We've published our guide to the 2021 Irish 2000 Guineas
This Classic will be run at the Curragh on Saturday 22nd May
Lucky Vega head Poetic Flare in the ante-post betting
Monaasib is our best each-way bet at 14/1
Expired
Irish 2000 Guineas. (Getty)
The first Classic of the Irish flat racing season takes place at the Curragh on Saturday, with a stellar cast set to assemble in the Irish 2000 Guineas. First run in 1921, many of the sport's finest flat racers have claimed victory in this Classic, and this year's renewal will be shown live on ITV Racing.
14 horses were confirmed at the seven-day declaration stage. We've taken a look through the betting and picked out our best bet.
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Poetic Flare handed Jim Bolger a famous victory in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, edging out Master Of The Seas and Lucky Vega. Bolger's star was then backed into favouritism for the French 2000 Guineas last Sunday, but could only finish sixth behind impressive winner, St Mark's Basilica.
Bolger has, somewhat surprisingly, confirmed Poetic Flare in the final field on Saturday. Given the turn-around between those races is so swift, there's a chance he may not turn up.
Lucky Vega picked up nicely coming out of the dip to finish a very close third behind Poetic Flare at Newmarket. I'm not surprised to see Lucky Vega topping the ante-post betting after that effort, and he could go very well again.
Wembley and Thunder Moon were both fancied to go very close at Newmarket. As was Battleground, who was backed into favouritism in the minutes before the off.
All three went on to run surprisingly dreadful races, with Wembley's eleventh the best result of the trio. You could argue that all three possess the qualities needed to win the Irish 2000 Guineas. However, they all ran so badly at Newmarket, it's very hard to assess how far along they might be in their development, and I can't bring myself to back any of them.
Mac Swiney has the Derby on his radar, but Jim Bolger has decided to throw his Vertem Trophy winner into this Classic before going onto Epsom. Van Gogh is another confirmed runner, after his eighth-place finish at Newmarket. Both, to my eye, are crying out for a trip further than a mile, though.
La Barrosa will try and take the Irish 2000 Guineas trophy back to England this weekend. Charlie Appleby's charge was narrowly beaten by stablemate Master Of The Seas on his reappearance in the Feilden Stakes. Master Of The Seas had race-fitness on his side and went on to boost the Feilden form with a fine run in the Guineas, so La Barrosa has to be greatly respected.
The Rosstafarian stayed on from the rear to finish fifth in the Feilden, and he could join La Barrosa in the Irish Guineas field. Monaasib placed third behind Poetic Flare in the 2000 Guineas Trial on his reappearance, and he'll bid to hand Kevin Prendergast his third victory in this Classic.
Agrimony edged out Emporio in a maiden earlier this month, and both have been given the chance to enter this Classic. The Irish 2000 Guineas betting is rounded off by Rebel Step and Aidan O'Brien's fourth entry, San Martino.
Poetic Flare(right) holds off Lucky Vega (centre) and Master Of The Seas (left) to win the 2000 Guineas. (Getty)
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Lucky Vega was my ante-post selection for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, and he ran a cracking race to finish third. He'll certainly play a big role on Saturday, as will La Barrosa, should he feature in the final field.
Both hold plenty of appeal for me. However, given there's still plenty of doubts as to which of the leading contenders will run on Saturday, I'm going to take an each-way punt on the overlooked MONAASIB.
Kevin Prendergast started Monaasib out over six furlongs last season, and this son of former Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner, Kitten's Joy won twice and finish second twice in five starts over that distance. Monaasib stepped up to a mile on his final two-year-old start in the Beresford Stakes here at the Curragh, and looked to have the field covered with a furlong to travel, before High Definition swooped home late to claim victory.
On his reappearance in the 2000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown, Moonasib ran well. Chris Hayes' mount looked well-placed to challenge Poetic Flare entering the final furlong, but couldn't find that extra gear and was beaten to second by the fast-finishing Ace Aussie.
The way he finished that day suggested Monaasib would come on for that outing, and stepping back up to a mile looks a natural move. Only High Definition was good enough to beat Monaasib in the Beresford, and he looks overpriced in an open renewal of this Classic.
Verdict
Monaasib looked progressive at the end of last season, and ran well behind Poetic Flare on his reappearance. 14/1 looks an appealing each-way price.
2021 Irish 2000 Guineas Tips: Monaasib Each-Way @14/1 at Betgoodwin - 8 Units