The Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas (1600m) has been predominately won by Irish-trained fillies in recent years and whilst trainer Karl Burke managed to break the stranglehold with victory in 2024, the race looks likely to remain in Irish hands again.

Aidan O’Brien has won six of the last twelve renewals of the Irish 1000 Guineas and wields another strong hand with likely runners True Love and Precise. The latter produced an excellent performance to win the Group 1 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Newmarket, benefiting from race fitness after a successful comeback run in the Group 3 Priory Belle Stakes (1400m). She will look to emulate fellow O’Brien-trained fillies Winter (2017) and Hermosa (2019) who achieved the Guineas double.

In contrast, Precise holds a similar profile to last year’s victor Lake Victoria – behind the leading five in the 1000 Guineas when seemingly needing the run – and is expected to improve considerably for her seasonal reappearance. Prior defeat is not a barrier to victory at the Curragh, with only four of the last twelve winners scoring on their previous start.

Other Irish contenders include Daniel McLoughlin’s Magny Cours, a maiden with some useful placed Stakes form.

Young British trainer Jack Channon will be searching for his first Classic victory with Group 3 Fred Darling Stakes (1400m) winner Sukanya. After a surprise success in the Newbury event, connections were keen to show their preference for the Irish 1000 Guineas and she was not supplemented for Newmarket.

“My gut feeling before this was that she wouldn't handle the dip [at Newmarket] so that is why she is in the Irish 1000 Guineas,” said Channon. “She needs top of the ground.”

Successful in 2024, Karl Burke will be represented by Hope Queen, who makes her seasonal reappearance in the Curragh Classic. It will be a difficult task for the returning filly, with eleven of the last twelve winners having run prior to the Irish 1000 Guineas, but the form of her Listed victory at Sandown in July 2025 was given a boost with the second-placed horse Jennifer Jane taking a Stakes success on her own seasonal return.

Photo: Focus On Racing