Don't Oppose Oratorio in the Irish 2000

Despite the fact that 2,000 Guineas winner Footstepsinthesand looks set to miss Saturday's Boylesports Irish 2,000 Guineas, I still reckon that Ballydoyle maestro Aidan O'Brien holds the key here with Oratorio, who was a fast-finishing fourth in that English equivalent.Currently 13-8 joint-favourite with Godolphin's Dubawi, who was just behind the selection at Newmarket, Oratorio will relish the stiff mile at The Curragh, and, in my estimations, he should be odds-on for this contest.Don't get me wrong, Dubawi was impressive when landing the Group One National Stakes over seven furlongs at The Curragh in September, but the subsequent exploits of those behind him that day - perhaps with the slight exception of Craven Stakes winner and 2,000 Guineas sixth Democratic Deficit - suggest that he won a race no better than a Group Three in terms of actual strength in depth. The boys in blue will be buoyed by the victory of Shamardal in last weekends French 2,000 Guineas and there is a chance that Dubawi will leave the form of his disappointing fifth in the 2,000 Guineas well behind. However, in Oratorio, he is squaring up against a battle-hardened street fighter, who will be extremely hard to beat.The son of Danehill was a high class juvenile last season, winning three Group races, including the Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp on Arc day, before chasing home Shamardal in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in October.Although he was readily out-pointed in the last-named event, Oratorio had had a long hard season - that was seventh run of the campaign - whereas the winner went into the race following just two previous starts and a three-month break.Oratorio should get the strong pace he needs on Saturday, but if they try to crawl than it's likely that Kieren Fallon will send this versatile colt into the lead and let him do the donkeywork. Either way, he'll win.Rebel Rebel excelled himself when finishing well to be second to Footstepsinthesand at Newmarket and is sure to give a good account. However, I'm of the opinion that the both he and the third that day, Kandidate, simply got the run of the race and were flattered by their finishing positions. Indeed, rebel rebel had already had two runs under his belt, so held a fitness advantage over Oratorio and Dubawi, both of whom were making their seasonal reappearances.Democratic Deficit was hampered a furlong out when sixth at Newmarket, but, in truth, he was one paced at the time and probably wouldn't have reached the frame anyway. He is held by Oratorio, who easily beat him in the Futurity Stakes last August and had him behind when winning at Longchamp, while Dubawi had Jim Bolger's charge back in fourth when landing the National Stakes. I would not be surprised to see the Brian Meehan-trained Rebuttal run better than his price of 20-1 may suggest, but when push comes to shove this is one for Oratorio. Betting verdict: 2.5pts win Oratorio @ 13/8 (Coral)