Irish 2,000 Guineas

3.45 Curragh
Abu Dhabi Irish 2,000 Guineas (group 1) (3YO only)
Winner €188,500

Pick: Canford Cliffs

Canford Cliffs: Looked unbeatable when landing his maiden an impressed even more when trashing Coventry field, having pulled hard and gone clear; Didn’t run too badly when third behind Arcano in Morny last August and showed he still retained ability when finishing second in Greenham Stakes and third last time in 2,000 Guineas; Was ahead of Fencing Master and Xtension when third in the 2,000 Guineas, and is expected to be very close again, for all this will be a stiffer test of a mile than Newmarket (Faster pace likely throughout the race).

Dyansty: Had some very useful form as a 2 year old, finishing third of 13 on his side behind Oasis Dancer in the Timeform Millions Stakes; Shaped very nicely on seasonal return when a neck behind Free Judgement and can be expected to reverse placings, but a lot to do to make an impact here.

Encompassing: Taken a long time to come to hand, breaking his maiden only a few weeks previously to this; Good fifth in Dee Stakes but well beaten by a more progressive rival (Shintoh) last time and needs more here.

Fencing Master: Highly promising debut when overcoming greenness to beat a subsequent winner at Dundalk first time out, and stepped up a level when coming second in the Dewhurst after a troubled trip and bad start; probably fair to say that he ran below that when seventh in the Guineas last time but he will improve massively for the run and must be in the picture.

Free Judgement: Although he has been quite well exposed at the top level (eighth in last year’s Dewhurst) he is a tough and consistent sort, who battled well to land the Teterach Stakes, although he was well behind Noll Wallop on seasonal return and Dynasty looks likely to reverse form with him.

Keredari: Broke maiden in impressive style and ran with plenty of promise when 2 lengths behind Free Judgement on last start as a juvenile; Showed lots of promise when running away with Loughbrown Stakes; Sure to improve a ton for that and in with a chance.

Noll Wallop: Looked a smart prospect at 2 yrs and duly confirmed that impression when beating Viscount Nelson by 3½ lengths in 2000 Guineas trial at Leopardstown; Capable of better still and must be given chance here taking improvement into account.

Oasis Dancer: Showed some very smart form at 2, winning Timeform Millions Sales Race (might have been lucky to be on good side) and coming second to Workforce (albeit well beaten); Has run well in two handicaps this season but obviously will be needing much more.
Purple Heart: Has run succession of decent races, and Belatedly came good on final juvenile start when successful in nursery at Navan; Hasn’t run badly this season but would be needing a lot more here and temperament would need to improve a fair bit.

Sebastian Flyte: Progressed with each start at 2 yrs, following Gowran win with placed efforts in Group 3 here and Group 2 at Newmarket (possibly a shade flattered); Well beaten on return, and needs more, like some others in the field.

Steinbeck: Only had one start to before the Dewhurst but was hugely impressive in landing it, having beaten Gold Bubbles and King Ledley (Both subsequent group placed horses) by a comfortable two lengths; Stepped up massively with a great effort in the Dewhurst, racing close to the gallop leading all the way and then being unlucky to be on unflavoured rail side; Massive scope for improvement this year but having not had a run is a huge worry.

Viscount Nelson: Looked like a very good horse on his first few starts, especially when landing the Hurricane Run Stakes under a hand ride; Probably exposed for the faster ground in Champagne Stakes and lost the race at the start in the Breeders Cup; Hasn’t really been progressing as expected as a 3 year old.

Xtension: Was a good second behind Canford Cliffs and very impressive in two wins as a 2 year old, both at Goodwood, having won the Vintage Stakes in good style before running very well in Dewhurst; Great progress again when fourth in 2,000 and will be there or thereabouts; Improving for the run as well.

VERDICT: A good strong renewal of the Irish 2,000 Guineas with plenty of strength in depth and quite a few horses that can’t be ruled out, where you can make a good case of any horse of 6. The first of many imponderables is whether Steinbeck is wound up and ready to run, because if he is he’s got to be the one to beat with such massive scope for progress off some already very high class form. Fencing Master and Xtension are obviously going to be much better for their first runs for the season, especially Fencing Master, but CANFORD CLIFFS ran a great race to be third and is well worth taking at 3/1 as that form entitles him to be very close here and he has few questions to answer over the trip for me. Noll Wallop and Keradari are perfectly good e/w bets for anyone looking for value, as they are entitled to improve a lot, with maybe Noll Wallop having the better form than Keradari.