CURRAGH

3:35 BOYLESPORTS IRISH 1,000 GUINEAS (GROUP 1) (FILLIES) (3yo) 1m

CARIBBEAN SUNSET 9-0 ~ Improved on anything she showed as a juvenile when this season she recorded a 1000 Guineas Trial double. She had Halfway To Heaven and Saoirse Abu in behind when winning the first event and the former went on to finish 3rd in the French 1000 Guineas while the latter finished 3rd in the English 1000 Guineas. She did have the advantage of race fitness over both those rivals so she could have been sharper on the day but it was still very decent form. Next time out she beat Katiyra who is well fancied for the Oaks and she comes into the race in the form of her life. She seems versatile regarding ground and is a tough battling filly that is sure to run her race. She has to be respected despite being the stables second string.

EVA’S RESPECT 9-0 ~ Didn’t look anything special before winning the Group 3 C.L. Weld Park Stakes on her last start as a juvenile. Form of that win isn’t great but it puts her in with a chance of getting competitive in todays race. She is sure to be fitter for her reappearance effort behind Caribbean Sunset but considerable improvement is needed if she is going to trouble the judges.

HALWAY TO HEAVEN 9-0 ~ Improved to finish 3rd behind Zarkava in the French 1000 Guineas last time and a reproduction of that form would put her in with a serious chance. She was beaten by Caribbean Sunset in the 1000 Guineas Trial but that rival had the advantage of race fitness. She should be able to reverse the form with Dermot Welds filly given she only has a head to find and she should be much fitter. She comes into the race in fine form and she has to be respected despite being the stables second string.

KITTY MATCHUM 9-0 ~ Breaking her maiden appeared to be the catalyst that enabled the filly to show much improved form. Her winning performance in the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes was much better than anything she had shown in four previous starts and she is from a family that improves with age. She wasn’t knocked about when beaten in the English 1000 Guineas and although she is sure to come on for the run she was well adrift. She may prove better when stepped up to middle distances and although she looks up against it today you can never rule out a Ballydoyle first string, especially in a Group 1.

MAD ABOUT YOU 9-0 ~ 3rd in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes last year and a reproduction of that effort would she her take a leading role in proceedings. She followed that effort up with another 3rd in a Group 1 and this time it was the Prix Marcel Boussac behind Zarkava. She hasn’t seen a racecourse since so she is sure to be better for the run and middle distances look likely to be her game after this race. She has to be respected and is the stables first string but today she may have to give way to some speedier specialist milers.

MILTON OF CAMPSIE 9-0 ~ Beat the 70 rated Arabian Art when breaking her maiden over 6f at Redcar last time. Colossal improvement needed and she’ll be vying for last from the get go.

MYSTICAL LADY 9-0 ~ She did show improved form when breaking her maiden last time out but it was at the 10th attempt. She’ll need to show masses of improvement to be competitive in todays race against the best of the 3yo fillies and she is the stables 5th string.

NADOODH 9-0 ~ Good winner of the Group 2 Lowther Stakes as a juvenile and after a disappointing reappearance she ran a massive race in the 1000 Guineas. Held up behind Natagora she was travelling well and making eye catching headway but Richard Hughes had nowhere to go. She could be called an unlucky loser as with a clear run she would have given the eventual winner a lot to think about. She is a real top of the ground performer so the ground should be ideal and she possesses a telling turn of foot. If in the same form she was at Newmarket she’ll prove hard to beat given a clear run. She has to find about a ¼ of a length on Saoirse Abu but she should have no problem of reversing the form if Richard Hughes can chart a clear passage through the pack.

QUEEN JOCK 9-0 ~ Yet to break her maiden after 10 career starts and difficult to see how she could change that today. She has to show considerable improvement just to be competitive and she is readily passed over.

SAOIRSE ABU 9-0 ~ Multiple Group 1 winner as a juvenile and it was no surprise to see her run a massive race in the 1000 Guineas. A conquer of Henrythenavigator and Listen as a 2yo she had run below form on her reappearance but with a run under her belt she stayed on well to finish 3rd behind Natagora. That effort puts her in with a serious chance in todays race and she looks the biggest danger to the favourite.

SAVETHISDANCEFORME 9-0 ~ Absolutely bolted up in a Curragh Listed event last season and a reproduction of that form would make her a serious threat to the principles. Her reappearance on heavy ground was very encouraging but she was comfortably beaten in the 1000 Guineas. She needs to bounce back to form but it could be that she is a better performer with some cut in the ground. The stables 3rd string isn’t out of it but she has questions to answer at present.

SOINLOVEWITHYOU 9-0 ~ Finished last on her last two outings and there is nothing in the form book to suggests she’ll be troubling the judges today.

TUSCAN EVENING 9-0 ~ Yet to break her maiden after 8 attempts but she has had a series of good placed efforts. A reproduction of her 3rd in the Group 2 Debutante Stakes would put her in with a chance of sneaking a place but she looks better on soft and this ground is unlikely to suit.

CONCLUSION

Not the best Irish 1000 Guineas ever but plenty of decent performers line up. The English 1000 Guineas and French 1000 Guineas form is represented. It’s a surprise Johnny Murtagh doesn’t ride Halfway To Heaven as she looks to have a better chance on the form book than Kitty Matcham. That tipped the scales in favour of Nadoodh who was very unlucky in the English 1000 Guineas and with conditions in her favour she could be hard to beat after looking the horse to take out of the English 1000 Guineas.

1pt WIN – NADOODH @ 5/2

RESULT

NADOODH 7th = -1pt