Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Guineas gig looks good for O’brien
AIDAN O’BRIEN is once again mob-handed as he bids to win both the Irish 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas this weekend.
And I believe the Ballydoyle supremo will be successful in doing exactly that.
US Navy Flag could take all the beating in the 2,000 Guineas this afternoon.
He managed only fifth in the French 2,000 Guineas last time, but he has top class form from his two-year-old days, including victory in the Dewhurst at Newmarket.
Among the horses he beat on that occasion were Mendelssohn, who bolted up on dirt in Meydan back in March before disappointing in the Kentucky Derby, but he lost any chance he had at the start.
US Navy Flag also won the Group One Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket last season, with other O’brien horses Sioux Nation and Fleet Review behind.
Sioux Nation landed a Group 3 at Naas last weekend, with Fleet Review behind him in second.
Obviously, Elarqam cannot be ignored and he has the better of Gustav Klimt on the English 2,000 Guineas form, but I strongly fancy US Navy Flag to win.
Meanwhile, Happily is hard to oppose in the 1,000 Guineas on Sunday after her third in the English equivalent earlier this month.
She had the better of Soliloquy on that occasion and I fancy her to run a big, big race here.
Who’s Steph won a trial for this contest at Leopardstown last time and she could run a decent race at a good price.
I also fancy Brando to take the Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes on the supporting card at the Curragh today.
He was second to top class sprinter Harry Angel last time after landing a Group 3 contest in his first run of the season and has a Group One win to his name.
In the Lanwades Stud Stakes, preference is for Jim Bolger’s unbeaten filly Goldrush.
Having not run as a two-year-old, this daughter of Frankel made up for lost time last year, winning all three of her starts.
She is a fascinating runner going up in grade.
In what looks a very competitive Tattersalls Gold Cup on Sunday, I’m siding with Roger Varian’s Defoe, who has won six of his last seven races.