Curragh Racing Tips: Kevin Blake fancies Van Gogh in the 2000 Guineas
Kevin Blake is back to provide you with his top tipping this weekend, where he fancies a mud lover at Haydock, as well as an Aiden O Brien horse in the 2000 Guineas. Whether one is the type to pay any attention to it or not is another matter, but when interviewing
Ryan Moore for Betfair a few weeks ago I felt that he was
particularly sweet on Van Gogh.
This weekend it is the turn of the Curragh to play host to the latest Classics in the European Pattern calendar with the Irish 2,000 Guineas taking centre stage on Saturday. There is also plenty of very competitive action in Great Britain, so between all of it I will hopefully be able to pull a winner or two out of my hat.
UPDATED 7:48PM, MAY 13 2021
He may not have been the unbeaten winner some were expecting to score in York s big Derby trial but that should not put anyone off Hurricane Lane.
The Godolphin colt made it three from three with a gutsy staying performance in the Group 2 Dante Stakes under William Buick and is quoted at 6-1 generally (from 20) for the Cazoo Derby at Epsom on June 5.
High Definition, who once was favourite for the Classic, is ahead of him in the betting but drifted out to 9-2 after suffering his first defeat. The Derby s hot ante-post favourite Bolshoi Ballet became even hotter, down to 5-4 with BoyleSports while resting up at Ballydoyle.
Wirko, Law of The Sea Carry Godolphin Banner at Chester bloodhorse.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bloodhorse.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
UPDATED 11:52AM, APR 29 2021
St Mark s Basilica is a notable absentee from the final field for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday after 15 colts were declared for the first Classic of the season.
Trainer Aidan O Brien will still be represented by Battleground, Van Gogh and Wembley, who was a market mover earlier in the week to head the ante-post market for the contest at 4-1.
Ryan Moore was confirmed as the rider of Wembley with Frankie Dettori on Battleground.
Thunder Moon, who had been behind St Mark s Basilica when he landed the Dewhurst Stakes last year, will also line up on Saturday with Mac Swiney, winner of the Vertem Futurity, and Military Style the only others not declared for Newmarket.
Qipco 2,000 Guineas (Group 1) | 3yo colts & fillies | 1m | ITV/RTV
Aidan O Brien s challenge for an 11th win in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas presents a different profile to recent seasons, with arguably no one standout among three colts that all achieved a high level of form at two.
Wembley is the anointed one in a wide-open market, thanks to the booking of Ryan Moore as well as his course form when second to stablemate St Mark s Basilica last October. The plan was always to come back here after the Dewhurst, when he would have preferred better ground and was maybe drawn a little out of it, said O Brien. Everything went well with him over the winter and through the spring. Ryan knows him well and we re very happy with him.