Irish 1000 Guineas: Timeform preview, tip and free racecard (2024)

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The Irish 1000 Guineas (15:45) is one of two Group 1s on a top-class card at the Curragh on Sunday and it has attracted a big field with 14 fillies set to head to post, including last year's leading juvenile filly Opera Singer (Timeform weight-adjusted rating 126p).

Opera Singer was narrowly denied by A Lilac Rolla in a seven-furlong conditions event here last summer but raised her game when upped to a mile in the Flame of Tara Stakes, running out a six-and-a-half-length winner (earning the Horses For Courses Flag), and she then created a very good impression when a five-length winner of the Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp, putting up the best performance in the division. There could be even more to come as a three-year-old and she's the one to beat on her belated return (missed the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket after meeting with a setback).

Fallen Angel (123) was only eighth when sent off favourite for the 1000 Guineas but she shaped better than that result might suggest, earning the Horse In Focus Flag after travelling better than most but perhaps paying the price for racing closer than ideal to the strong pace on her first start at a mile. Fallen Angel ended her excellent two-year-old campaign with victory in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes here over seven furlongs, impressing with how she quickened again when the runner-up briefly got upsides, and she's a big player on that form.

Vespertilio (120) won the Debutante Stakes here over seven furlongs and then posted an even better effort over the same course and distance when chasing home Fallen Angel in the Moyglare. She showed her stamina for a mile when a close-up third behind Rouhiya in the French 1000 Guineas on her reappearance a couple of weeks ago, staying on well despite having a wider trip than most, and she's likely to give another good account of herself.

Skellet (116p) showed marked run-by-run improvement as a juvenile and went down only narrowly in the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket on her final start of the campaign. She will stay at least a mile and is very much the type to keep on improving so is respected here.

Paddy Twomey has two interesting runners in A Lilac Rolla (115p) and Purple Lily (113p). A Lilac Rolla won both starts as a juvenile, notably beating Opera Singer here over seven furlongs, and she took her record to three from three when winning the 1000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown seven weeks ago, impressing with how she went through the race and how she battled under pressure to score by a head. That earned her the Horse In Focus Flag and she's likely capable of better again.

Purple Lily narrowly failed to make it three wins in a row when denied by half a length by the promising Ezeliya in the Group 3 Salsabil Stakes at Navan last month. She travelled noticeably well through that race so could fare better now dropping back to a mile.

Opera Singer is the number one contender for Aidan O'Brien who also runs Pearls And Rubies (115), Everlasting (110) and Buttons (108p).

Pearls And Rubies produced her best effort when finishing a length-and-a-half second to Porta Fortuna in the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket on her latest start in September.Everlastinghas already had a couple of runs this season and ran well last time when third to Ezeliya (half a length behind Purple Lily) in the Salsabil Stakes at Navan last time.Buttonshas also been in good form this term, finishing placed in a couple of Group 3s at Leopardstown. She shaped well on both occasions, earning the Horse In Focus Flag after staying on well having been further back than ideal, and she could still have more to offer.