War Command to be aimed at the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh on May 24th

War Command will be aimed at the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh after finishing ninth at Newmarket on Saturday.

Last year's Coventry Stakes and Dewhurst Stakes winner was strongly fancied for the 2,000 Guineas and although he failed to make a significant impact under Ryan Moore, trainer Aidan O'Brien expects improvement ahead of the Irish equivalent on May 24th.

O’Brien said: “He’s a big, bulky horse and he’s going to improve from the run. He’ll run in the Irish Guineas.”

War Command’s much-vaunted stable companion Australia fared better in the season’s opening Classic, beaten less than a length into third. The son of Galileo and Ouija Board is a hot favourite for the Investec Derby at Epsom on June 7th.

“He was a bit unlucky the way they split. Joseph (O’Brien) said he had to commit early, but he ran as straight as a gun barrel and I’m very happy with the way he’s come out of the race. He’s in good form and won’t run before the Derby,” said the Ballydoyle handler.

O’Brien was also double-handed in Sunday’s 1,000 Guineas, but favourite Tapestry trailed home last and Bracelet finished 14th of the 17 runners.

The trainer said: “I left her (Tapestry) a bit light and it was trainer error. I shouldn’t have run her.

“When she worked here after racing a couple of weeks ago she was fit and she worked well.

“She’ll have to have a bit of a break to get some condition back on her.

“Joseph looked after her when he knew she wasn’t going to get involved.

When Ryan got off Bracelet he said she wants to go further. She’s typical of a Montjeu.”