Purplepay
Irish 1,000 Guineas, 3.45 Curragh, Sunday
1pt each-way at 16-1 generally

Last season’s Irish 1,000 Guineas took place on heavy going and there is a significant chance lightning will strike twice at the Curragh this weekend. 

 

The ground at the Curragh is described as good at the time of writing, but that picture will look completely different come raceday as rain is forecast for five of the next six days.

 

None of the top five fillies at single-figure prices in the betting for the Classic have any form on soft ground whatsoever, and naturally I am questioning whether all of the key protagonists will even line up.

 

I want to side with two fillies at double-figure odds who are proven with juice underfoot and my first selection, Purplepay, arrives particularly under the radar.

 

Purplepay is yet to run for William Haggas but brings standout form to the table for trainer Cedric Rossi in France as a juvenile. 

 

After winning a couple of conditions races on testing ground, Purplepay was well backed ahead of the Group 1 Criterium International behind Angel Bleu and was last off the bridle, never getting a run under Maxime Guyon until it was too late.

 

She did well in the circumstances to finish only a length and a half behind Angel Bleu and the form is strong with the winner and second, Ancient Rome, running well in defeat in good company this term. 

 

With respect to Rossi, joining Haggas is an upgrade and this is a Classic up for grabs for her new connections. 

 

The concern is her lack of a prep run, but it is not hard to envisage the money coming for this filly in a serious way and the 16-1 not lasting.

 

 

Agartha
Irish 1,000 Guineas, 3.45 Curragh, Sunday
1pt each-way at 20-1 with Betfair

Another contender who has no worries in the likely conditions is Agartha, who will take some pegging back from the front and seems underestimated in the betting at 20-1.

 

This ultra-consistent filly was a two-length winner of the Group 2 Debutante Stakes on soft last season and the likes of Discoveries and Concert Hall simply could not live with her that day.

 

Agartha retains her juvenile talent and has returned with two fine efforts this campaign, finishing a close second behind Homeless Songs and History in two Guineas trials. 

 

Both those fillies are far shorter in the betting here, reoppose off 3lb worse terms and lack form in these conditions. Agartha seems sure to run her race and her price is too big for a filly of her ability and toughness.

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