A CIGAR FOR CHURCHILL

CHURCHILL cemented his position as this season’s star three-year- old miler with victory in the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh yesterday.

Following his triumph at Newmarket the Galileo colt had to deal with vastly different ground on this occasion.

Heavy rain throughout the morning turned the ground at the Curragh to yielding to soft and this was unquestionably a major concern for the market leader.

However, Churchill displayed the versatility and class that belongs to only the outstanding champions. The odds on favourite was given a patient ride by Ryan Moore and when he was asked to quicken he responded in fine style.

He moved past Godolphin’s Thunder Snow to lead with well over a furlong to run and he kept going well to prevail by two and a half lengths.

Irishcorrespondent secured third for Michael Halford with fourth place going to Glastonbury Song.

“He’s an unbelievable colt and he’s as brave as a lion too. Ground, trip and track, they all seem to come alike to him,” said O’brien. “The ground was a concern but Ryan (Moore) and Donnacha (O’brien) were confident he would handle it. “The ground probably would have been a bigger concern if it was his first run of the season.” In terms of the future O’brien indicated that Churchill would stay at a mile for the time being. “The plan after would be the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and when the time comes I don’t think he’ll have a problem going 10 furlongs.”