Saturday at the Curragh sees the first of the Irish classics – the 2000 Guineas – and what a race it promises to be.

With first and second at Newmarket again in opposition, will the outcome be the same or will Jim Bolger´s New Approach gain his revenge over the Aidan O´Brien trained Henrythenavigator?

At Newmarket New Approach adopted his usual front running tactics which previously had been so successful. The son of Galileo travelled extremely well going into the last quarter of the race with a two lengths lead.

He was staying on really well only to be beaten by the shortest of short heads by the O´Brien colt under an inspired ride from Johnny Murtagh.

It would appear that Henrythenavigator requires good fast ground to run to his optimum. He was beaten by three lengths by New Approach over seven furlongs as a two-year-old on soft ground and his best performance was on fast ground in the Coventry at the Royal Meeting.

With watering having taken place on the Curragh and some rain forecast easy ground is a distinct possibility. It is worth remembering that just past the post at Newmarket New Approach was back in front and it was the superbly timed challenge of Murtagh that won the day.

Can he repeat the effort at the Curragh? All in all it looks like New Approach will come out on top.

This is by no means a two horse race. Ibn Khaldun represents Godolphin who have won the race twice before with Dubawi (2005) and Bachir (2000).

The winner of the Racing Post Trophy will have to have improved considerably from Newmarket and that is not impossible as the stable has hit top form winning the Group 1 Lockinge last Saturday.

New Approach is the selection.

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