Irish 1,000 Guineas: Precise lands Curragh Classic double for Aidan O'Brien
Precise secured an Irish Guineas double for Aidan O'Brien, breezing past stablemate True Love to score in the fillies' Classic at the Curragh; the victory secured a Guineas double for jockey Wayne Lordan, who rode True Love to victory in the British equivalent at Newmarket
Sunday 24 May 2026 18:05, UK
Precise followed in the footsteps of last year's winner Lake Victoria by leaving Newmarket disappointment in the past to land the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas in decisive fashion.
Sent off favourite for the opening fillies Classic of the season despite a less than ideal preparation, a lack of fitness ultimately told on the Rowley Mile as Wayne Lordan and True Love stormed to 1000 Guineas glory.
Jettisoned by Ryan Moore who switched to the Newmarket winner and 4/6 favourite for the Curragh equivalent, it proved a different story this time around for the daughter of Starspangledbanner who was the mount of Lordan and sent off 4/1 to add to her impressive juvenile haul.
With True Love following the pace set by Charlie Appleby's raider Abashiri among the cluster on the far rail, it looked like Moore's decision to ride the favourite would prove justified as she hit the front travelling well heading down to the furlong marker.
However, she had no answer to Precise's blistering acceleration inside the final furlong as Aidan O'Brien's charge claimed Classic redemption by two-and-a-half lengths.
O'Brien, winning the race for a record-extending 12th time, said: "She really stepped forward today and Wayne gave her a beautiful ride.
"In Newmarket, Ryan was on the 'wrong' side and when he made his move, she got tired, needed the run and Ryan looked after her in the last half-furlong.
"Roger (Quinlan), who rides her every day, said this morning that she was a different filly than the one going to Newmarket. Wayne gave her a beautiful ride and we're over the moon.
"It is very difficult on Ryan and we discussed riding arrangements before declaration time. It was very hard for him not to ride True Love and he didn't ride her in Newmarket because we weren't sure she would get a mile, but she did.
"Precise was only beaten five lengths at Newmarket, which isn't that much for this type of filly but she is a serious one and is as good as we've had. It looks like she will have no problem going further."
Almaqam delivers the goods in Tattersalls Gold Cup
Almaqam registered the top-level success Ed Walker had been craving with an utterly brilliant display in the Tattersalls Gold Cup.
Often left despairing over ground conditions with his star middle-distance performer, who ended last season by finishing third behind Calandagan and Ombudsman in the Champion Stakes, Walker headed into the lion's den of the Curragh for the five-year-old's first outing of the campaign and was duly rewarded.
Sent off 13/2 in the hands of Kieran Shoemark, the bay's rider was bullish from the off as he rolled forward and got his mount in the prime position to accelerate for home in the straight.
He then advertised every ounce of his class to lead home an all-British one-two-three, with George Scott's Bay City Roller two lengths behind in second and Roger Varian's Saddadd, Almaqam's half-brother, in third.
As well as it being Almaqam's first strike in Group One company, it was Shoemark's first since Friendly Soul's Prix de l'Opera triumph on Arc day in 2024 and a first for Walker since Makarova's Abbaye triumph on the same Parisian afternoon.
As a result of the victory Almaqam is now 6/1 for the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot with some bookmakers.
Walker said: "Kieran was absolutely brilliant on him and has really got to know him. He is a horse who needs waking up and engaging, as he is so laidback. I thought he gave him a peach of a ride.
"Fair play to the horse, as he hadn't run for a long time and he dug deep. It is a sigh of relief too, as I have banged on about this horse for long enough now so it is great to finally do it. People were probably bored with me talking about him and not producing, so hopefully this is his year and we could aim high now.
"This is a seriously tough division and it won't be easy wherever we go but he has bagged a big one now. This is my first winner in Ireland so at least I can come back with some confidence."
