Tuesday's Classic insight, including market movers and today's runners to watch

The 2021 Flat season is well under way and it's full steam ahead to the first of the Irish Classics this month – the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas and Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas – and next month's Epsom Classics, the Cazoo Derby and Cazoo Oaks.

Market movers come thick and fast as the key Classic trials are run in Britain and Ireland, but big-race contenders can come from anywhere and it's easy to miss a potential dark horse. Classic Clues, our new series running every morning, has you covered.

Here's a recap of Monday's action and how it's impacted the Classic betting, while we mark your card with key names to note today.

Racing round-up: Curragh on Monday

The three-year-old fillies came to the fore in the Group 3 Athasi Stakes at the Curragh, with the Jessica Harrington-trained No Speak Alexander beating stablemate Zaffy's Pride. Both are entered in the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas, although Rehana was the last Athasi winner to take that route in 2017, finishing sixth behind Winter.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Queen's Speech had been a 20-1 shot for the Cazoo Oaks but weakened inside the final furlong before finishing seventh of the eight runners, resulting in her odds being pushed out.

Tetrarch Stakes winner Lunar Space is not entered in the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas but the second, third and fourth – Magnanimous, Horoscope and Notre Belle Bete – all are.

Magnanimous (far side): finished second in the Listed Tetrarch Stakes and holds an Irish 2,000 Guineas entryCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Greatgadian and Imperial Sun are entered in the Cazoo Derby, but neither could beat Simon and Ed Crisford's debutant Nankeen at Windsor. They remain 100-1 shots for the Epsom Classic on June 5.

As the fallout from the 1,000 Guineas continued, Santa Barbara's position at the head of the Oaks market strengthened as her backers took advantage of the 4-1 that had been on offer after her close-up fourth at Newmarket.

Results, replays and analysis

Market movers: Epsom

Cazoo Oaks

Santa Barbara 3-1 (from 4), Coral
Queen's Speech 50-1 (from 20), bet365

Cazoo Derby

Mac Swiney 12-1 (from 14), SkyBet
Sir Lamorak 16-1 (from 20), Paddy Power

What they said

Shane Foley, rider of No Speak Alexander
I thought she might have run well in the French Guineas but we didn't have her in it. She's probably entitled to come back for the Irish Guineas now after that. She likes that bit of juice in the ground.

Mark Boylan, Racing Post analyst on Zaffy's Pride
A game filly with a good attitude, seemingly improving with experience. Her winning stablemate probably has a bit more star quality about her but this solid three-year-old could be up to winning another black-type event when all falls right. The market seemed to be more keen on her chance than the winner.

David Stevens, Coral spokesperson
Santa Barbara backers are determined to say the least as, despite having failed to land the gamble in the Qipco 1,000 Guineas on Sunday, they've been supporting her to make amends at Epsom next month, and the 4-1 we eased her to following that Newmarket defeat has proved too big, and she's back into 3-1 at the head of the Cazoo Oaks betting.

Read more reaction to the Curragh's Monday fixture

Today's action: Gowran maiden highlight on low-key day

Despite seven meetings in Britain and Ireland (jumps outnumbering Flat four to three) the action is generally low grade, with a fillies' maiden at Gowran Park the most likely source of Classic clues.

Three runners in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden (2.35) hold Classic entries – Emphatic Answer (Irish 1,000 Guineas and Irish Oaks), Friendly (Irish 1,000 Guineas) and New York Angel (Irish 1,000 Guineas).

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Friendly does not look up to Classic standard despite being a sister or half-sister to a Group 1 winner and two who placed at the highest level and is the most exposed of those with Classic entries. She is yet to win in six starts.

Emphatic Answer, trained by Joseph O'Brien, slowly progressed with each of her three runs as a juvenile but will need to take a significant step forward from her best RPR of 77 to enter the Classic picture.

New York Angel is perhaps the most interesting of the three after a debut full of promise at Naas in March for Johnny Murtagh. Her sire, Zoffany, provided his first Classic winner on Sunday when Mother Earth won the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Read more:

'He's just the type for that Group 1' – our analysts with five horses to note

No rush for Oaks decision as Saffron Beach team soak up 1,000 Guineas effort

Like mother, like son? Gifted Dunlop colt may bid to emulate Snow Fairy at Epsom

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