Hotazhell 'strange price' for Irish 2000 Guineas Ireland’s first Classics of the season take place this weekend and the Irish 2000 Guineas is up first on Saturday. It looks set to be a cracking race and there should be a strong British contingent coming over, but the home team won’t go down without a fight and Jessica Harrington trains a leading candidate. Hotazhell was supposed to line up in the French equivalent a couple of weeks ago but has been diverted to the Curragh instead. One of the best Irish juveniles last term, we’re yet to see him in 2025 but he retains a significant amount of potential. Irish 2000 Guineas Betting Odds Irish 2000 Guineas Betting Offer If you already have a Paddy Power account, check out more of the best betting sites and casino bonuses Four wins from six in 2024 Hotazhell raced six times as a two-year-old, winning four times, and his two defeats came at the hands of subsequent Group 1 winners. The first defeat, which came in his first run, resulted in a fourth-placed effort at Leopardstown where he was denied a run up most of the straight. Scorthy Champ ended up claiming the spoils that day and he has since gone on to land the Group 1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at the Curragh. Hotazhell managed to shed his maiden tag next time out at the Curragh, scoring by one-and-a-quarter-lengths as jockey Shane Foley didn’t get blocked in again. Progressing through the ranks It’s no surprise that a step up in grade followed that success and Hotazhell ran in the Group 3 Tyros Stakes, where he got the better of Aidan O’Brien’s Swagman. The second has since boosted the form by winning a Group 2 Derby trial at Sandown earlier this season. A second career defeat then followed in the Group 2 Futurity Stakes at the Curragh, but his reputation wasn’t hurt by that performance as the winner, Henri Matisse, went on to clinch the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and the Poule d'Essai des Poulains. Hotazhell returned to winning ways over a mile in the Beresford Stakes at the Curragh, beating Joseph O’Brien’s Tennessee Stud, and that form is rock-solid as the second is now a Group 1 winner and last home Lambourn won the Chester Vase earlier this month. Group 1 success at Doncaster Stepping up to Group 1 level was inevitable and connections decided to take aim at Doncaster’s Futurity Trophy. It proved to be a very sensible decision as he managed to get the better of Aidan O’Brien’s Delacroix by a nose, despite getting carried to his right. The front two were well clear of the rest and the third, Wimbledon Hawkeye, has run with great credit in three starts this season. Delacroix is a leading Derby contender after two very decisive trial successes at Leopardstown and there clearly isn’t much between the pair. Classic bid next on the agenda It’s strange that such a talented horse with such excellent form in the book would be a near double-figure price for Saturday’s race, but his rivals do have a significant fitness advantage and that can make a big difference, especially at this level. With Henri Matisse unlikely to line up, Hotazhell was probably the best of these as a two-year-old and if progressing nicely at three, he’s sure to make his presence felt in some of the season’s top races.
