Back on this more conventional track and with more suitable ground conditions, she is going to take a lot of beating.
The David Wachman-trained Again is 5/2 favourite with the sponsors Boylesports for Sunday’s 1000 Guineas (3.35) at the Curragh, but is bidding to do something that no filly has done in this race since Trusted Partner in 1988 - win on her seasonal debut. That’s a strong stat to overcome and, while she’s likely to be well forward after being a late withdrawal for the English equivalent because of fast ground, she’s worth taking on with CUIS GHAIRE, who can backed at twice her odds – 11/2 with Victor Chandler.
A winner of three of her first four starts as a juvenile, she was also second to Rip Van Winkle in the Tyros Stakes and, judging by her performance in the 1000 Guineas when chasing home Ghanaati, she has improved from two to three. If anything, the ground was too quick for her at Newmarket, while she also became slightly unbalanced in the Dip so, back on this more conventional track and with more suitable ground conditions, she is going to take a lot of beating. Her trainer Jim Bolger won this race with Finsceal Beo in 2007.
Ground conditions should also favour Super Sleuth (11/2 bet365), who finished third in the Guineas, a length and a quarter behind the selection. She is still a maiden after several good placed efforts, but she is clearly smart and has been supplemented for this race at considerable cost to the owners, so you’ve got to respect her chances. On 1000 Guineas form, she has the beating of Lahaleeb (10/1 Blue Square), who finished tenth at Newmarket.
There are also several interesting-looking lightly raced Irish fillies in the mix, including Again’s stablemate Chintz (20/1 Stan James), who can be forgiven her defeat at Leopardstown on her seasonal debut in March as she ran too freely on ground that was also too fast. She can be expected to improve now she encounters soft ground, without being quite good enough.
Wachman has a third and fourth string to his bow in the shape of Love Bird (12/1 Boylesports) and Always Be True (33/1 Blue Square). The first-named hosed up on soft ground in a Curragh maiden last time and has been working well at home since, so could sneak a place, but the selection is Cuis Ghaire.
Recommended Bet:
Cuis Ghaire 2pts @ 11/2 Victor Chandler