A compact field of 10 three-year-old colts will face the starter in the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m.) at the Curragh in Co. Kildare, Ireland, on Saturday, May 25^th. As it happens, every one of the ten jockeys engaged has ridden at one time or another in India!

Ireland's champion trainer on several occasions, Aidan O'Brien has taken home this prize four times in the past five years – and eight times in all – and has his eyes set on a ninth win. His four-cornered attack includes Magician (by Galileo), who, having come in for much recent support, is now down to 9 to 4.

The public choice demonstrated a whole new level of ability when accelerating and then cantering home in the Dee Stakes, Gr.3, at Chester earlier this month. That race was over 10 furlongs and the bay colt is coming down in distance, not exactly the ideal scenario. However, he is by Galileo, whose stock improve dramatically from 2 to 3, and does have winning experience at the Curragh, where he broke his maiden last year. As expected, Joseph O'Brien gets the call.

Next in the market amongst the Ballydoyle runners is Gale Force Ten (by Oasis Dream), jointly the most experienced runner with half a dozen starts under his belt. Seamie Heffernan takes the mount on the 7 to 1 chance, who was a close up fourth, beaten less than a length, in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains-French 2000 Guineas, Gr.1, at Longchamp just a couple of weeks ago.

Highest rated amongst the quartet from Cashel is George Vancouver (by Henrythenavigator), who disappointed last time out in the Qipco 2000 Guineas, Gr.1, at Newmarket. The vastly-experienced Pat Smullen, not normally associated with an O'Brien-trained runner, has been booked for the superbly-bred colt, whose moment in the sun came in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf in California last November. In addition, when finishing third in the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes, Gr.1, last October he was closer to Dawn Approach than any rival has been in 2013. Odds of 12 to 1 against can be freely obtained.

Rounding out the Tipperary team is Flying The Flag, yet another by Galileo, on whom Colm O'Donoghue will do duty. The chestnut has a fair bit to find on form, which is why he is available at 16 to 1.

In India it would be hard for a jockey to obtain a licence as a trainer while still retaining his standing as a rider. In Ireland the situation is somewhat different. Johnny Murtagh has recently started training and has two runners in the field, one of which he will also be astride. If memory serves, a similar situation arose in the 'sixties, when the Russian champion, Anilin, was trained by Nikolai Nasibov, who also rode him to victory in the Preis von Europa. Murtagh's chosen one is Sheikh Mohammed's Fort Knox, an improving sort who has the credentials to strike gold. He is by Dubawi, sire also of budding star Murioi in India, and is an 11 to 2 shot. Murtagh's other runner is the 66 to 1 Ask Dad (by Intikhab), to partner which he has engaged Niall McCullagh, who has almost 375 wins in India to his credit.

No one should ever ignore a classic runner from Coolcullen, as that stable's principal Jim Bolger is well known to be a master tactician. He fields Trading Leather (by Teofilo), who has been mixing it up with some of the best of his crop and comes in after a runner-up effort in the Dante Stakes, Gr.2, just 9 days ago.

The fact that he has not run for 210 days means that Andy Oliver's First Cornerstone (by Hurricane Run) might be a shade rusty; this is reflected in his 25 to 1 price. Well known in India, where he has ridden 145 winners from 532 mounts, Chris Hayes has the call on the Team Valor-owned chestnut, who definitely has the ability to pull off an upset.

A pair of runners from England deserves some attention. Both are from the Wiltshire yard of Richard Hannon, and his son-in-law Richard Hughes has plumped for Van Der Neer (by Dutch Art), third in the Qipco 2000 Guineas, Gr.1, behind Dawn Approach, while saddle duty aboard stablemate Havana Gold (by Teofilo) has been entrusted to Jamie Spencer.

It's an open race where O'Brien holds the "Kings", if not the "Aces", but none so strong that they cannot be trumped!

With the declaration stage not having been reached at the time of writing, it appears that Sunday afternoon's Etihad Airways Irish 1000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600 m.) will see up to 18 fillies lining up on the same track.

The British-trained Just The Judge (by Lawman), so unlucky in the corresponding event at Newmarket three weeks ago when just touched off by Sky Lantern, seeks redemption across the Irish Sea. Young Charlie Hills, who has taken over the Lambourn stable so ably handled for decades by his now-retired father Barry Hills, will surely be hoping that his quest for a maiden classic winner will end with her victory. Jamie Spencer will continue his association with the 11 to 4 favourite, who races in the colours of Qatar Racing and the Sangster family.

Aiming for a classic double is another schooler from Britain, trainer Richard Hannon, who having sent out Sky Lantern to score in the Qipco 1,000 Guineas, Gr.1, will be represented here by Maureen (by Holy Roman Emperor). The improving sort, who had been a mere 2-1/2 lengths behind her victorious stablemate on that occasion, will now have the services of Richard Hughes and is a best-priced 11 to 2 chance.

The multi-pronged home defence sees viable prospects from several leading Irish stables, not merely the ubiquitous Ballydoyle-trained performers that embellish the big race scene on so many occasions. In fact the 5 to 1 Viztoria (by Oratorio), from Edward Lynam's Dunshaughlin yard up in Co. Meath, and the 6 to 1 locally-trained Big Break (by Dansili), an inmate of Dermot Weld's training establishment, are better fancied than anything from Tipperary.

Both have a realistic shot at the €174,000 winner's prize; the former with a stellar record of 3 wins from 4 starts and the services of Johnny Murtagh in the saddle is highly fancied by her schooler, while the latter, an own-sister to the hardy Famous Name, is a representative of the mighty Juddmonte operation. She might just prefer a drop of rain. Pat Smullen is her likely pilot.

Although Ballydoyle's Hanky Panky (by Galileo), a half-sister to none other than Giant's Causeway, is arguably the best-bred participant in the field, she has a mountain to climb on form, with only a maiden win at Naas earlier this season on her resume. A far more likely prospect from the Aidan O'Brien stables is Snow Queen (by Danehill Dancer), who, with just over two lengths to make up on the favourite on their Guineas running, is quoted at 6 to 1. Almost certainly Joseph O'Brien will select her over Just Pretending (by Giant's Causeway), who has already won twice this month.

Finally, the Aga Khan has a credible runner in Harasiya (by Pivotal), tutored by veteran John Oxx, whose stable has taken some time to fire this season. The brown filly has not been seen in public this term, but has only a little ground to make up on form – she had been placed behind Sky Lantern in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at 2 last year.

Three-year-olds improve rapidly at this time of year so upsets are not uncommon – Samitar last year started at 12 to 1, while Bethrah in 2010 was a 16 to 1 chance. On balance, Just The Judge, Viztoria and Big Break form the core from which the winner should emerge.