2009 Irish 2,000 Guineas Preview

Time: 3:45
Racecourse: The Curragh
Weather: 15 degrees, Showers

Brian Meehan’s Delegator will run out as clear antepost favourite at the Irish 2000 Guineas on Saturday.

Delegator was initially set to swerve the Irish leg of the Guineas in favour of a rest before Royal Ascot, however, good fitness following the Newmarket Guineas convinced Meehan to send his entry through to the Curragh.

Meehan will be hoping that the softer ground at the Curragh will help the 2/1 priced Delegator deliver the result so many expected him to produce at Newmarket, where he lost narrowly to Sea the Stars.

William Hill have priced Aidan O’Brien’s Mastercraftsman as the biggest threat to Delegator’s title prospects. O’Brien will also be gambling that his entry, priced 9/4 by William Hill, will respond better to the softer ground at the Curragh than he did to conditions at Newmarket.

Meanwhile, John Oxx will be looking for the Guineas double with Rayeni, who is the only other entry in the field priced within easy reach of Delegator. Priced at 7/2, Rayeni is the only one of the race favourites to boast an unbeaten record, having taken 2 wins from 2 starts.

The pick of the outsiders is the 7/1 priced Recharge, who has two wins from two starts and has spent all of his short racing career in Ireland. He looks like a good each-way punt given that he’s both classy and accustomed to the heavier ground in Ireland.