Irish 1000 Guineas odds: Opera Singer could deliver memorable performance

The Irish 1000 Guineas takes centre stage on Sunday's card at the Curragh and master trainer Aidan O'Brien has a strong hand in the race.

The final declarations for the fillies' Classic were made on Friday and O'Brien's exciting three-year-old Opera Singer is the current favourite.

She will face 12 rivals on Sunday although the Donnacha O'Brien-trained Porta Fortuna, narrowly beaten by Elmalka in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket earlier this month, was not included in the final field.

The British challenge will be headed by Fallen Angel, a disappointing eighth in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, and the Ralph Beckett-trained Skellet, who is aiming to make a winning start to her three-year-old season.

Irish 1000 Guineas odds

Opera Singer

Aidan O'Brien has won the Irish 1000 Guineas on a record 10 occasions and the well-regarded Opera Singer is hoping to give him yet another victory in the race.

The filly gave what her trainer described as "a very strong performance" to win the Prix Marcel Boussac under Ryan Moore by six-and-a-half lengths last October.

That win propelled Opera Singer to the top of the ante-post markets for the British 1000 Guineas and the Oaks but a setback over the winter means she missed the trip to Newmarket and will instead line up at the Curragh. 

Vespertilio

Willie McCreery saddles Vespertilio, who was second to Fallen Angel in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh last September and made a promising reappearance in the French 1000 Guineas.

Sent off at odds of 17/1, Vespertilio finished third of the 15 runners at Longchamp, beaten half a length by Rouhiya, and she is fancied by some to claim the Irish version of the race.

Fallen Angel

Hopes were high for the Karl Burke-trained Fallen Angel, who was backed into 100/30 favouritism for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on 5th May before fading to finish eighth.

Danny Tudhope again takes the ride and he was aboard Fallen Angel for two of her three wins last season, including the gutsy success over Vespertilio at the Curragh, where Ornellaia and Porta Fortuna dead-heated for third almost six lengths behind the winner.   

Buttons

As well as the favourite Opera Singer, Aidan O'Brien has three more runners in Sunday's Irish 1000 Guineas with Buttons expected to fare better than stablemates Everlasting and Pearls And Rubies.

Buttons made a winning debut under Ryan Moore at Leopardstown in June 2023, edging out Serious Notions by a nose having gone off as 4/6 favourite.

She was not seen again until 7th April when she finished third behind A Lilac Rolla, who also runs in Sunday's Classic, at Leopardstown and the 6/5 favourite was second to Wendla at the same track earlier this month.

Purple Lily

Another lightly-raced filly is Purple Lily, who has been sent off as favourite on all three of her starts.

She won by a comfortable three lengths on her seasonal reappearance at Naas but was beaten at Navan last time out.

A Lilac Rolla

Purple Lily's trainer Paddy Twomey has another live chance in the race in the form of A Lilac Rolla, who will be ridden by Colin Keane on Sunday.

She beat Opera Singer at the Curragh last summer, staying on strongly in the final furlong to pip Ryan Moore's mount by a head, and extended her unbeaten record to three races when reappearing at Leopardstown in April.

A Lilac Rolla had to dig deep for victory in the Group 3 Ballylinch Stud Priory Belle Stakes but the daughter of Harry Angel again prevailed by a head from Kitty Rose, with Buttons almost three lengths back in third.

Azada

Trainer Dermot Weld and jockey Chris Hayes enjoyed Irish 1000 Guineas success last season thanks to 2/5 favourite Tahiyra and this year their hopes lie with Azada.

She is something of an unknown quantity, having not raced since making a winning debut on heavy ground at Leopardstown in October 2023.

However, Weld said this week that he was pleased with Azada's progress and he is bidding for a hat-trick in the race after sending out 2022 winner Homeless Songs as well as Tahiyra.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.