Kissed By Angels A Heavenly Bet For 1,000 Guineas

Sunday’s Irish 1,000 Guineas has been won on three occasions by Aidan O’Brien since 2005, and the master handler holds another leading chance this time around with his filly, Found (2/1).

Found To Be Crowned?

A Group 1 winner last October in France (1m, good), this daughter of Galileo was never sent for the Guineas at Newmarket on her return, but instead a Group 3 here at the Curragh where she was runner-up in a Group 3 (heavy). O’Brien’s decision to avoid Newmarket was justified, as Found certainly needed that outing, which should put her cherry-ripe for Sunday.

Ballydoyle Look To Angels

O’Brien has further depth in the race courtesy of the twice-raced, Kissed By Angels (13/2), who showed considerable improvement on just her second run to win a Group 3 at Leopardstown a few weeks ago (1m, heavy).

That 3l victory staked her claim for this prize, and having handled good ground on her debut in April, she has an exciting future.

Home Challenge Strong

Fancied runners at the top end of the market have also held sway in this, which also bodes well for Jessica Harrington’s, Bocca Baciata (5/1). Off the mark at the third attempt last term, she then followed-up that success on her return last month when landing a Listed event over 1m2f. That victory at Navan had Harrington thinking of the Guineas, where the step back to 1m will not inconvenience her.

With a career record of 2-4 (50%), Bocca Baciata is improving fast and fits the profile of past winners…

Trends Summary

Of the last 10 Irish 1,000 Guineas winners…

9 returned 12/1 or shorter – others were 1-78
9 won during their last three runs
9 won 26% or more of their career runs
9 had a 21-day or longer rest period – others were 1-55
8 had yet to win at the Curragh
8 arrived via Newmarket (5) or Leopardstown (3)
A O’Brien won it 3 times and D Weld 2 twice

Malabar Has Classic Form

The above trends show that those who ran at Newmarket last time fared well here, which points up the chances of Mick Channon’s, Malabar (10/1), who was beaten over 6l in the English Guineas, and has to hold a chance on that run, especially as the sixth from HQ, was a subsequent runner-up in the French Guineas.

Jim Bolger also throws his hat into the ring via Pleascach (8/1), a Group 3 winner over 1m2f at Naas recently (soft), who bolted up by 8l. She has stamina in the tank, and will be strong at the finish on Sunday where a good gallop would aid her cause.

Of those still to be seen this term, then Michael Halford’s, Raydara (8/1) has been backed since winning a Group 2 over 7f here last August. She quickened well that day and is bred for further, so the market may provide a clue to her fitness come pre-race.

Raydara was beaten almost 2l by Jessica Harrington’s other runner on Sunday, Jack Naylor (9/1), at Leopardstown last July (7f, good to firm), prior to that rival being beaten 4l by Found in France. The form of that third looks decent, though, as she split the subsequent French Guineas 1-2, Ervedya and Malabar.

Don’t Dismiss Dermot

There are several unexposed types yet to face Group rivals, including Dermot Weld’s, Joailliere (10/1), who was an impressive debutant at Gowran Park when winning by 7l (7f, soft). The time on the clock that day was fast, and she shouldn’t be overlooked at each-way odds.

Recommended Bets

A cracking 18-runner line-up in which Found will have her supporters, but her stablemate, Kissed By Angels (13/2), impressed in winning a Group 3 on just her second outing and represents each-way value.