Hayes and Weld combine for Tattersalls 1,000 Guineas glory

THE CURRAGH - SUNDAY

Chris Hayes and Dermot Weld combined to win the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas for the second successive year as the Aga Khanowned Tahiyra readily justified her short odds at the Curragh on Sunday. The pair struck with Homeless Songs 12 months ago and followed up in fine style with their start filly which had gone so close to winning the Newmarket 1,000 Guineas on her previous start. Once in the clear, the 2/5 favourite bounded clear to win by a length and a half from the Aidan O'Brien-trained Meditate, with Jim Bolger’s Comhra a head away in third place. It was a sixth win in the race for Weld and a fifth Classic success for Hayes.

Billy Lee made it three winners for the week as he again teamed up with Paddy Twomey to take the Group 2 Lanwades Stud Stakes in thoroughly impressive fashion with the Moyglare Stud Farm-owned Just Beautiful. The 4/1 chance made almost all the running and powered clear from the furlong pole to win by two and three-parts of a length from the Joseph O'Brien-trained Jumbly.

Aidan O'Brien landed a four-timer at the meet where he again shared his success with Ryan Moore. The highlight of their winners was easily the battling victory of last year’s Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes winner, Luxembourg in the Grade 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup. Moore was superb on the 11/4 chance which made all the running and gamely held off the Michael Stoute-trained Bay Bridge by half a length, a 400th Group and Grade 1, both on the Flay and over jumps, for the winning trainer.

The intervention of the stewards saw the Ballydoyle-trained Drumroll take the Group 3 Heider Family Stable Gallinule Stakes. The 4/5 favourite was hampered by the Donnacha O'Brien-trained 22/1 chance Teutates, ridden by Gavin Ryan, inside the final furlong and having lost out by just a shorthead, it came as little surprise when the judge’s placings were reversed. Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore had kicked off with success for 6/1 chance Matrika in the opening six-furlong two-yearold fillies’ maiden and rounded off a big weekend as 7/1 chance High Chieftess too won the 10-furlong fillies’ maiden.

Paddy Twomey and Billy Lee scored an impressive success with the Moyglare Stud Farm-owned Just Beautiful in the Group 2 Lanwades Stud Stakes. The 4/1 chance made almost all the running and powered clear from the furlong pole to win by two and three-parts of a length from the Joseph O'Brien-trained Jumbly.

THE CURRAGH - SATURDAY

Champion trainer Aidan O'Brien dominated at the Curragh on Saturday where he recorded his 12th success in the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas, as Paddington stormed to a two-length win under Ryan Moore. For good measure, the Wayne Lordan-ridden Cairo came through to pip Oisin Murphy’s mount Hi Royal for the runner-up spot behind the strongly supported 3/1 chance. It was a first victory in the race for the Ballydoyle maestro since 2017 and the winner is likely to tackle the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot next.

O'Brien and Moore had earlier taken the two-year-old maiden over six furlongs with 4/6 favourite Unquestionable which raced to a four and a half-length success over the Ger Lyons-trained My Saturday.

Meanwhile at Haydock Park, the O'Brien-trained Little Big Bear put an underwhelming run in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket firmly behind him as he recorded an impressive win in the six-furlong Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes under Frankie Dettori. Johnny Murtagh added to his winner at the course on the previous evening as Mashoor, the 2/1 favourite, landed the Listed Orby Stakes in the colours of the Brunabonne Syndicate. Ben Coen had the five-year-old in front before the furlong pole and they made the best of their way home to beat Tony Martin’s Annerville by a length and a half. Joey Sheridan rode out his claim as he won the 10-furlong handicap on the Paul Flynn-trained Timourid. The 16/1 chance didn’t enjoy the clearest of runs but once in the open, he picked up well to score by a head from the Andy Slattery-trained Smooth Tom, the 95th career success for the winning jockey.

LIMERICK - FRIDAY

Buttevant conditional jockey Shane Fitzgerald teamed up with trainer Declan Queally to win the second division of the two-mile three-furlong handicap hurdle at Limerick on Friday evening with Bal Kauto. Owned by jockeys’ valet Liam Cleary, the 7/4 favourite led approaching the final hurdle to beat the Shane Ryder-trained Macs Lady by two and a half lengths. John Ryan and Littleton conditional jockey, Liam Quinlan shared the first winner at the meet where My Gaffer justified his short odds to land the auction maiden hurdle. An 8/11 favourite, the five-year-old led approaching the final hurdle and he gamely held the Mark Molloy-trained Littlefoot by three-parts of a length.

THE CURRAGH - FRIDAY

Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore shared their first winner of the weekend at the Curragh on Friday evening where 8/11 favourite Subzero recorded a narrow success in the seven-furlong maiden. The three-year-old made most of the running and held off the late run of the John Murphy-trained Space Age, a 10/1 chance, by a neck. Billy Lee was back in the winners’ enclosure as he and Verhoyen took the seven-furlong handicap on the card for the second year running. The Michael Grassick-trained 11/2 shot got a flyer from the stalls and made all the running to score by two and a half lengths from the Ken Condon-trained Ice Cold In Alex, his sixth career success.

LIMERICK - THURSDAY

Doneraile’s Darragh O'Keeffe featured among the winners at Limerick on Thursday where he won the two-mile six-furlong beginners’ chase on Toss Again. Trained by Henry de Bromhead, the 3/1 shot led early in the straight and was well in control over the final two fences as he beat Gordon Elliott’s 15/8 favourite The Friday Man by a length and three-parts. Trainer Brian McMahon landed the opening two-mile one-furlong handicap chase with 5/1 joint-favourite The Eye Of Tulla. With Peter Carberry riding in the colours of the Windswept Hill Syndicate, the sevenyear-old had an easy time of it as he raced to an eight-length success over the Philip Rothwell-trained Berliet Express. At odds of 25/1, Clounts Pride took the two-mile three-furlong beginners’ chase for Eoin McCarthy and conditional jockey Gary Noonan. Owned in partnership by Mary O’Sullivan and Daniel McCarthy, the 10-year-old led early in the straight to beat the Dermot McLoughlin-trained Look Dont Touch by a length a half.

UPCOMING FIXTURES

Fairyhouse – Thursday, June 1 (first race 4.55pm); Roscommon – Thursday, June 1 (first race 2.05pm); Down Royal – Friday, June 2 (first race 5.30pm); Tramore – Friday, June 2 (first race 5.20pm); Tramore – Saturday, June 3 (first race 5.30pm); Listowel – Saturday, June 3 (first race 2.25pm); Listowel – Sunday, June 4 (first race 2.05pm); Kilbeggan – Sunday, June 4 (first race 2.20pm).