Delegator heads Guineas entries

Racing: Brian Meehan's Delegator faces eight rivals in the Boylesports.com Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday.

Racing:Brian Meehan's Delegator faces eight rivals in the Boylesports.com Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday.

A hugely impressive victory in the Craven Stakes in April ensured the colt was sent off favourite for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, but he had to settle for second behind impressive winner Sea The Stars.

Also representing Newmarket form is Aidan O'Brien's Mastercraftsman, who was fifth in the Classic.

He is one of four runners for the Ballydoyle maestro, along with Drumbeat, Hail Caesar and Viceroy Of India.

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John Oxx saddles the unbeaten Rayeni, Jim Bolger is represented by Fergus McIver, while Kevin Prendergast's Recharge and the Richard Hannon-trained Soul City complete the field.

Notable absentees include O'Brien's Westphalia, Godolphin inmate Ashram and Bolger's Dewhurst hero Intense Focus.

Prendergast admits he would prefer faster conditions for his Guineas candidate Recharge, but reports the colt to be in fine form.

"He couldn't be better, but we could have done with a bit better ground for him as it's been raining heavily here, practically non-stop," the trainer told At The Races.

"The ground is going to be very testing and holding - it was good to fast ground when he won at Leopardstown the last day.

"He's a smart horse, we're hoping for a big run and we hope the ground doesn't kill him.

"I think the horse of John Oxx's (Rayeni) has won twice on testing ground, so he looks like he will handle the ground well."