Irish 2000 Guineas Guide 2022

Harry Haskell | @HarryHaskell4

Curragh - May 20 2022
Curragh 14:20
7(1)
William Buick

Native Trail

J: William Buick
T: Charlie Appleby
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-2
OR: 121
Days: 21

Lost his unbeaten record last time out, in the English equivalent of this. Native Trail ran a big race to finish second to the hugely talented Coroebus, but had the beating of the rest of the field.

That form looks to be the best on offer here, and he’s clearly very talented. The one to beat.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
05/05/23NMK8Gd9-32
17/08/22YOR10.5Gd9-15
02/07/22SAN10GF8-133
21/05/22CUR8Gd/Y9-21
30/04/22NMK8Gd9-02
Curragh - May 20 2022
Curragh 14:20
3(5)
Chris Hayes

Duke De Sessa

J: Chris Hayes
T: D K Weld
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-2
OR: 105
Days: 13

Disappointing last time out, when finishing 5/7in the Leopardstown Derby Trial. Prior to that, he’d looked full of promise. It’s interesting he’s dropping back in trip today – he did always look as if he wanted at least 10f, maybe further.

He has a small chance on form, but he’s likely going to be found out by classier horses again.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
02/09/23CAU7Gd9-410
01/04/23RAN8Hy8-38
06/11/22NAA12Hy9-81
01/10/22LON15VSft9-23
10/09/22LEO12Sft9-11
Curragh - May 20 2022
Curragh 14:20
1(2)
Colin Keane

Atomic Jones

J: Colin Keane
T: G M Lyons
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-2
OR: 104
Days: 13

Unbeaten at two. Atomic Jones was last seen a few weeks ago in the Leopardstown Derby Trial, when 4th to the impressive – now Derby favourite – Stone Age.

He was short of room at a few stages there and it was a nice enough run. Dropping back to a mile must be a question mark. Good form but something to prove in this company

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
09/07/23SHA7GF8-129
25/06/23SHA7Gd9-913
10/05/23SHA8.5St8-211
26/03/23SHA8Gd8-912
11/03/23SHA7Gd8-310
Curragh - May 20 2022
Curragh 14:20
5(3)
Ryan Moore

Ivy League

J: Ryan Moore
T: A P O'Brien
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-2
OR: 107
Days: 13

Unraced at 2. He’s been busy thus far, as a 3yo running 4 times since the 26th March. He won a maiden, a handicap, and was second last time out in a Group 3.

He’s clearly on an upward curve and still looks to be learning on the job. Ivy League looks to have lots of ability, he could well go close.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
28/06/23HAP8.5Gd8-124
14/06/23HAP8.5Gd8-134
04/06/23SHA7GF9-110
07/05/23SHA7Sft8-138
06/04/23HAP6Gd9-39
Curragh - May 20 2022
Curragh 14:20
9(8)
Kevin Manning

Wexford Native

J: Kevin Manning
T: J S Bolger
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-2
OR: 102
Days: 19

A winner on debut beating Sun King quite comfortably, he then ran a massive race on just his second start to finish second to Buckaroo.

On the basis of that form, he has a few of these held, but he will need to reverse the form with the winner, which is by no means an easy task. He is unexposed though and he looks to have bundles of ability.

Interesting.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
25/06/22CUR8Gd8-131
14/06/22ASC8GF9-210
21/05/22CUR8Gd/Y9-24
02/05/22CUR8Y9-52
29/03/22NAV8Gd9-81
Curragh - May 20 2022
Curragh 14:20
2(4)
Shane Crosse

Buckaroo

J: Shane Crosse
T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-2
OR: 110
Days: 19

Buckaroo is a solid horse and he’s done nothing but improve. He took a listed race over course and distance last time out in fine style, quickening clear of both Wexford Native (2nd), New Energy (3rd) and Malex (4th).

Buckaroo looks to be holding a fair few of these on form – he’s clearly still improving and he rates as a top chance here.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
20/06/23ASC10Gd9-83
29/05/23LON9.5GS9-24
05/04/23LEO8Hy9-101
21/05/22CUR8Gd/Y9-26
02/05/22CUR8Y9-51
Curragh - May 20 2022
Curragh 14:20
4(9)
Ben Coen

Imperial Fighter

J: Ben Coen
T: Andrew Balding
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-2
OR: 110
Days: 36

Showed a smart level of form at 2. He did run in the Burradon at Newcastle just over a month ago, and he never had any racing room.

He did well to finish as close as he did. With a run under his belt, his true ability still looks up for debate. He’s an interesting runner, and he’s not without an each way chance.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
01/08/23GOO10GS9-411
21/06/23ASC8Gd9-623
03/06/23EPS8.5GF9-85
05/05/23NMK8Gd9-35
01/04/23DON8Hy9-26
Curragh - May 20 2022
Curragh 14:20
6(6)
Leigh Roche

Malex

J: Leigh Roche
T: M D O'Callaghan
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-2
OR: 98
Days: 19

Won a twenty runner maiden first time out from Boundless Ocean in second. Malex then ran in a listed race over course and distance last time out, won by Buckaroo.

Malex was a shade unlucky and ultimately eased towards the business end of the race as a result of a lack of racing room. He’s clearly got ability, and he’s rather unexposed.

He has work to do to reverse the form with a few of these though.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
21/05/22CUR8Gd/Y9-28
02/05/22CUR8Y9-54
26/03/22CUR7Y9-81
Curragh - May 20 2022
Curragh 14:20
8(7)
W J Lee

New Energy

J: W J Lee
T: Ms Sheila Lavery
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-2
OR: 102
Days: 19

Third to Buckaroo last time out. He has work on to reverse the form with him, but he does look to have a reasonable enough chance of getting closer.

New Energy will need to find masses of improvement to win this though. Hard to recommend.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
07/05/23LEO8Sft/Hy9-94
02/10/22LON7VSft9-06
11/09/22DON7Sft9-22
10/07/22DEA7GS9-27
14/06/22ASC8GF9-28