Curragh preview: Europe's two racing superpowers provide a Classic head-to-head in today's Boylesports Irish 2,000 Guineas but when it comes to the first Curragh Classic of the season it usually pays to rely on Aidan O'Brien getting it right.
The Ballydoyle trainer is chasing a record-equalling fifth success in the race in the last eight years and Oratorio heads a four-strong squad that manages to look desperately ominous for the rest despite the absence of the Newmarket winner Footstepsinthesand.
In contrast Godolphin have just the one runner, but there will be no shortage of confidence in Dubawi judged by the support yesterday that took him to 6 to 4 clear favouritism and the timely boost that Sheikh Mohammed's team received last weekend in the French Guineas.
Mind you there was possibly even more confidence behind Dubawi going into Newmarket only for the colt to fail to handle the fast ground. Frankie Dettori's mount drifted dramatically when the pressure came on, a move that was apparently explained by the run into the dip. However, it is worth remembering that Dubawi also jinked badly when winning last season's National Stakes so it may not be quite that simple.
The manoeuvre didn't do Democratic Deficit any favours and ultimately it was the 100 to 1 outsider Rebel Rebel that did best of the rest at Newmarket by finishing runner-up. That has resulted in a €40,000 supplementary for today's race, but at the time the one that most of us took out of Newmarket was Oratorio who was last at half way and still managed to finish fourth.
Oratorio won his maiden at this time last year and has run eight more races since. That is not the usual profile of modern Classic winners, but the Danehill colt is as famously tough as he is lazy. "He hasn't done much since Newmarket because there hasn't been time but we always thought he would improve for the run. He is in good form," said O'Brien yesterday.
The Ballydoyle trainer is rated a 9 to 2 shot by Paddy Power to win both weekend Classics, and thus complete another Guineas double, but when it comes to home Classics today's race could carry even more significance for Kieren Fallon. The jockey has recovered from flu in time to ride Oratorio and he will be keen to improve upon a surprisingly poor record in the Irish Classics. A total of 13 British Classic wins compares to only Ramruma's 1999 Irish Oaks success. Oratorio must have been an easy pick from the O'Brien quartet, although Johnny Murtagh's mount, Showdance, might surprise a few. The race itself may not be quite as easy, but Oratorio has already proven that he is at his best when it comes to a scrap. The same might not be said of his big rival.
Frankie Dettori will have to appear at a Turf Club Appeals and Referrals Committee hearing before racing as they check into his no-show for a Jockeys Challenge Race here last month. On the track itself the Italian's best shout could come in the Group Three Weatherbys Greenlands Stakes. He rides The Trader who significantly won first time out last year in a Longchamp Group Three where he had The Tatling and Patavellian in behind.
Airwave tries a mile for the first time in the Group Two Ridgewood Pearl Stakes and her class could see her home.
