Gstaad arrives in Ireland as the clear market choice for the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas; challengers include Distant Storm, Alparslan and Thesecretadversary
The spring Classic at the Curragh looks set to revolve around Gstaad, the Aidan O’Brien-trained colt who resumes his campaign after finishing second at Newmarket. Brought to prominence by a strong juvenile season that included victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, the Starspangledbanner colt has never finished worse than second and carries favourite status into Saturday’s Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas.
O’Brien is chasing a record-extending 13th success in the race and the long-odds prospect of reclaiming the prize he last won in 2026 adds an extra narrative to the meeting.
While much of the attention rests on Gstaad’s form, the three-year-old field contains a mix of proven pattern performers and lightly raced improvers.
The entry list includes European classic form runners and seasonal winners from different training yards, offering varied tactical shapes and stamina questions. With the race staged at the Curragh and timed to run on Saturday afternoon, connections and punters alike will be weighing recent Newmarket form against course-specific records and jockey availability.
Key contenders and their stories
Gstaad leads on reputation after his juvenile Group 1 success and runner-up finish in the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas, where he was beaten by Bow Echo. From Ballydoyle, he brings a clear pattern profile to the Classic and is expected to dictate market terms. His stablemate Neolithic joins him as the second Ballydoyle runner; Neolithic has won twice from six starts but will be a longshot compared with Gstaad. Both are drawn in the middle numbers, with O’Brien’s team choosing a compact attack rather than a large stable spread.
Godolphin and the Newmarket trio
Distant Storm represents Godolphin after finishing third behind Gstaad at Newmarket. He resumes under a changed pilot as William Buick is unavailable due to a suspension, opening the ride to the young jockey Billy Loughnane. Distant Storm, a former Group 3 winner at two, is the most obvious on-paper rival given his Classic form, and the betting market reflects that. Also from Newmarket’s renewal come Thesecretadversary—fifth at the Rowley Mile—and Power Blue, both of whom reoppose and could be pivotal if the race becomes tactical.
Outsiders with potential impact
Alparslan, trained by Karl Burke, arrives off a win in the Greenham Stakes and is one of the more intriguing entries at bigger odds. Burke has stressed stamina as the key question for Alparslan; if the colt stays the mile strongly, he could be a factor in the finishing stages. The trainer also notes that the horse should relish the ground and likes the course, a combination that may make him an attractive each-way option for punters looking beyond the favourites.
Other runners and jockey notes
The full list of confirmed runners and declared riders blends familiar names and experienced pilots. Alparslan will be ridden by Sam James, Bamako Beach takes the mount of Colin Keane, and Go Just Do It is handled by Dylan Browne McMonagle. Gstaad teams up with Ryan Moore, while Neolithic is partnered by Wayne Lordan. Other pairings include Pacific Avenue with Jamie Spencer, Power Blue with David Egan, Take Charge Star with Ben Coen, and Thesecretadversary ridden by Seamie Heffernan. The temporary absence of Buick—suspended for six days for overuse of the whip—has reshaped a few bookings, notably at Godolphin.
Market snapshot and verdict
The betting market strongly favours Gstaad (currently quoted around 4/9), with Distant Storm next best at about 4/1. Thesecretadversary is priced near 8/1, while Alparslan trades around 12/1. Longer-priced entries include Power Blue (33/1), Go Just Do It (40/1), Bamako Beach (50/1), and others stretching out to 100/1 for Take Charge Star. On balance, form suggests Gstaad is the one to beat if he reproduces his Newmarket run. However, the presence of a course-winning Alparslan and a re-opposing Distant Storm means the race still offers tactical and stamina variables that could upset straightforward predictions.
Prediction: back Gstaad to prevail, with Alparslan and Thesecretadversary representing the most credible each-way alternatives if they can produce their best form on the day. The outcome will hinge on whether the market leader can convert Newmarket form into Curragh success against a compact, quality field.
