News and Previews: Aidan O'Brien will be represented by almost half of tomorrow's Boylesports Irish 2,000 Guineas field as he attempts to equal a record-number of successes in the first Curragh Classic of the year.
The Ballydoyle trainer won the race for the first time only eight years ago with Desert King, but since then he has added to his total with Saffron Walden (1999), Black Minnaloushe (2001) and Rock Of Gibraltar (2002).
It's a remarkable strike-rate that already brings O'Brien within a whisker of equalling the 2,000 Guineas tally of his Ballydoyle predecessor Vincent O'Brien who won the race five times. Significantly though O'Brien Snr's record came over a 29-year period. The only other trainer to score five times in the 2,000 Guineas was Col AJ Blake whose victories came before the Second World War.
A total of nine colts were left in the Guineas at yesterday's final declaration stage and as expected the Newmarket winner, Footstepsinthesand, did not figure. Instead Kieren Fallon has switched to Oratorio who dominates the front of the betting along with the Godolphin hope, Dubawi. Oratorio was promoted to 7 to 4 favourite with the sponsors after the final declarations were made with Duabawi a 15 to 8 chance.
O'Brien also has Albert Hall who disappointed in the Dante at York last week as well as Showdance and Hills Of Aran who have yet to run this year.
There was good news for Sheikh Mohammed's team yesterday evening, however, with confirmation that almost 9mms of rain had fallen with possibly another 5mms expected overnight.
"We've already got 8.7mms, and there might be another four to five on the way. But I don't think it is going to have a huge impact on the ground," said the Curragh manager Paul Hensey.
The ground on the straight course used for both Guineas races over the weekend was officially described as "good to yielding" yesterday with the round track being marginally better at "good".
"It is beautiful ground on the straight course. It's fresh ground with a great cover of grass. If anyone doesn't run it will be because something else is wrong - not the ground," Hensey added.
Along with Dubawi the overseas challenge for tomorrow's big race will also include the €40,000 supplementary entry Rebel Rebel as well as the Mick Channon-trained Capable Guest who ran 14th in the Guineas at Newmarket.
Aidan O'Brien has already committed his Newmarket 1,000 Guineas-winner Virgina Waters to a tilt at Sunday's Irish equivalent and final declarations for that Classic will be made this morning.
O'Brien and Fallon will be in action at Cork this evening where the newcomer The Iron Giant goes in the six-furlong maiden. However, there is a rather unusual Ballydoyle runner in the seven-furlong handicap where Jaguar On The Run also tries to get off the mark.
The Storm Cat colt's three runs to date have resulted in an official rating of just 66, but the fact that O'Brien is persevering with him must count for something in handicap company. Fallon could also go close in the opener where he teams up with David Wachman for the ride on the Danehill Dancer newcomer Play Misty For Me.
Wayne Lordan could be in the frame for a 1,000 Guineas ride on the Wachman-trained Luas Line but he will also team up with the Cashel trainer today for Desert Gold in the six-furlong handicap.
The form of Dancing Hero's debut behind Ballyagran at Gowran reads pretty well for the Cork bumper while up at Downpatrick the Ladies bumper looks good for Stepping Out Well. And the qualified riders hurdle looks something of a match between Pharviva and Arc En Ciel who may an edge.
