Just nine colts run in the first Classic of the season in the Emerald Isle, the Irish 2000 Guineas of 2025 with powerful owners having strong hands at the Curragh. Both the Juddmonte silks of the late Prince Khalid Abduallah and colours of the Coolmore partners have three irons in the fire each.
Newmarket equivalent second Field Of Gold heads the Juddmonte trio and four UK raiders in the mile Group 1 contest on Saturday, 24 May. Owner companions Cosmic Year and Windlord are connections’ other runners. Coolmore rely on course specialist Officer, English Guineas flop Expanded and Comanche Brave.
Jessica Harrington will hope all the forecast rain and more hits the Curragh, meanwhile, as her representative Hotazhell needs cut in the ground. He was a late scratching from the French equivalent, the Poule d’Essai de Poulains. Hotazthell is one of only two Group 1 winners in the line-up, alongside Joseph O’Brien inmate Scorthy Champ.
Rashabar, a Royal Ascot winner last season, completes the line-up for an intriguing edition of the Curragh Classic. If traders on horse racing betting sites have it right, then Juddmonte hold the strongest hand with two of their three colts (all with different British stables) at the front of the market. This our experts’ detailed runners guide.
Irish 2000 Guineas 2025 Runners Guide
1. Comanche Brave
- Sire: Wootton Bassett
- Dam: Ishvana
- Damsire: Holy Roman Emperor
- Draw: Stall 7
- Jockey: Gavin Ryan
- Trainer: Donnacha O’Brien
- Official Rating: 107
- Form Figures: 4124-2
- Notable Wins: None
Split subsequent scorers Henri Matisse and Arizona Blaze when runner-up in Leopardstown Group 3 trial for this. Winner has since landed French version of the Guineas. No surprise if he comes on for his reappearance like he did as a juvenile.
2. Cosmic Year
- Sire: Kingman
- Dam: Passage Of Time
- Damsire: Dansili
- Draw: Stall 5
- Jockey: Oisin Murphy
- Trainer: Harry Charlton
- Official Rating: 110
- Form Figures: 1-11
- Notable Wins: King Charles II Stakes
The unbeaten Cosmic Year also lines up for @JuddmonteFarms – last seen winning the King Charles II Stakes.@HarryJCharlton pic.twitter.com/HFWfJrZvXB
— British Champions Day (@Champions_Day) May 22, 2025
Unbeaten colt with three wins over 7f and had English Guineas entry. Connections went to Newmarket Listed event instead and now step him up in trip and class. Extra furlong should be no problem and big player in the Irish 2000 Guineas of 2025 if translating UK form.
3. Expanded
- Sire: Wootton Bassett
- Dam: Jigsaw
- Damsire: Galileo
- Draw: Stall 2
- Jockey: Wayne Lordan
- Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- Official Rating: 117
- Form Figures: 12-9
- Notable Wins: None
Close second in Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes as a juvenile, but undercooked for Newmarket reappearance in the English equivalent of this. Better than he showed over the Rowley Mile, and he should strip fitter for that return to action. Stable jockey rides Officer, however.
4. Field Of Gold
- Sire: Kingman
- Dam: Princess De Lune
- Damsire: Shamardal
- Draw: Stall 9
- Jockey: Colin Keane
- Trainers: John & Thady Gosden
- Official Rating: 120
- Form Figures: 3114-12
- Notable Wins: Solario Stakes, Craven Stakes
Dual Group 3 winner and unlucky second in Newmarket Guineas latest. Strong at the finish on both starts this season so far, jockey may have waited too long the last day. Replacement rider hugely experienced in Ireland and this one favourite for the Irish 2000 Guineas of 2025 with good reason.
5. Hotazhell
- Sire: Too Darn Hot
- Dam: Azenzar
- Damsire: Danehill Dancer
- Draw: Stall 4
- Jockey: Shane Foley
- Trainer: Jessica Harrington
- Official Rating: 117
- Form Figures: 411211-
- Notable Wins: Beresford Stakes, Futurity Trophy
Ended last season on real high with Group 2 and 1 mile wins around Leopardstown and at Doncaster. Best form on good to yielding or softer going, though, so needs rain to hit the track on the day as forecast.
6. Officer
- Sire: Dubawi
- Dam: Hydrangea
- Damsire: Galileo
- Draw: Stall 3
- Jockey: Ryan Moore
- Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- Official Rating: 108
- Form Figures: 1-31
- Notable Wins: Tetrarch Stakes
A dozen horses remain in the mix for the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas at @curraghrace on Saturday. Officer is one of four left in by Aidan O’Brien. pic.twitter.com/x8PslPehNv
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 20, 2025
Course and distance winner in Listed company when last in action. Improved for reappearance third when getting lumps of weight here over 7f from older horses. Ballydoyle stable jockey rides him in the Irish 2000 Guineas of 2025, which may be a tip in itself and suggests he’s improving rapidly.
7. Rashabar
- Sire: Holy Roman Emperor
- Dam: Amazonka
- Damsire: Camelot
- Draw: Stall 1
- Jockey: Sean Levey
- Trainer: Brian Meehan
- Official Rating: 113
- Form Figures: 32122-2
- Notable Wins: Coventry Stakes
Group 2 winner at the Royal meeting as a juvenile and close runner-up in two French Group 1s thereafter. Shaped as if needing the run when again second in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury on reappearance. Must build on that here, however.
8. Scorthy Champ
- Sire: Mehmas
- Dam: Fidaaha
- Damsire: New Approach
- Draw: Stall 8
- Jockey: Dylan Browne McMonagle
- Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
- Official Rating: 115
- Form Figures: 131-7
- Notable Wins: Vincent O’Brien National Stakes
Group 1 course winner over 7f as a juvenile, beating aforementioned Henri Matisse. Didn’t fire when only seventh in Newmarket version of this on reappearance. Entitled to come on for that run, though. Could go well in the Irish 2000 Guineas of 2025 at a bigger price.
9. Windlord
- Sire: Dubawi
- Dam: Goldika
- Damsire: Intello
- Draw: Stall 6
- Jockey: Chris Hayes
- Trainer: Andrew Balding
- Official Rating: 105
- Form Figures: 4213-2
- Notable Wins: None
Apparent third string for powerful international owner-breeders. Third to Hotazhell in Beresford Stakes on previous visit to Ireland. Didn’t quite see out a mile-and-a-quarter in the Sandown Classic Trial on reappearance. Could have pacemaker duties for Cosmic Year and Field Of Gold now.
Irish 2000 Guineas 2025 Shortlist & Verdict
Leading form claims go to Newmarket second Field Of Gold, who should confirm form with re-opposing seventh Scorthy Champ and Expanded. He’s a short price, however, and value may lie elsewhere. Preparations for Cosmic Year haven’t exactly gone under the radar either, but he’s a big threat on the upgrade.
Rain may come in time for HOTAZHELL to have suitable conditions if the weather forecast is right. Harrington had him ready to run in the French Guineas. Improving Officer also commands respect as the chosen mount of Ryan Moore, but Coolmore third string Comanche Brave is also interesting at a big price.
