Van Gogh now favourite for Irish 2,000 Guineas but Battleground ruled out

Van Gogh has usurped Lucky Vega at the head of the market for the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (3.20) on Saturday after punters latched on to runners who will handle testing ground at the Curragh.

The son of American Pharoah is now favourite at a general 4-1 (from 6), while overnight market leader Lucky Vega has drifted out to 9-2 (from 4). Another mudlover, Mac Swiney, has been backed into 11-2 (from 8).

After passing a morning inspection, the ground at the Curragh was described as soft to heavy on the straight course and soft, soft to heavy in places on the round course, with Battleground a notable non-runner due to conditions.

"With the Irish 2,000 Guineas going ahead on heavy ground, it's two proven mudlovers Van Gogh and Mac Swiney who have been the main market movers," said Ladbrokes spokesman Jon Lees.

Lucky Vega: on the drift ahead of the Irish 2,000 GuineasCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

La Barrosa, the leading British hopes for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby, has been backed into 10-1 (from 11) with Paddy Power.

"We’ve seen a few quid for La Barrosa, whose ability to handle the underfoot conditions has to be taken on trust, but was arguably a bit unlucky against Master Of The Seas in the Craven as he was slowly away and a bit short of room before only going down by three-quarters of a length," said Paddy Power's Paul Binfield.

The Curragh also stages the Group 2 Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes (2.45) and the Group 2 Lanwades Stud Stakes (3.55), for which Champers Elysees remains the clear favourite at 5-4.

Cadamosto, who was as short as 5-2, is a high-profile withdrawal from the Group 3 GAIN Marble Hill Stakes. The market is headed by 2-1 shot The Entertainer, who won on his debut at Navan last week.

Paddy Power market movers

1.40 Goodwood Nuits St Georges 13-2 (from 7)
2.40 York Tribal Craft 12-1 (from 14)
2.45 Curragh Make A Challenge 8-1 (from 9)
3.00 Haydock Heights Of Abraham 5-1 (from 11-2)
3.20 Curragh Monaasib 16-1 (from 18)
3.55 Curragh Roca Roma 15-2 (from 9)

There has been a notable mover in the 6f novice stakes (4.20) at York, with The Organiser backed into 7-2, having been as big as 25-1 with Betfair and bet365 on Saturday morning.

The two-year-old, who is a half-brother to all-weather winner Rosardo Senorita, is making his racecourse debut for trainer Joe Tuite.

The ground is heavy at Haydock as sprinters come to the fore in the Casumo-backed Sandy Lane Stakes (3.35) and Temple Stakes (4.10), two of ten races being broadcast on ITV from 1.40.

Que Amoro is a significant absentee from the Temple Stakes. She was as short as 9-2 but was taken out due to the testing ground.

Trained by Michael Dods, the five-year-old started last season with Listed success at Ayr and was last seen finishing 12th of 14 runners in the Group 1 Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh in September.

Saturday racecards

Non-runners

Curragh
2.45: Royal Commando, Summerghand
3.20: Battleground
5.00: Hightimeyouwon, Blairmayne, Independent Missy, Dandy Spirit, Punk Poet

Goodwood
1.40: Amtiyaz
2.10: Majestic Dawn

Haydock
1.20: Solent Gateway
1.55: Cold Stare
3.35: Laws Of Indices
4.10: Que Amoro
4.45: Cloudy Dawn, Ask The Wind

Newmarket
1.25: Buying Time
2.35: Midnights Legacy
3.05: Tacitus
3.40: Island Brave
4.50: Kryptos

York
2.05: Lord Of The Lodge, Lampang
3.15: Intercessor
3.50: Duke Of Firenze, Son And Sannie
4.20: Golden Warrior
5.25: Colonel Whitehead, Harbour Vision

Stratford
5.40: Party Potential, Trailboss
6.10: The Unit
6.40: Teqany
7.10: Scardura, Hatcher
7.40: Hit The Bottle, Jewelinthename, Merry Berry
8.10: Reve
8.40: Leading Theatre

Lingfield
6.25: Libertine Belle
6.55: Chandrika, Denim Shorts, Wee Loch Lass
7.25: Last Date, Queen Of Burgundy
7.55: Valentinka, Intoxication
8.25: Sir Taweel

Updated 10.30am

Read more on Saturday's racing:

2.45 Curragh: Glen Shiel bids to defy testing conditions in big sprint

3.00 Haydock: can eyecatching Thirsk winner Raadobarg land a hat-trick in Silver Bowl?

3.20 Curragh: get the thoughts of Aidan O'Brien before Saturday's Irish 2,000 Guineas

3.35 Haydock: Graeme Rodway believes Sandy Lane favourite could be something special

4.10 Haydock: trainer record gives Liberty Beach and Keep Busy strong claims in Temple

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