The Irish 2000 Guineas (Group 1)

An intriguing Irish 2000 Guineas where Churchill is nearly impossible to oppose.

As predicted he added to his stature by winning the English 2000 Guineas two weeks ago. The only surprise being before the race the handicapper had him rated 122 but the Newmarket run has been measured at 120.

The talk of Derby has filtered away and Aidan has chosen to keep him at a mile. Fear of him has meant only three trainers will take him on but it’s doubtful any really expect to beat him. Lancaster Bomber will once again accompany him to post as does his Sprit Of Valour who wasn’t able to provide the pace at Newmarket.

Mick Halford has had to throw his lightly raced Irishcorrespondent in at the deep end. He only came to Mick this year and what he’s shown them at home he’s repeated on the racecourse. He was a good winner of a maiden catching the eye with an impressive victory over a mile at Leopardstown in April and last Sunday he put in another impressive show when easily accounting for Homesman, a Ballydoyle inmate, who had previously won a maiden at Limerick. He really is a horse to like. He was able to do it easy both times putting distance between himself and the others in a matter of strides. How Mick would have loved another week between his races.

Thunder Snow is on a retrieval mission after his now infamous impression of a bucking bronco in the Kentucky Derby. Godolphin were optimistic heading into the race reckoning it was there best chance to lift the Run for the Roses. He’s something of a forgotten horse because of that run which is unfair as it’s most likely a slipped tack was the cause of the issue. He was a Group 1 winner as a juvenile when taking the Criterium International (G1) at Saint Cloud at the end of October then following up with two good runs at Meyden where he took the UAE Derby (G2). He’s something to find with Churchill on his Dewhurst run last year where he was 2 L inferior.

Glastonbury Song hails from Ger Lyons Glenburnie stable in Meath. His debut last September created some excitement with the manner in which he won it. Gliding across the surface his feet hardly touched the ground and one could imagine if he could repeat the same of turf he could be the stuff of dreams. That bubble burst in the 2000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown when he could only manage a modest fifth. Ger brought him back to Dundalk for a confidence booster a month ago which he got again relishing the surface easily winning by 2 1/2 L.

Churchill retains his 122 rating even though the handicapper saw his Newmarket run as slightly inferior to what he did last year. This gives a glimmer of hope to the connections of the others but in reality it’s about who’ll chase Churchill home.

Will it be Lancaster Bomber whose done that already at G1 level in the Dewhurst Stakes (G1). Will it be Thunder Snow the only other G1 winner in the race. Could that potential shown by Irishcorrespondent be good enough or will Glastonbury Song create the dance we seen on Dundalk’s all weather on this good to firm turf?

Can your hear the festive roar.

Recommendation: 1,Churchill 2. Glastonbury Song (Forecast)

Glastonbury Song 50/1 e.w (small interest)