Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Mac Swiney drops in class and trip in the Boomerang

Mac Swiney and Rory Cleary winners of the Irish 2,000 Guineas

Mac Swiney: winner of the Irish 2,000 Guineas in MayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Saturday: 2.10 Leopardstown
Clipper Logistics Boomerang Mile (Group 2) | 1m | 3yo+ | RTE2/RTV

Mac Swiney offers an extra layer of intrigue that does not usually come with this race.

Brilliant in fighting off stablemate Poetic Flare when winning the Irish 2,000 Guineas, he has been found wanting in the Derby and Irish Derby and more recently in the Juddmonte International.

Jim Bolger will be hoping that the step back in trip will work for Mac Swiney. He is clearly a classy colt but the one worry would be the ground as all three of his Group wins came on soft or worse.

With that in mind, he could be worth siding against and Thunder Moon, one of the main dangers on paper, is another with questions to answer.

A top-class two-year-old, Thunder Moon has yet to convince that he wants a mile and the fact that his best run this season came when second in the Prix Jean Prat, over 7f, would back that up. If he can get the trip, he looks likely to pose a threat.

Richard Fahey is no stranger to success on these shores and his 1,000 Guineas third Fev Rover is respected on the best of her form.

Maker Of Kings and Colin Keane are clear in the Group 3 Amethyst Stakes at Leopardstown

Maker Of Kings: has been in great form this seasonCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Maker Of Kings is just about the most interesting older horse in the race and represents top connections of Ger Lyons and Colin Keane but there are a host of experienced rivals in there.

None more so than Njord, who deserves his big day in the sun. He has barely put a foot wrong all season for Jessica Harrington but is another who may want conditions a little slower.

Harrington's other runner, Real Appeal, also has solid form in the book and given his liking for the track, deserves consideration.

What they say

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Njord and Real Appeal
Njord has been running really consistent races all year and deserves to bag a big one. If we got rain, that would suit him down to the ground. Real Appeal has been doing well all year and he loves Leopardstown. I'm hoping they run a big race but it's very competitive.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Horoscope, Khartoum and Military Style
Horoscope won nicely at Killarney and has some consistent form. Khartoum was a bit keen and missed the break the last day. Hopefully he'll leave that run behind him. Military Style has been waiting all year to run and he's in good order. He's working nicely and hopefully the ground stays nice for him.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Snapraeterea and Thunder Moon
Thunder Moon is unlucky not to have won a Group 1 this year. He has a nice draw and he goes there with a chance but I'm still not convinced about the mile for him. Snapraeterea is a solid horse and seven furlongs is arguably his best trip.

Saturday's race previews:

1.40 Leopardstown: key quotes as challengers gather against Guineas winner Mother Earth in Matron

1.45 Doncaster: 'He's due a bit of luck this season' – Portland Handicap insight and quotes

2.20 Doncaster: star juveniles Reach For The Moon and Lusail clash in early 2022 Classic preview

2.45 Leopardstown: find out what Aidan O'Brien thinks of St Mark's Basilica in the Irish Champion Stakes

2.45 Leopardstown: a tactical conundrum but St Mark's Basilica best equipped to deal with challenge (Members' Club)

3.00 Doncaster: big plus for Laneqash with Jim Crowley on board but Danyah set to have a say too

3.35 Doncaster: Charlie Appleby confident 'class horse' Hurricane Lane will stay St Leger trip

3.35 Doncaster: Hurricane Lane holds trump cards in Leger as he steps into uncharted territory (Members' Club)