With the Guineas events in England and France done and dusted, it's time for the Irish equivalents to be up for grabs. Both their Guineas races are contested on the same weekend at the Curragh, with the "2000" to be run at 3:20 p.m. (local) on Saturday and the "1000" at 3:55 p.m. (local) the following afternoon. This year, the renowned auction house, Tattersalls, have extended their sponsorship to the Irish 1000 Guineas as well, replacing Etihad Airways.

Just 11 have been declared for the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas, and the race has a prohibitive 2-5 favourite in Gleneagles (by Galileo), who showed marked improvement when easily accounting for his rivals in the English equivalent at Newmarket three weeks ago. That was his first run of the season, and he could well improve further. It's been a while since any of his rivals got his nose in front of the Ballydoyle hope at the business end of a race. With ace jockey Ryan Moore up, there looks to be little chance that any of his 10 opponents here can topple Aidan O'Brien's ward.

As is usual in European classics, the Coolmore team runs more than one. The favourite's stablemates Smuggler's Cove (by Fastnet Rock), with Seamie Heffernan up, and The Warrior (by Exceed And Excel), partnered by Joseph O'Brien, will accompany him to the post.

Who can pose the greatest threat to the budding champion? On known form, some feel that this would have to be Ivawood (by Zebedee). Like his sire, he was a good juvenile, with 3 wins from 4 starts, and has shown that he has trained on this term, as evidenced by his third-placed effort three lengths behind Gleneagles in the Qipco 2000 Guineas. With refreshing candour, his trainer, Richard Hannon, Jr., pointed out that: "The odds are stacked against us, but we think Ivawood has improved again since the Guineas and, though we are not claiming we will beat Gleneagles, who looked a proper horse at Newmarket, we have always loved our fellow and he'll be giving his all to gain revenge". Richard Hughes will continue his association with the consistent bay, a 5 to 1 chance.

However, it is another English challenger that seems to be the principal obstacle to a Gleneagles double and this is Belardo (by Lope De Vega), one of the leading two-year-olds of 2014, if not the best. Of course, he was a tad disappointing on his seasonal debut when not sighted in the Greenham Stakes in April this year. But then he would not be here unless trainer Roger Varian had seen signs of revival. "Belardo is in great form", he said on his website, adding "His homework has been to a very high standard. He was unsuited by the fast ground at Newbury in the Greenham and, all being well, the ground won't dry out too much in Ireland." Last year Andrea Atzeni was the exclusive pilot on this 10 to 1 chance, but with Godolphin having taken a share, saddle duties have been assigned to James Doyle.

The better-credentialled candidates are rounded off by Tombelaine (by First Defence), from the "in-form" Rosewell House stables of Dermot Weld. The Juddmonte hope has run within a length of Gleneagles last year and showed his well-being this term when returning with a smooth victory in the Tetrarch Stakes over 7 fur. Pat Smullen steers the 14 to 1 chance.

As many as 18 three-year-old fillies are expected to face the starter on Sunday in the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas. Yet again, the location of the public choice – at 2 to 1 – is Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle Stables, where Found (by Galileo) resides. A high class two-year-old, she holds the distinction of having beaten Ervedya (by Siyouni), who recently franked the form by her triumph in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas). However, after playing a cat-and-mouse game with punters regarding her possible participation in the Qipco 1000 Guineas in England, Found turned up the following day in the Athasi Stakes, never having left Ireland. In her come-back race she carried a penalty for her Group 1 success as a juvenile. That, perhaps allied with a touch of rustiness, resulted in her going under – she finished runner-up to Iveagh Gardens, despite the best efforts of Ryan Moore. The same rider takes the reins here and a vastly improved effort can reasonably be anticipated.

The second choice at 5 to 1 is a rare Niarchos contender that is not home-bred in the shape of Bocca Baciata (by Big Bad Bob). Costing €230,000 as a yearling – a high price for one of her breeding – the Jessica Harington-trainee is coming down in distance, having scored over 10 fur. earlier this season.

A point longer in price is the Ballydoyle "second-string", the superbly-bred Kissed By Angels (by Galileo), with Joseph O'Brien at the controls. Making only her third start, the daughter of multiple Group 1 winner Lillie Langtry could well surprise if she shows the spectacular improvement associated with others who fit her profile – as, for example, Marvellous last year.

An 8 to 1 chance that is likely to be seen to good effect is the Aga Khan's Raydara (by Rock Of Gibraltar). One of about a dozen three-year-olds the owner has with schooler Michael Halford at his establishment in Kildare Town, the brown filly has previous winning experience on the track but missed her intended engagement at Newmarket due to not being quite right at the time. A racecourse gallop was substituted but as with other similar cases, one never knows before the event whether that is enough, does one?

"The plan was to go to Newmarket for the 1000 Guineas, but she just wasn't sparking at the time and we said we would just wait for this weekend" said Halford, who added "she has been to the racecourse for a gallop and I'm happy with her. She is a clear-winded filly and an easy filly to get right."

A couple of other Irish-trained runners deserve a mention and these include the oddly-named (for a filly), Jack Naylor (by Champs Elysees), who had the scalps of Legatissimo and Agnes Stewart to her credit last year. Given that the latter pair have underlined the form since, she can be said to possess the required level of ability and consistency, but may find the trip too sharp. "Jack" is a stablemate of Bocca Baciata and Richard Hughes has been booked for the ride.

Finally, one can never discount the canny Jim Bolger of Glebe House, Coolcullen, who fields his home-bred Pleascach (by Teofilo). Family connections abound with the bay, who is owned by his wife and is to be ridden by their son-in-law, Kevin Manning. Pleascach too wouldn’t need to improve too much to have a hand in the finish, though she might prefer it longer.