The eyes of the horse racing world will be on Ireland later this month, as the Curragh Racecourse stages one of the biggest meetings of the year.
The 2023 edition of the Tattersalls Irish Guineas Weekend features a host of top-class races including the 1000 and 2000 Guineas.
Read on as we look at the schedule for the prestigious three-day meeting, before assessing some of the standout races across the weekend.
Tattersalls Irish Guineas Weekend 2023 – Schedule
Friday, May 26
4.50 – IEBF Maiden.
5.25 – DNG Spring Fillies Handicap.
6.00 – Habitat IEBF Handicap.
6.30 – Live Music at McDonnells Bar Newbridge Maiden.
7.00 – Spar Ballymany and Newbridge Handicap.
7.30 – Novibet Emerald Mile.
8.00 – Novibet IEBF Maiden.
8.30 – Novibet Handicap.
Saturday, May 27
1.20 – Tally Ho Stud IEBF Maiden.
1.55 – GAIN Marble Hill Stakes.
2.30 – Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes.
3.05 – FBD Hotels and Resorts Orby Stakes.
3.40 – Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas.
4.15 – Novibet Guineas Festival Premier Handicap.
4.50 – Finlay Volvo Handicap.
5.25 – Novibet Maiden.
Sunday, May 28
1.45 – Tally Ho Stud IEBF Maiden.
2.15 – Barberstown Castle EBF Handicap.
2.45 – Tattersalls Gold Cup.
3.15 – Lanwades Stud Stakes.
3.50 – Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas.
4.25 – Heider Family Stables Gallinule Stakes.
4.55 – Barberstown Castle EBF Maiden.
Tattersalls Irish Guineas Weekend 2023 – Preview
Day One of the Tattersalls Irish Guineas Weekend serves as a vibrant aperitif to the rest of the meeting, with some excellent racing topped off by live music with Abbaesque.
The Novibet Emerald Mile is the biggest betting race on the card, with the one-mile handicap often providing punters with a tricky puzzle to unravel.
That point was perfectly highlighted last year, with the top Irish betting apps saved from making a big payout when 28/1 shot Celtic Crown won the race.
The Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas takes centre stage on the second day and will likely feature a head-to-head between trainers Aidan and Joseph O’Brien.
The former is eyeing a tilt at the big race with Frankel colt Hans Andersen, who recently won the Group 3 Ballylinch Stud ‘Red Rocks’ 2000 Guineas Trial Stakes at Leopardstown.
O’Brien suggested after the race the horse would be aimed at the Irish 2000 Guineas before a possible tilt at the French Derby next month.
While O’Brien snr generally grabs most of the headlines on the horse racing circuit, his son Joseph is also adept at winning big races in Ireland.
His Al Riffa is set to line-up in the 2000 Guineas after running out an impressive winner of the National Stakes at the Curragh last September.
The horse is rated by the younger O’Brien as being on a par with some of the top horses he has ever trained, and he could be a live contender in the 2000.
The 1000 Guineas on the final day could provide another bumper payday for the O’Brien family, with Aidan’s Boogie Woogie fancied to run a big race.
The Dubawi filly was a superb winner of a Naas maiden during April, pulling clear in the final stages for an emphatic five-and-a-half length victory.
O’Brien may also be on target earlier in the day as Luxembourg bids to bounce back from a recent defeat on his season reappearance by winning the Tattersalls Gold Cup.
