Soft in places at the Curragh as going eases dramatically

The going at the Curragh has eased to yielding to soft on the straight track and yielding on the round course, from an initial description of good to firm, after persistent rain on Saturday.

Some jockeys who took part in the early races on the card reported that the going was soft, and conditions could ease further ahead of the feature Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas, due off at 4.10.

Churchill, the 1-3 favourite for the Irish 2,000 Guineas, has already demonstrated an ability to handle conditions with give in the ground. The Galileo colt landed the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot last season on good to soft while his Futurity Stakes success last year at the Curragh was recorded on yielding to soft.

Of the others who will be comfortable should conditions continue to ease, Godolphin's Thunder Snow proved himself on soft ground when winning the Group 1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud, while Spirit Of Valor, the 66-1 outsider of this afternoon's showpiece and Ballydoyle's third-string, landed his maiden at Naas last October on soft to heavy.

Three horses who could relish the easing conditions