Churchill completes Guineas double in style

Churchill completed the English and Irish 2000 Guineas double when landing the odds in decisive fashion in the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh.

Aidan O'Brien started his classic haul with Desert King in this race 20 years ago, and has now won it 11 times with Rock Of Gibraltar, Henrythenavigator and Gleneagles also completing the Guineas double.

The 4/9 favourite was a little uneasy in the market as persistent rain throughout the today turned the ground yielding to soft but the changed conditions proved no problem to the son of Galileo.

Ryan Moore sent the hot favourite past Thunder Snow just over a furlong out, and he powered home to beat that rival by two and a half lengths.

Irishcorrespondent was held up towards the rear and could never really get in a blow finishing a further four and a half lengths back in third.

O’Brien said, “He’s brave and so versatile. Ground and trip all come alike to him and he has a lovely demeanour. He saves all the petrol, and when you ask him to quicken he quickens.

“Obviously we were worried about the ground but all the lads who had ridden him were confident and especially when he’d already had a run this season.

“He’s a big powerful horse and nothing is a problem to him. Coming here we were thinking we’d go from here to Ascot and he’ll probably go for the St James Palace.

“He’d have no problem stepping up to ten furlongs later in the year. He’s so relaxed and chilled.”

Churchill is odds-on across the board for the St James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, with Paddy Power as short as 4/6 while Boylesports go 10/11.

Ryan Moore gives insight into 2,000 Guineas winner Churchill. "I have always rated him right at the top". pic.twitter.com/8hbsw6dVf0

— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) May 27, 2017