Confirmed runners and riders for the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday

Saturday's Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (3.40) sees 11 contenders bid for glory in the first Irish Classic of the season, with Simon and Ed Crisford's Knight the only candidate taken out at the declaration stage.

Aidan O'Brien will seek his 12th success in the race, with Churchill being his most recent back in 2017 and Ballydoyle rely on three candidates this time around. 

Paddington is the pick of Ryan Moore having registered a smooth success in the Listed Tetrarch Stakes at the Curragh earlier this month, while another Listed winner Cairo is set to line up under Wayne Lordan. Age Of Kings will make his first appearance since last July when he finished third behind the re-opposing Proud And Regal in a Group 3 and he will be the mount of Seamie Heffernan.

The British challenge is particularly formidable with four declared, all of whom contested the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket won by Chaldean. Runner-up on that occasion, Hi Royal, will seek to go one better on Irish shores for trainer Kevin Ryan with Oisin Murphy retaining the ride. Another half-length further back in third, Royal Scotsman will take his chance for Paul and Oliver Cole with Jamie Spencer taking the mount on the son of Gleneagles for the first time, replacing his regular rider Jim Crowley.

Galeron, who finished fourth at Newmarket, represents previous winning connections of this race. Trainer Charlie Hills landed the contest back in 2019 with Phoenix Of Spain, while jockey Colin Keane rode Siskin to victory in 2020. Charyn represents the Roger Varian stable with David Egan set to partner the Group 2-winning juvenile.

Donnacha O'Brien and Gavin Ryan team up with Proud And Regal who landed Group 1 honours last season at Saint-Cloud, while Jessica Harrington saddles both Quar Shamar and Bold Discovery, with the former being the pick of stable jockey Shane Foley. Bold Discovery will benefit from the services of Billy Lee.

Alexander John makes up the 11-strong field, representing trainer Luke Comer and jockey Nathan Crosse.

Confirmed runners and riders for the Irish 2,000 Guineas

Age Of Kings Seamie Heffernan
Alexander John Nathan Crosse
Bold Discovery Billy Lee
Cairo Wayne Lordan​​​​
Charyn David Egan
Galeron Colin Keane
Hi Royal Oisin Murphy
Paddington Ryan Moore​​​​
Proud And Regal Gavin Ryan
Quar Shamar Shane Foley
Royal Scotsman Jamie Spencer

Paddy Power: 9-4 Royal Scotsman, 7-2 Hi Royal, Paddington, 6 Proud And Regal, 12 Cairo, Galeron, 16 bar

Read these next:

'He worked better than ever this morning' - Royal Scotsman supplemented for Irish 2,000 Guineas  

Big-priced Classic runner-up Hi Royal will bid to emulate Native Trail and Kingman in Irish 2,000 Guineas  

Tom Segal tipped 1,000 Guineas winner Mawj at 20-1 - subscribe now with 50% off and don't miss out on a massive month for Pricewise 

Do you want £200+ of free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more.