Irish 1000 Guineas S3 - 2, 26/05/2024, Sunday Post Time 22:45
1 |
A Lilac Rolla |
Unbeaten in all three starts and showed that she had progressed into a smart 3yo with a narrow Leopardstown G3 victory in April. Versatile in terms in ground and should handle the rise to 1600m. |
2 |
Alpheratz |
Despite a slow start was strong at the finish when second in a heavy-ground G3 over this course and distance in March. Fast from the gates by contrast when winning at Killarney this month. |
3 |
Azada |
From the stable that have won this Classic for the past two years, she returns over 7 months after winning her only start, surviving heavy ground at Leopardstown to easily win that maiden. |
4 |
Bluedrum |
Looked like a filly with lots of promise when easily winning a Naas maiden in 2023. However, her 2024 return in a 1400m G3 here this month was not encouraging. |
5 |
Buttons |
Placed in G3s at Leopardstown on both 2024 starts. Favourite latterly – over 1600m – but didn’t look suited by the feeble pace in a race that turned into a 400m sprint. |
6 |
Everlasting |
Both runs this season have been respectable efforts in G3s, latterly when a close third over 2000m at Navan. It would be a surprise if she had enough pace to win this. |
7 |
Fallen Angel |
Classy last year winning three of her four starts, latterly when quickening away from her rivals in a 1400m G1 here. However, she didn’t build on that this month when eighth in Newmarket’s equivalent to this. |
8 |
Finsceal Luas |
Well beaten in a heavy-ground G3 on her penultimate start, then runner-up in a 2000m maiden. Gradually progressive but surely not up to success in this G1 Classic. |
9 |
Opera Singer |
Race by race improvement last year, notably with a superb G1 victory over this trip at Longchamp last October, bossing her rivals for most of that race. Good chance on that evidence. |
10 |
Pearls And Rubies |
Only one win from six starts last year but her fast finishing second in a 1200m Newmarket G1 last September was a classy effort. Chance of thriving at 1600m on pedigree. |
11 |
Purple Lily |
A scopey filly who has run encouraging races on all three starts. She won the first two, then running a very solid second in a 2000m G3 at Navan. The drop back to 1600m looks positive. |
12 |
Queen Of Thunder |
Her two starts in 2023 were both decent, latterly when nearly winning over 1400m at Cork. But the form of that race was weak, and her winning chances here are bleak. |
13 |
Skellet |
This UK-based raider is a big filly who won a maiden on her second start, proving she could handle stronger company when coming close to a G3 victory at Newmarket in October. Needs to be super fit for this return. |
14 |
Vespertilio |
High class last season, winning a G2 and then second in a G1 – both over 1400m here. Her close third – despite a wide trip - in France’s G1 equivalent to this at ParisLongchamp this month was another terrific effort. |