Ratings Update: Irish Guineas and Temple Stakes

It was far from a case of the usual suspects in both the Irish 2000 and 1000 Guineas at the Curragh this weekend, with Awtaad and Jet Setting both springing minor surprises in running out 9/2 and 9/1 winners of the first Irish classics of the season.

Aidan O’Brien has won four of the last five renewals of the Irish 2000 Guineas, including in 2015 with Gleneagles, who completed a rare double, having won also won the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. That elite group also includes the likes of Henrythenavigator and Rock of Gibraltar, but does not include Galileo Gold, who showed why the double has only been done a handful of times when finishing second to Awtaad on Saturday, encountering soft ground for the first time in his career and failing to reproduce the form he showed at Newmarket three weeks ago. Galileo Gold remains Timeform-rated 125 (achieved at Newmarket) and is more likely to be seen to better effect in the likes of the St James’s Palace, perhaps back on a sounder surface.

The fact that Galileo Gold and second favourite Air Force Blue (who is now rated 124, from 128, after two extremely disappointing efforts this season) were both below their best means that Awtaad’s winning performance probably just came in an ordinary renewal of the Irish 2000 Guineas. That said, Awtaad produced a very smart effort to continue his astonishing rise through the ranks (began this season with a handicap win off 95) and is now rated 124p (from 110p). He will reportedly head to the St James’s Palace at Royal Ascot next, where a tantalising clash awaits with both Galileo Gold and impressive Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner The Gurkha, who is also rated 124p.

In a similar vein to Galileo Gold, Minding was bidding to become just the third filly to do the 1000 Guineas/Irish 1000 Guineas double (after Attraction and Finsceal Beo), but like Galileo Gold, she also finished second at the Curragh. Minding was also below the form of her Guineas win (though only slightly), and has been dropped from 122 to 121. The winner Jet Setting, who was providing her trainer Adrian Keatley with a landmark success after being picked up for just 12,000 gns in October, had been no match for Minding at Newmarket but was clearly far better suited by conditions on Sunday, able to dominate back on softer ground. Jet Setting – now rated 118 – doesn’t have the long-term potential of Minding and is unlikely to beat Aidan O’Brien’s filly if the pair meet again, though she will still deserve plenty of respect the next time she is faced with soft ground.

Naturally for the time of year, there were also plenty of other Royal Ascot clues on offer. Haydock’s Temple Stakes has often served as a good trial for the King’s Stand, with three of the last five winners going on to make the frame over the same trip at Ascot and the 2011 Temple Stakes winner Sole Power going on to win the King’s Stand in both 2013 and 2014.

This year’s winner Profitable (now rated 125, from 119) has looked more professional this year, having developed both physically and mentally from his three-year-old season, and though runner-up Mecca’s Angel (remains on 129) was perhaps not at her very best (despite suitable underfoot conditions) on the day the accompanying timefigure adds substance to Profitable’s performance. The pair also pulled clear of the likes of 2015 winner Pearl Secret. A repeat of this performance from Profitable would see him there or thereabouts in an average King’s Stand, while Mecca’s Angel – who conceded race fitness to many in the field after nine months off – could well get back to the sort of level that saw her win the Nunthorpe – form that has her above every other five-furlong sprinter around – granted the right underfoot conditions.

Veteran sprinter Take Cover won Haydock’s listed Achilles Stakes on Friday, running to a Timeform rating of 120, similar to the one he ran too when winning the 2014 King George at Goodwood. He has something to find with the principals in the King’s Stand, but he is at least in much better form heading into the race this time compared to previous years.

Goodwood hosted two listed contests which are often of interest going forward, and Height of Fashion winner Skiffle (108p) looks a contender for the Ribblesdale at the Royal meeting next month. Cocked Hat winner Algometer (114p) is entered in the King Edward VII Stakes, but the style of his willing victory on Friday (which also gave a boost to the injured Midterm’s Classic Trial win) may mean that the further he goes, the better he is, and it is unsurprising to see him prominent in the ante-post betting for the St Leger.

Caravaggio won the listed Marble Hill Stakes over the minimum trip at the Curragh on Saturday, putting up a smart performance (now rated 112p) as he maintained his unbeaten record under a hands-and-heels ride. He remains open to further improvement and is sure to take plenty of beating if showing up at Royal Ascot.

Tattersalls Gold Cup winner Fascinating Rock will reportedly be aimed towards an autumn campaign, with Ascot’s Champion Stakes (which he won last year) preferred to any Royal Ascot engagements, which is unsurprising given his best form is on good going or softer. Fascinating Rock ran right up to his best in beating Found (who ran well but was below her very best and is now rated 123) and, given that there are currently only seven horses rated higher by Timeform in Europe, he would certainly not look out of place in the Arc.