Irish 1,000 Guineas 2010

4.15 Curragh
Etihad Airways Irish 1,000 Guineas (Fillies' Group 1) (Class 1) (3YO only)
Winner €188,500

Pick: Music Show (win), Termagant (e/w)

Anna Salai: Broke her maiden in frankly brilliant style when landing Prix La Grotte with a swopping late run, showing signs of more to come; Must come into serious consideration on that form, especially if progressing; One of main players today.

Astari: Won maiden at the Curragh in May and nursery at Gowran next month, looking well suited by test of speed at 8f in latter; Ran 2 career bests in succession when finishing second in listed event and then the Rockfel Stakes behind Music Show; Hasn’t reached same form in 2 starts this season, needing run badly (hung right final furlong) in Nell Gwyn and unable to hold of Beterah (reopposes) in 1,000 Guineas trial; Will be hard pressed to reverse form.

Beterah: Instantly proving better at 3 then 2, swooping late on to just get up over Atasari in 1,000 Guineas trial; Form of that rival shows she is at the very least a Group 3/2 horse and is probably still improving, for all that this Is much tougher.

Blue Maiden: Built on promising debut second to Lady Pattern at Newbury when getting off the mark at Newmakret and taking major step forward when then finishing second behind Long Lashes in the Sweet Solera Stakes (foot problem final start so not worth assessing on that run); Ran well in Nell Gwyn and wasn’t disgraced in 1,00 Guineas but still has lot to do in race just as fiercely contested.

Cncodancer: Has to be respected coming from yard that also has Group 3 winner Lolly For Dolly in the field; Impressed when getting better of 29 rivals first time out and while she will improve for a range of factors, this test is likely to ask too much of her.

Crystal Gal: Hasn’t really progressed as expected from her maiden win first time out and is likely to find this too much based on her form behind Lady Springbank.

Famous: Performed admirably last season, running well in all races from Group 1 to Sales level; While she has been very consistent, she does look quite well held by Termagant, Lille Langtry, Lady Springback and Lolly For Dolly.

Full Of Hope: Been well beaten i8n 2 Group events this season and looks set for pacemaking role here.

Gile Na Greine: Looked out of her depth at Group 1 level when fifth in the Moyglare and looked like she already needed further than this when staying on but not really threatening at Dundalk; Took her form to new level when third in 1,000 Guineas and while there must be doubts over how much she achieved (3rd of 5 on heavily favoured side) she’s guaranteed to take a hand if literally reproducing that run; Special Duty gave form solid look.

Lady Darshaan: Built up some good group form to her name, staying on well at the end of the Cherry Hinton Stakes and stepped up miles on that when an unlucky second in the Fillies Mile (struck on nose when laying down a challenge); Better than dare finishing postion in 1,000 Guineas as she raced on bad side but has something to prove now.

Lady Springbank: Made up into a decent filly as a 2 year old, taking Group 3 event in decent style on last start as a juvenile and built on that when landing 1,000 Guineas trial earlier in the season; Comes into the equation as one of the liker ones although she may have caught a few rivals on an off day.

Lillie Langtry: Made up into Ballydoyle’s best juvenile filly last season and holds a lot of very good form, her Debutante Stakes win & Moyglare Stakes third (On unsuitably soft conditions)entitling her to take a hand; Also has a Sales Stakes and Coolmore Sprint Stakes win to her name so every chance of showing up really well, but she will need the run badly having injured her knee at the Breeder’s Cup last time.

Lolly For Dolly: Was positively electric when bolting up on debut and instantly proved herself a Group class performer when getting out of trouble to land Atahsi Stakes; Looked as if she would improve again that day and could be anything.

Music Show: Was very progressive as a 2 year old, winning 3 out of her four starts including the Rockfel Stakes and confirmed that promise when giving weight and a beating to Blue Maiden in the Nell Gwyn on reappearance; Was desperately unlucky to finish sixth in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket considering that she fairly thrashed her side and must hold a big chance of reversing that form here.

Queen Of Troy: Already been beaten by 3 of the major contenders here (Lolly For Dolly, Betharah and Lady Springbank) so looks set for pacemaking role.

Remember When: Still a maiden but has posted very promising efforts on both her starts, first of all when coming second in strong maiden and then when running a good race on debut to come third behind Chinese White in good listed event; Could run a big race and will find plenty of improvement for first run.

Song Of My Heart: Shaped like a sprinter in waiting last season but was well beaten on only try in Group 1 company in Cheveley Park Stakes; Will do well to make a real impact here although booking of Jamie Spencer suggests yard mean business.

Tamergant: Unspectacular pedigree but that didn't stop her making a winning debut at Leopardstown in June, comfortably accounting for subsequent Group 3 winner Cabaret; Even more impressive when practically running away with Moyglare, putting up a good turn of foot on heavy ground; If fit and ready here will really take all the beating.

What About Me: Behind Song Of My Heart on seasonal reappearance and needs more than that to take a hand, seeing as she hasn’t progressed as one would have expected from seasonal debut last year.

VERDICT: A very interesting renewal which which like the 2,00 Guineas ran a day earlier had the potential to provide us with a lot more answers than were given at wither Newmarket or Longchamp. 9/2 about MUSIC SHOW is a very fair price seeing as she was given no chance by the draw in the English equivalent three weeks ago. The Nell Gywn winner did well to manage sixth on that occasion and connections will be hopeful of gaining compensation today. Lillie Langtry looks the pick of the Ballydoyle team although she was well held by the unbeaten TERMAGANT (e/w pick) in the Moyglare Stud Stakes last year. Gile Na Greine will be there or thereabouts if literally repsdcing her run last time and one would have to argue that Special Duty’s run did uphold the form last week. Anna Salai’s turn of foot was very taking when landing the Pirx La Grotte and a literal reproduction or improvement of that form will make her got close Lolly For Dolly also had more in the tank when winning the Atasi Stakes last time and should run a big one, while Lady Srpingbank is a lively outsider.