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Native Trail the standout as 11 remain in Irish 2,000 Guineas after forfeits

Native Trail: 18th individual top-flight winner for Oasis Dream and out of a full-sister to African Rose and Helleborine
Native Trail: brilliant winner of last year's Goffs Vincent O'Brien National StakesCredit: Patrick McCann

Native Trail looks set to return to the scene of his most impressive juvenile success this Saturday after featuring among 11 possible runners for the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (3.20) following Tuesday's forfeit stage.

A sublime winner of last year's Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes, Godolphin's champion two-year-old of 2021 went down fighting in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas when beaten three-quarters of a length by stablemate Coroebus.

Charlie Appleby had suggested in the aftermath of their Newmarket clash that the pair could be separated between the Curragh and Royal Ascot, and Native Trail is his sole contender for Saturday's €500,000 highlight.


Irish 2,000 Guineas (3.20 Saturday): full card and betting


Buckaroo, who could potentially be rerouted to the Cazoo Derby, is still in contention for the first Classic of the Irish calendar, while Aidan O'Brien has just two entries; recent Group 3 runner-up Ivy League, who was supplemented at a cost of €50,000, and French Guineas ninth The Acropolis.

Buckaroo puts himself in the Irish 2,000 Guineas picture with an impressive Tetrarch success
Buckaroo (maroon silks): still in the mix for Tattersalls Irish 2,000 GuiineasCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Jim Bolger will seek back-to-back wins in the race with Wexford Native or Boundless Ocean, Andrew Balding could be represented by last season's Vertem Futurity Trophy fifth Imperial Fighter, and Dermot Weld has kept Eyrefield Stakes winner Duke De Sessa in the potential line-up.

Atomic Jones (Ger Lyons), Malex (Michael O'Callaghan) and New Energy (Sheila Lavery) complete the remaining possibles, with Coroebus, Angel Bleu, Perfect Power, Berkshire Shadow, Dr Zempf and Point Lonsdale some of the bigger names to be taken out.

Homeless Songs and Tuesday remain on course for Irish 1,000 Guineas

Exciting Leopardstown trial winner Homeless Songs, as well as high-class Ballydoyle fillies Tuesday, History and Concert Hall, have stood their ground for the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas (3.45), as 15 remain in the mix for Sunday's €500,000 top-level contest.

Unsurprisingly, Inspiral and Discoveries, who are Coronation Stakes-bound, were removed from the Curragh event, while Blue Wind Stakes scorer Tranquil Lady was also absent after Joseph O'Brien indicated she would be targeted at the Cazoo Oaks.

Homeless Songs: showed instant change of gear to win the Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas trial
Homeless Songs: missed Classic options at Newmarket and Longchamp in favour of a tilt at the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 GuineasCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Limiti Di Greccio, who beat Tranquil Lady when last seen winning the Staffordstown Stud Stakes in October, was another of the more prominent names to be taken out, as well as the Aidan O'Brien-trained Tenebrism and Toy.


Irish 1,000 Guineas (3.45 Sunday): full card and betting


There could be some British interest in the fillies' Classic as James Ferguson left Mise En Scene in contention, while Charlie Appleby has the option of running Wild Beauty and William Haggas could hand a first start to €2 million French purchase Purplepay.

Previously trained by Cedric Rossi, the daughter of Zarak was last seen finishing third behind Angel Bleu in the Group 1 Criterium International last October.

State Of Rest and Lord North on course for Tattersalls clash

There are still 12 in contention for Sunday's Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup (2.40), including Cox Plate and Prix Ganay hero State Of Rest and three-time Group 1 winner Lord North.

William Haggas still has Alenquer in the mix, last year's one-two Helvic Dream and Broome could renew rivalry and last year's Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Mac Swiney looks set to make his seasonal bow. Teona, Dubai Honour, Cleveland, Kyprios and Mother Earth no longer feature in the entries.

Lord North: forced a dead heat with Panthalassa in the Dubai Turf
Lord North: forced a dead-heat with Panthalassa in the Dubai TurfCredit: Francois Nel

Noel Meade, who registered a first Group 1 success in the race last year, has decided against supplementing Mooresbridge Stakes winner Layfayette for €40,000, with Sunday's only supplementary coming in the Group 2 Lanwades Stud Stakes through Twilight Spinner, trained by Joseph O'Brien, for €12,000.


Tattersalls Gold Cup (2.40 Sunday): full racecard and betting


Prix de l'Abbaye and Al Quoz Sprint star A Case Of You could bid to record his biggest domestic success in Saturday's Group 2 Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes (2.45). Romantic Proposal has been taken out of the €120,000 sprint but there are 17 remaining entries.

Curragh chief executive Brian Kavanagh said: "We are delighted with the quality of entries throughout all three days and look forward to a superb weekend with the opportunity to welcome racegoers from far and wide. I would particularly like to acknowledge the significant support of our sponsors who have ensured we will offer record prize-money this year."

Approximately 12-15mm of rain had been forecast through Monday night into Wednesday morning at the Curragh.

However, just 0.5mm overnight into Tuesday meant the going was unchanged at good, good to yielding in places on the straight course and good on the round. Roughly 8mm of rain is expected on Tuesday.


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Mark BoylanReporter

Published on 17 May 2022inNews

Last updated 14:23, 17 May 2022

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