Curragh Tips for May 23rd - Irish 2000 Guineas Day Selections

Jon Vine

Editor

Last updated: Sat 23 May 2026 07:59

Jon Vine 23 May 2026

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Tips for day one of the Irish Guineas Festival
The 2026 Irish 2000 Guineas headlines Saturday's card
Arouet and Montassib feature in our selections

Expired

The Curragh racecourse. (Getty)

1:55pm Curragh - Orby Stakes Tips
3:05pm Curragh - Greenlands Stakes Tips
3:40pm Curragh - Irish 2000 Guineas Tips
5:25pm Curragh - Habitat Handicap Tips

The Irish Guineas Festival begins on Saturday at the Curragh, where the Irish version of the 2000 Guineas headlines a quality card.

Here are our best betting tips for the Curragh on Saturday.

Curragh Tips - Saturday 23rd May

1:55pm Curragh - Orby Stakes Tips

Purview remains open to further progress as a four-year-old, and Joseph O'Brien's three runners have to be respected. AROUET (10/1) is an interesting runner, having won a maiden over hurdles at Cork just two weeks ago.

Paddy Twomey's four-year-old impressed on the flat in 2025. Arouet traded victories with Nautical Force in ten furlongs novice races, before finishing a good second behind the excellent Zahrann in the Listed King George V Cup at Leopardstown last June.

Twomey entered Arouet in the Triumph Hurdle at the start of the season, but struggled on his sole hurdles outing during the regular jumps season. Billy Lee's mount won very nicely at Cork, and remains open to more progression now back on the level.

3:05pm Curragh - Greenlands Stakes Tips

The Greenlands Stakes has gone to British raiders in each of the last four seasons. Champion Sprinter, Powerful Glory represents Richard Fahey, but MONTASSIB (6/1) is the one I want to side with.

William Haggas' eight-year-old won the Sprint Cup at Haydock back in 2024, and missed most of last season through injury. Montassib kept on well on his reappearance at Newbury last September, but could only finish seventh in the Champion Sprint and didn't fare much better on his final outing of 2025 at Doncaster.

Montassib was out nice and earlier this season, staying on well from off the pace to finish fourth in the Cammidge Trophy. Haggas' eight-year-old isn't getting any younger, but he's a former Group One winner and seems to have retained plenty of ability. Billy Loughnane comes in for the ride on Saturday too.

3:40pm Curragh - Irish 2000 Guineas Tips

Read our free guide to the 2026 Irish 2000 Guineas to see whether we're with or against Gstaad in Saturday's Classic.

Visit our Irish 2000 Guineas Live Stream page if you want to watch any of Saturday's races via a mobile or tablet.

5:25pm Curragh - Habitat Handicap Tips

GO ATHLETICO (12/1) has dropped markedly down the handicap over the past 12 months, and Adrian McGuinness' eight-year-old boasts a strong record at this track.

Adam Caffrey's mount beat Big Gossey to land the Renaissance Stakes here in 2023. Go Athletico's most recent win came here last July, winning the Scurry Handicap off a mark of 86.

McGuinness' handicapper has been beaten on his last season starts, but showed signs of life on his most recent outing at Naas, where he flew home from the rear to finish third behind Keke. Go Athletico is handicapped well enough to win off this reduced mark of 83, and a central draw in stall 12 shouldn't hinder his chances.

Verdict

Irish Guineas Festival 2026 Day 1 Tips

Saturday's Curragh Tips:

Montassib

3:05pm Curragh

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Arouet E/W

1:55pm Curragh

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