IRISH 2000 GUINEAS BETTING ODDS AND LATEST TIPS

It’s quite a jumble facing the punters in the 2010 Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh this Saturday. We have a few solid prices out there and the big question seems to be whether its going to be one of the favoured three finding a bit more and stepping up to the plate, or whether they get hit by a long-odds improver. Personally, I think that both options are likely and it’s a matter of finding the right value in the each-way market and putting a hedge on that with one of the more favoured runners.

It’s certainly not the most open field and you’ll find the competition is starting to heat up between Canford Cliffs (Tagula) and Steinbeck (Footstepsinthesand). I think Steinbeck is a bit overlaid as this is going to be his seasonal debut whereas Canford Cliffs had a 3rd place effort in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. Canford Cliffs was sent off at 12/1 that day and offered a decent return for the each-way punters. He was held up a bit at the start in that race and, if he was able to get a better position early on then it may have been a different story. He wasn’t able to find more in the final furlong and I think that his recent workouts indicate that his connections have been trying to stretch him out in distance. The question really seems to be whether its going to take or not.
With a perfect trip, Canford Cliffs is your best bet, but he hasn’t shown acumen over this surface and that’s a pretty big variable that puts me off of him at an 11/4 price tag.
Steinbeck is definitely one of the up-and-comers in the AP O’Brien yard and they’re looking for a massive season debut here. Personally, I think he is priced too short here for my money but could factor into your forecast bets. The last 100 yards or so are crucial for this one and the bay colt needs to step it up in a very big way.
Personally, my win-only money is heading towards a member of the home team- Noll Wallop (High Chaparral). This Irish colt ticks all the boxes for me- a value price of 10/1, a win over the Curragh surface on soft ground and a win on his seasonal debut at Leopardstown when sent off at 7/2. Even his first race boasts a stellar reference- finishing 4th to the well-respected Group 3 winner Chabal (Galileo). He has shown the ability to push on late and there’s plenty of tactical speed in there as well. In a field with a lot of question marks over top of it I think he’s a bit of a steady-Eddie type and is definitely worth a bet. Play him in your forecasts if you’re going elsewhere as his late kick will see him make up ground over the final 1/2 furlong.
Group 3 winner Free Judgement (Vindication) is my pick from the lower portion of the each-way market with a 25/1 price tag. He scored on May 3rd with a victory in the Tetrach Stakes over the Curragh surface. He was beaten by Noll Wallop back in March though and he may not be able to handle the step up in class. He’s a staying sort and if the race turns out to be a bit of a bore, then he could be the type to hold on if things get tight.
We’ll be bringing you more coverage of the Irish 2000 Guineas as we get closer to post time. Stay tuned to Betting Choice for all the latest market movers for this big race!