap and the McDonnells Bar Maiden.
On Sunday the Paddy Twomey-trained duo of A Lilac Rolla and Purple Lily stand out among the 15 acceptors for the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas.
Twomey's strong challenge will add much intrigue to a race which also sees English 1,000 Guineas runner-up Porta Fortuna stand her ground for Donnacha O'Brien.
Sunday's feature contest is likely to see the Karl Burke-trained Fallen Angel bid to become the first British-trained winner of the Irish 1,000 Guineas since Charlie Hills scored with Just The Judge in 2013. Fallen Angel was a winner of the Moyglare Stud Stakes at The Curragh last year and went off favourite in the English 1,000 Guineas before finishing eighth.
Vespertilio, who was runner-up in that Moyglare Stud Stakes is among Sunday's entries for local trainer Willie McCreery and the Dermot Weld-trained Azada is another local runner.
The Aidan O'Brien challenge for the 1,000 Guineas is headed by the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Opera Singer while the Ballydoyle stable star Auguste Rodin, who was officially rated among the top 10 horses in the world last year, headlines the 11 names in Sunday's Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup.
The Epsom and Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winner Auguste Rodin is joined in the field by last years winner and his stable companion Luxembourg.
John Murphy's Curragh specialist White Birch and the Adrian Murray-trained Elegant Man also look set to take their chance at the highest level with the Harry Charlton-trained Okeechobee a notable inclusion as Charlton's father previously won the race with Al Kazeem on two occasions and most recently with Decorated Knight.
Racegoers can look forward to further quality action in the Group 2 Lanwades Stud Stakes on Sunday and the Group 3 Heider Family Stables Gallinule Stakes on what promises to be a brilliant weekend of racing.
Sunday's action will also see the Trainer Stone And Tile Irish EBF Maiden, the QuinnBet Spring Fillies Handicap, the Revamp Conservation and Restoration Maiden and the Fleetwood Paints Handicap.
While on Friday evening the competitive eight race card features the QuinnBet Emerald Mile with 24 entries in the €100,000 contest.
