From Kingman to Churchill: glorious Irish Guineas displays in the last decade

1 Kingman [Irish 2,000 Guineas, 2014]

Five lengths was the winning margin, but it could have been more. Kingman arrived at the Curragh on a retrieval mission after being unable to repel Night Of Thunder in the British equivalent at Newmarket three weeks earlier.

Punters kept the faith as he was sent off at 4-5, and odds-on backers did not have a single anxious moment as James Doyle eased to the front approaching the final furlong and scooted five lengths clear of Shifting Power.

The dazzling display earned an RPR of 126 and victories in the St James's Palace Stakes, Sussex Stakes and Prix Jacques le Marois followed to complete a terrific three-year-old campaign.

Kingman: top miler won four Group 1s for John GosdenCredit: Patrick McCann

2 Alpha Centauri [Irish 1,000 Guineas, 2018]

It is hard to believe she was allowed to go off at 12-1 – if only we had known then what we know now.

After Alpha Centauri had finished tenth of 13 in a trial at Leopardstown on her first start as a three-year-old, we wondered whether the giant grey had trained on. That question was answered emphatically on the final Sunday of May when she stormed home down the outside under Colm O'Donoghue to beat the free-going front-runner Could It Be Love by a length and three-quarters.

It set the tone for a stunning season in which she landed the Coronation Stakes, the Falmouth Stakes and the Prix Jacques le Marois.

Sealed with a kiss: Colm O’Donoghue celebrates Alpha Centauri's successCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

3 Canford Cliffs [Irish 2,000 Guineas, 2010]

This was Richard Hughes at his sublime best. Canford Cliffs was only third to Makfi at Newmarket, but three weeks later he claimed his Classic at the Curragh – and it was oh so easy.

Sent off 9-4 favourite, the strong-travelling son of Tagula was moved out to make his move at the two-furlong pole. It was effortless from thereon as he coasted three lengths clear of Free Judgement. The performance earned an RPR of 126, a figure only since matched by Kingman.

The only horse to beat him in six starts after that Newmarket defeat was the mighty Frankel in the 2011 Sussex Stakes.

Canford Cliffs winning the Irish 2,000 GuineasCredit: Getty Images

4 Winter [Irish 1,000 Guineas, 2017]

She caused a shock at Newmarket when scoring at 9-1 but there was nothing surprising about Winter's utterly dominant display in the Irish equivalent, in which she justified odds of 8-13 in glorious fashion.

Ryan Moore took over from Wayne Lordan in the saddle and has seldom won a Classic so easily. It was a power-packed performance from the daughter of Galileo who drew right away from stablemate Roly Poly in the closing stages to win by four and three-quarter lengths, earning an impressive RPR of 119.

Winter and Ryan Moore run away with the 1,000 GuineasCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

5 Churchill [Irish 2,000 Guineas, 2017]

Churchill became the ninth horse to complete the Guineas double, following in the footsteps of top-class colts like Rodrigo De Triano, Tirol and Don't Forget Me, as well as fellow Ballydoyle residents Gleneagles, Henrythenavigator and Rock Of Gibraltar.

More workmanlike than wonderful, Churchill did all he had to do and never looked in any danger under Ryan Moore.

The 4-9 shot was always in cruise control and found plenty for pressure to thwart Thunder Snow by two and a half lengths.

Churchill and Ryan Moore pull clear to win the Irish 2,000 GuineasCredit: Patrick McCann

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