Richard Hannon will bid to emulate his father and namesake by winning the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas when saddling two leading contenders for this Saturday’s €500,000 feature.

Hannon Snr, a three time Irish 2,000 Guineas winner, is one of 10 British-based trainers to have claimed the Irish 2,000 Guineas this century with Canford Cliffs winning the 2010 renewal and now his son, a decade on from taking over the licence, launches a two-pronged attack with likely favourite Rosallion and stable mate Haatem.

“They’ve both come out of Newmarket well and I’m happy with them,” Hannon Jnr. said of the colts who finished second and third in the English 2,000 Guineas.

“I’d like to think they are both going to The Curragh with great chances on their Newmarket runs and we just have to hope they travel over well and everything goes right for them but we are looking forward to it.

“Both horses worked earlier in the week and pleased me and I’m hoping that the ground will stay as it is at the moment as that would suit. It’s good to be going back to The Curragh with two nice colts in a Guineas.”

Newmarket runner-up Rosallion will once again be ridden by Sean Levey, while Haatem will be ridden by Jamie Spencer, who won this race on Phoenix Of Spain in 2019.

Could 13 be the lucky number?

Aidan O’Brien will seek a record extending thirteenth Irish 2,000 Guineas when saddling three of the eight runners in Saturday’s feature.

Coventry Stakes winner River Tiber will be joined by stable companions Mountain Bear and Unquestionable.

O’Brien’s son Joseph, a winning rider in this race three years in a row from 2011 to 2013 aboard Roderic O’Connor, Power and Magician, will try to win it as a trainer with Group 3 winner Atlantic Coast.

The Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Tetrarch Stakes winner Bright Stripes will look to cause another upset at The Curragh for Andy Oliver and Billy Lee, while trainer Jack Davison is looking for a career highlight with his three time winner Take Me To Church.

Saturday’s Guineas is complimented by a really strong support card headed by the Group 2 Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes where the Richard Hannon team are also represented courtesy of Shouldvebeenaring.

Last year’s winner Art Power will look to make it a fourth course and distance win at The Curragh for Tim Easterby, while the home challenge is headed by the Ken Condon-trained Moss Tucker and the Kieran Cotter-trained Matilda Picotte who looks a filly with a big year ahead.

Back to his best

Hannon added: “Shouldvebeenaring goes to The Curragh in great form and looked to be back to his very best in the Duke Of York Stakes last week. He has bounced out of the race so we’re hoping for a good run from him on Saturday.”

Curragh winners Midnight Strike and Arizona Blaze will contest the GAIN Marble Hill Stakes to be run in memory of Theresa Marnane. The Group 3 contest will also see Navan winners Camille Pissarro and Unexpected Issues and Cork winner Monotone feature in the seven runner heat.

The strong contingent of British-trained runners across Irish Guineas weekend is also evident in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Orby Stakes with William Haggas sending over Candleford to take on an intriguing field.

Course and distance winners Crystal Black, Zoffman and Mr Rango will bid for more valuable honours in the €50,000 Infinite Energy Handicap, while the in-form yard of local man Ross O’Sullivan is represented by Follow Me in the Finlay Volvo Handicap.

The first of eight races on Saturday’s card is the Tally Ho Stud Irish EBF Maiden at 1.20pm. The Michael O’Callaghan-trained Red Evolution will make his debut here and is a half-brother to Irish 2,000 Guineas runner River Tiber. The final race on the day is the McDonnells Bar Newbridge Maiden for which 12 runners go to post.

Click here to view the declarations for Saturday, May 25th, Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas Day