Staged at The Curragh racecourse the Irish 2,000 Guineas is a Group One class race for 3 year-olds only. Run over 1m the contest normally takes place each year in May and was first run in 1921.
*Note* – Due to the Racing Lockdown, the Irish 2,000 Guineas will now be staged on Friday 12th June 2020.
Horses that contested the English 2,000 Guineas often go onto run in this race, while winners of the Irish 2,000 Guineas tend to take in the St James’s Palace Stakes, at Royal Ascot, but with the two races a lot closer together this year this might not be the case.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien has won four of the last seven runnings, while in total, O’Brien has won the race a staggering 11 times.
We take a look back at past winners, plus have all the key trends ahead of the 2020 renewal Irish 2,000 Guineas– this year run on Friday 12th June 2020 – did you know that 17 of the last 18 winners had raced in the last 3 weeks, while 14 of the last 18 ran at Newmarket last time out?
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Recent Irish 2,000 Guineas Winners
2019 – PHOENIX OF SPAIN (16/1)
2018 – ROMANISED (25/1)
2017 – CHURCHILL (4/9 fav)
2016 – AWTAAD (9/2)
2015 – GLENEAGLES (2/5 fav)
2014 – KINGMAN (4/5 fav)
2013 – MAGICIAN (10/3)
2012 – POWER (5/1)
2011 – RODERIC O’CONNOR (7/2)
2010 – CANFORD CLIFFS (9/4 fav)
2009 – MASTERCRAFTSMAN (6/4 fav)
2008 – HENRYTHENAVIGATOR (5/4)
2007 – COCKNEY REBEL (6/4 fav)
2006 – ARAAFA (12/1)
2005 – DUBAWI (7/4 jfav)
2004 – BACHELOR (12/1)
2003 – INDIAN HAVEN (8/1)
2002 – ROCK OF GIBRALTAR (4/7 fav)
Irish Guineas Betting Trends and Stats
17/18 – Had run within the last 3 weeks
15/18 – Had won over either 7f or 1m before
14/18 – Ran at Newmarket last time out
14/18 – Favourites that finished in the top two
14/18 – Had won between 1-4 times before
13/18 – Returned 5/1 or shorter in the betting
13/18 – Came from the top 3 in the betting
13/18 – Irish bred
11/18 – Had run at the Curragh before
12/18 – Drawn in stall 4 or lower
10/18 – Winning distance – 2 lengths or less
9/18 – Had won a Group 1 race before
8/18 – Trained by Aidan O’Brien (11 wins in total)
8/18 – Winning favourites
8/18 – Unplaced last time out
8/18 – Trained by a UK-based stable
7/18 – Won last time out
5/18 – Won the 2,000 Guineas (Newmarket) that season
The average winning SP in the last 18 years is 5/1
Rock of Gibraltar (2002), Cockney Rebel (2007), Henrythenavigator (2008), Gleneagles (2015) & Churchill (2017) all did the English/Irish 2,000 Guineas double
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RACING AHEAD VERDICT: It’s a race the Aidan O’Brien yard have dominated in recent years – winning the prize 11 times in total. With that in mind anything they run has to be respected and they’ve already tasted Guineas glory this month after taking the English 1,000 Guineas last weekend. At the time of writing they’ve bundles of entries, with the likes of Armory and Royal Lytham looking two of their better chances if running. Course winner, Armoury was a Group One winner in France last October and despite flopping last time out that came in a 2-runner race on heavy ground over 7f. The step up to 1m will suit him better and that last effort looked too bad to be his true running. Royal Lytham was a nice winner of the July Stakes at HQ last season and wasn’t disgraced when runner-up in the Phoenix Stakes next time here at the Curragh. The big question on his chance though is the step up to 1m as all his races to date have been over 6f (or shorter). Breeding, however, suggests the step up in trip should be within range, being by former Guineas winner Gleneagles. However, the horse that beat Royal Lytham last time – SISKIN – gets the call. This unbeaten Ger Lyons colt is now 4-from-4 after three wins at the Curragh and one at Naas. He’s the clear top-rated in the field and even though he’s another that is stepping up from 6f to a mile his breeding also gives him hope of getting the extra yardage. His course form (3 wins) is also a big plus and the way she’s been finishing off her races suggests there could be even more to come over this longer trip. Of those at bigger prices, the Jim Bolger-trained FISCAL RULES could easily leave his debut second here behind him. He was beaten only a head by Wichita that day and that horse has since franked the form by running into a place in the English 2,000 Guineas last weekend.
