Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas (Group 1)

NEWMARKET disappointment turned into Curragh celebrations for Karl Burke, Danny Tudhope and Clipper Logistics, as Fallen Angel produced a high-class display to plunder the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas in powerful fashion from the front.

Two and three quarters of a length was the winning margin for the 11/4 favourite, who made it a British double in the first two classics of the season in Ireland, following on from Rosallion leading home a Richard Hannon one-two in the colts’ equivalent a day earlier.

It paid to be handy here with a moderate enough gallop set, and last season’s Moyglare Stud Stakes heroine was in her element with how the pace developed. The daughter of Too Darn Hot sharpened up from her mid-field finish at Newmarket and capitalised on Opera Singer needing the run on her return from a layoff - and a spring setback - in third.

A Lilac Rolla fared best of the Paddy Twomey-trained pair in second under Colin Keane.

“We weren’t too down on ourselves after Newmarket as these things happen; they’re horses - not machines,” said Burke.

“She had a good prep heading into Newmarket, she was fit and hardly blew after the race. It was frustrating and your pride is dented as much as anything.

“Coming here today, I think she’d taken a step forward mentally and physically - more so mentally. I think this track plays to her strengths and made a big difference to her. The idea was always to go forward and be positive.”

Tudhope added: “She’s a very honest filly, she keeps trying, keeps giving. She just loves to gallop, and she stays very, very well.

Distance options

“Even last year we thought she’d stay a mile very well, just the way she went about her business, and I think the same this year. She stays very well and will stay a mile and a quarter.”

Fallen Angel was cut to 7/2 (from 12/1) with the Betfair Sportsbook for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, and layers also reacted positively to the run of Opera Singer with a view to the same race. The Ballydoyle filly tightened up to 7/2 (from 5/1) in the aftermath of this effort.

Burke said: “I’ll have to discuss where we go next with Steve [Parkin], who isn’t here today as a result of being at the Monaco Grand Prix. We’ll enjoy today and there are nice discussions to have, whether it’ll be the Coronation at Royal Ascot or I’d have no qualms stepping her up in trip [potentially for the Prix de Diane]. She’s going to be a strong stayer but isn’t slow either.”

Aidan O’Brien, who also saddled the close-up fourth, Buttons, confirmed that he is pointing towards the Coronation Stakes with Opera Singer.

“I was delighted with her - I couldn’t believe she ran so well,” he said. “She was never away and was only in full work a little less than a month. We’ll look forward to the next day.”

On the runner-up, A Lilac Rolla, Colin Keane added: “It was a massive run. I thought I got a lovely run through the whole way, following the winner and eventual third. The winner is a smart filly who quickened away from us. We bumped into one.”