Irish Racing / Tony Calvin / 21 May 2009 / Leave a comment

Brian Meehan's charge leads market despite forecast heavy rain.

Delegator is the surprisingly strong [3.2] favourite on Betfair for Saturday's Irish 2,000 Guineas, given that he is unproven on what promises to be soft ground at best on The Curragh - and next to bottomless should more than the expected 6-10mm of rain arrive in the next 48 hours.

In contrast, his main opponents - [3.5] chance Mastercraftsman and [5.3] Rayeni - are already proven with cut underfoot. And Delegator is only 1lb clear of Aidan O'Brien's colt on Timeform's adjusted ratings.

Kieran Packman, Timeform's spokesman, commented: "Forming an opinion on the Irish 2,000 Guineas to a large extent revolves around the ground at the Curragh and Delegator's ability to handle it. His second in the Newmarket Guineas is the stand-out piece of form in the line-up, but he has raced solely on good to firm since his debut on good to soft.

"Conversely, Mastercraftsman and Rayeni have both shown their form on ground with plenty of cut - Mastercraftsman's National Stakes win at this course was on heavy, whilst Rayeni's pair of wins have come on soft and good to soft.

"The 1,000 Guineas has a similar theme, as top-rated Cuis Ghaire was bitterly disappointing on her only previous outing on soft ground, whereas Super Sleuth and Lahaleeb have both shown their aptitude on it."

Timeform Ratings for Irish 2,000 Guineas (weight-adjusted)

DELEGATOR 135+
MASTERCRAFTSMAN (IRE) 134
RECHARGE (IRE) 130p
RAYENI (IRE) 123p
SOUL CITY (IRE) 123+
DRUMBEAT (IRE) 122
FERGUS MCIVER (IRE) 120
HAIL CAESAR (IRE) 117
VICEROY OF INDIA (USA) 96p

Timeform Ratings for Irish 1,000 Guineas (weight-adjusted)

CUIS GHAIRE (IRE) 126
SUPER SLEUTH (IRE) 124 +
LAHALEEB (IRE) 124
HEART SHAPED (USA) 123
AGAIN (IRE) 122
CHINTZ (IRE) 120
NASHMIAH (IRE) 118
DUAISBHANNA (IRE) 118
RARE RANSOM 117
LUMINOUS EYES (IRE) 117
AARONESS (USA) 114
OH GOODNESS ME 113
MONIVEA (IRE) 112
DANCE PASS (IRE) 110p
HALLIE'S COMET (IRE) 110
EXCELLERATOR (IRE) 109
CRISTAL ISLAND (IRE) 107
TOTALLY DEVOTED (USA) 102p
LOVE BIRD (IRE) 100P
ALWAYS BE TRUE (IRE) 97p
BEAUTHEA (IRE) 93