Irish 2000 Guineas tips: Curragh – Eamonn Hames’ top betting preview for TODAY

CURRAGH

2.25

LAST year’s winner Rattling Jewel catches the eye from the bottom of the weights, Aidan O’Brien’s Dali is interesting in his first handicap and Patuano looked a winner waiting to happen when a good second here to smart sprinter Son Of Rest just under a year ago.

However, top-weight ZORION has pattern class player written all over him and he looks to have everything in his favour in this ultra-competitive handicap.

Jim Bolger’s four-year-old hasn’t been seen much prior to this season and he is untested at sprint distances, but he showed bags of pace when winning over seven furlongs at Leopardstown last time.

He’s got the perfect draw to make all or track the pace drawn in stall 14 and Kevin Manning is a master under either scenario with a sprinter that stays further.

Mick Halford’s Arcanears cannot be dismissed with a profile like his, Honor Oak ran a big race when third to the selection the last day and Blairmayne is still well handicapped.

DERBY DAY When is the Derby at Epsom, can I still get tickets and who is running?

3.00

EXPERIENCE will be a big factor in this year’s Marble Hill and they don’t come more experienced than the Ballydoyle trio.

Aidan O’Brien usually targets this with a specific juvenile in mind, but this year he sends three seriously smart prospects.

Ryan Moore has opted to ride VAN BEETHOVEN and that isn’t too surprising given how uncomplicated he was when winning at Naas.

He came forward from his first run at Newmarket which suggests he’s open to more improvement. The sky could be the limit for this Scat Daddy colt and it will be fascinating to see how he goes in comparison to his stablemates.

Aidan O’Brien is convinced his Fairyland is all about speed, so it’s interesting that he pitches her in here and Land Force proved that his debut run was not lost on him when bolting up here over six furlongs.

Michael O’Callaghan’s pair look the best of the rest, but neither make much appeal against the O’Brien trio at this early stage of the season.

3.35

ALL eyes will be on the fascinating Ballydoyle newcomer MERCHANT NAVY in today’s Greenlands Stakes, hoping to see something special from the Australian speed bullet.

He won’t be around for long with stallion duties to honour in his homeland, so you can be absolutely sure that Aidan O’Brien will have him primed to the minute to strike.

Tasleet is a genuine Group 1 talent, but usually at his best when there’s a bit of cut in the ground and Brando is a similar type, but the worry with him is whether this comes a little quick after his fine effort behind Harry Angel at York.

With the doubts about Tasleet and Brando, Ardhoomey could be a spot of value at a fair price.