Curragh Tips: Irish 2000 Guineas Betting Tips & Predictions (2025)

With the English and French versions firmly in the bag, it’s the turn of the Irish to host their 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas races at the weekend. 

Juddmonte’s Field Of  Gold (4/5 fav in our horse racing odds), drawn nine, heads a field of nine declared for Saturday’s Group 1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh.

Field Of Gold is seeking redemption for his Group 1 2000 Guineas near miss with Colin Keane replacing Kieran Shoemark in the plate.

Last term the Kingman-colt up followed up wins at Newmarket and in the Solario Stakes, with a fine fourth in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp on his final start of 2024, and made the perfect return this season when impressively landing the Craven Stakes.

He was well-backed, but not given the best opportunity to excel, when a half-length second to Ruling Court in the 2000 Guineas last time. The ride he received that day ultimately led to the jockey being replaced, so a different outcome altogether is expected.

Trainer Harry Charlton’s fellow Kingman-colt Cosmic Year (11/2) steps up in grade after his seasonal return produced a win in Newmarket’s Listed King Charles II Stakes on the opening day of the Guineas meeting.

The Juddmonte-owned youngster should be capable of even better now he’s up to a mile, and with Oisin Murphy booked, it would come as no surprise if the owners ended up landing a 1-2 in this contest.

Aidan O’Brien’s Officer (6/1) confirmed the promise of his Gladness Stakes third by taking a Listed race over course and distance last time out. He certainly looks the type that will go on improving and anything O’Brien sends to a Group race has to be respected.

Jessica Harrington’s Hotazhell (9/1) won a maiden here, the Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown and Beresford Stake, before beating leading Derby hope Delacroix by a nose in last year’s William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes.

The Too Darn hot-colt was a late non-runner from the French 2000 Guineas earlier this month due to quick ground, but showers are forecast this weekend which will further enhance his chances and he could be one to keep an eye on in the Royal Ascot odds.

Of the others, extremely well-bred Juddmonte runner Windlord (33/1) probably needs further than this and may struggle to lay up with the pace, while 2000 Guineas ninth Expanded (16/1) needs to put that run firmly behind him.

Confidence was high for National Stakes hero Scorthy Champ (20/1) before his 2000 Guineas seventh for the Joseph O’Brien yard and they will be hopeful he can make amends.

Brian Meehan’s Rashabar (22/1) also missed his Poulains target, but his Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere form is standing up really well, and he ranks as a lively outsider.

Rank outsider Comanche Brave (50/1) is likely to be on pacemaker duties for his Aidan O’Brien stablemates in this year’s Irish 2000 Guineas.

*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at time of writing*