Murphy hoping Hi Royal can deliver in the 2000 Guineas A field of 11 colts will chase glory at the Curragh on Saturday in the E500,000 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas. The prospect of a second British-trained winner of Ireland's opening Classic race in as many years is enhanced by a hefty challenge from across the Irish Sea, headed by the English 2000 Guineas runner-up Hi Royal. The Kevin Ryan-trained son of Kodiac belied odds of 125/1 at Newmarket to chase home Chaldean with those closest behind him, Royal Scotsman and Galeron also bound for the Curragh. The Paul and Oliver Cole-trained Royal Scotsman was supplemented into Saturday's race on Tuesday and will be piloted on this occasion by Jamie Spencer, while Charlie Hills has booked Ireland's champion jockey Colin Keane for Galeron. Hi Royal will once again be ridden by former British champion jockey Oisín Murphy, with the proud Kerry native seeking a first winner in the saddle at Irish Flat racing headquarters. Murphy is excited about the possibility of Hi Royal giving him a first Irish Classic success. "I have never ridden a winner at the Curragh," said Murphy today after his engagement at the Home of the Classics was confirmed. "I've been second before so it would be lovely to break my duck this weekend. "Hi Royal apparently has come out of Newmarket very well. I’ve a lot of respect for Royal Scotsman, who I just finished in front of in the Qipco 2000 Guineas but Hi Royal is a straightforward horse and I'm sure he'll give his running. "This meeting has a lot of history. I grew up watching the 2000 Guineas at the Curragh on RTE so to be riding one of the favourites in the race is really nice. It's a great feeling and I want to make the most of it." Further British interest in the one-mile colts' Classic comes from the Roger Varian-trained Charyn, who will be ridden by Curragh-raised jockey David Egan. The home challenge is headed by Paddington, who along with Cairo will bid to give trainer Aidan O'Brien a first Irish 2000 Guineas triumph since Churchill in 2017. One of their main rivals will be Proud And Regal, trained by O'Brien's youngest son Donnacha, while Jessica Harrington will saddle Bold Discovery and Quar Shamar. The field is completed by the Luke Comer-trained Alexander John. Oisín Murphy has an opportunity to register his maiden Curragh success ahead of the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas as he partners the Tim Easterby-trained Art Power in the Group 2 Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes. Twice a winner at the track, Art Power is among eight declared for the six-furlong sprint as the Charlie Hills-trained Garrus heads the field with Michael O'Callaghan’s Twilight Jet topping the local challenge. Of his mount, Murphy added this morning: "Art Power won at the Curragh last season and the season before so hopefully he can keep up that good form at the track." Elsewhere on the card, six runners, five of which are debut winners, contest the GAIN Marble Hill Stakes. The Group 3 has thrown up some good winners in the past and the Aidan O'Brien duo, Democracy and His Majesty, take on Willie Browne's Buyin Buyin, the Jessica Harrington-trained Givemethebeatboys and Paddy Twomey's Cork winner Noche Magica. Adrian Murray has booked Colin Keane for Valiant Force, the colt who was second to His Majesty on debut. An intriguing field of seven go to post for the FBD Hotels and Resorts Orby Stakes, while there are 15 declared for the Finlay Volvo Handicap, with the same number of runners engaged in the Novibet Guineas Festival Handicap. A fascinating day of racing will begin with the seven runner Tally Ho Stud EBF Maiden.
