As is well known, the weather often plays a part in deciding the results of horse races. To paraphrase the title of a famous Billy Wilder comedy, one can well say that "Some Like It Soft"! Heavy rain in Ireland this week has meant that the ground at the Curragh Racecourse in Co. Kildare is likely to be rated as yielding, though not necessarily heavy, when the Irish Guineas are run. Both events are down for decision this weekend. While the change in surface conditions will benefit some of the runners, it will inconvenience others.

Chief of those likely to appreciate the cut in the ground for the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas on Saturday, May 24^th, is the Juddmonte hope, Kingman (by Invincible Spirit), from the yard of John Gosden. The favourite for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 3^rd, he was mugged on the line there by Night Of Thunder (by Dubawi). Thus Kingman is attempting to replicate a feat last achieved by Barathea back in 1993, when the latter bounced back from defeat at the hands of Zafonic in the English equivalent to take the Irish classic. Retained rider James Doyle will take the reins.

The team is quite sanguine about his chances and Lord Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for Prince Khaled Abdullah's very successful operation said "I don't think he'll mind the juice in the ground. In fact, I think he'll relish it. He came out of the Guineas at Newmarket very well and worked nicely on Saturday." With conditions in his favour, it is no surprise that he is odds-on to take home the €174,000 prize and the trophy, one which has eluded the Juddmonte trophy chest so far.

Richard Hannon, Jr., in his first year as an independent trainer, tasted classic success earlier this month through the aforementioned Night Of Thunder. He has chosen to direct that progressive colt to Royal Ascot and to be represented here instead by Shifting Power (by Compton Place), to be ridden by Frankie Dettori. That this once-beaten runner has been supplemented at a cost of €30,000 suggests a massive vote of confidence, and he is an 8 to 1 chance to bridge the 2-1/2 lengths gap between him and Kingman last time out.

A feature of the Irish season of 2014 is the fantastic run veteran Dermot Weld has been having. He is striking at a rate exceeding 37%, twice the figure for Aidan O'Brien! With 33 victories already in the bag for Rosewell House stables, the outfit is aiming to add this prize to its tally through the medium of Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum's home-bred Mustajeeb (by Nayef). Winner of the Ardglen Amethyst Stakes over the trip on similar ground just a fortnight ago, he is an attractively-priced 11 to 2 chance with usual rider Pat Smullen aboard. Weld had won this race way back in 1986 with Flashing Steel.

It's rare in a review of this nature to discuss Aidan O'Brien-trained runners half a dozen paragraphs into the piece – his runners are often the first or second favourite – but the relative lack of wagering support is no doubt linked to the lukewarm start his wards have made to the season. The master of Ballydoyle fields a quintet in the 14-runner field and these include last year's leading juvenile, War Command (by War Front), who would have been disputing favouritism here had he not flopped in the English Guineas.

That said, Joseph O'Brien's mount is sure to have benefitted from the outing, his first since last October, and could provide some value at 13 to 2. And it's worth remembering that the likes of Mastercraftsman, Roderic O'Connor and Power, all Ballydoyle residents, won the Irish 2000 following unplaced efforts at "Headquarters".

O'Brien's other representatives are outsiders Fountain Of Youth (by Oasis Dream), with Fran Berry up, Great White Eagle (by Elusive Quality), steered by Seamie Heffernan, Johann Quatz (by High Chaparral), with Michael Hussey on board and Michaelmas (also by Elusive Quality), the mount of Colm O'Donoghue. All will have to show marked improvement to have a chance. O'Brien said "They are all in good form and working well."

Any short list of potential winners must necessarily include the public choice as well as Mustajeeb, Shifting Power and War Command. Obviously, given the ground conditions, something else could pop up – that's why their connections run them – but that seems most unlikely.

A day later, the equivalent one mile fillies' classic, the Etihad Airways Irish 1000 Guineas sees 14 three-year-old fillies engaged at the time of writing, although it appears that some of them will not run. One that is out is Rizeena (by Iffraaj) who had been confirmed as a definite runner earlier in the week but bled after work on Thursday morning. Connections opted to withdraw her in the circumstances, a wise approach, as little can ruin a horse more easily than participating at the highest level when not right.

Meanwhile, John Oxx is mulling over the prospect of fielding My Titania (by Sea The Stars), with Declan McDonogh scheduled to be astride should she go. The talented filly missed the Newmarket equivalent following a "dirty scope" from which she has since recovered. However she wants it good to firm and will not be risked on very soft ground. Some more rain is hovering around in the area, although by Sunday it should be clearing up.

Whatever the conditions, the Ollie Stevens-trained Lightning Thunder (by Dutch Art), beaten a mere neck by Miss France at Newmarket, looks likely to take part and would probably start the favourite. She has always been partnered by Harry Bentley. Hopefully it will not be a bog on Sunday – that sort of going could blunt her primary weapon, which is speed.

Marvellous (by Galileo) and Palace (by Fastnet Rock) are likely to represent Ballydoyle but are easy to oppose, particularly the former who does not have the required profile. Joseph O'Brien will most likely partner the latter, who has acted well in conditions that match the anticipated ground on Sunday. At the time of writing, the same stable's Wonderfully (by Galileo) is in the mix but may not run.

The same silks as will be sported by Kingman on Saturday could be seen to good effect on Sunday via the pair of promising Dermot Weld trainees, Tested (by Selkirk) and Vote Often (by Beat Hollow), both of which have a victory at 2 last year and another at 3 this term. Their schooler offered the reassuring news that “Both fillies are in good form and both will run. Pat Smullen will ride one of them and James Doyle will ride the other.” On form, the second-named runner seems the superior of this pair.

From Jim Bolger's Coolcullen Stables comes Heart Focus (by Intense Focus) whose career so far was intensely focused in a 2 month period last year, when she made 6 starts, all "on-the-board" efforts, one of which saw her in the winner's circle. Not having been seen in public since last July, fully 311 days ago, she might not be at absolute peak fitness first time out and will additionally need to demonstrate a degree of progress to have a realistic chance.

Overall it's a relatively weak renewal, with Lightning Thunder, My Titania and just possibly Palace being considered to be worthy of figuring in a list of leading probables.