ONLY ONE French-trained horse has won the Abu Dhabi Irish 2,000 Guineas in the 91-year history of the Classic but Hermival will attempt to enter the history books at the Curragh tomorrow.
The Mikel Delzangles-trained colt, third to Camelot in the Newmarket Guineas earlier in the month, was one of 11 final declarations for the first Irish Classic of 2012 yesterday.
They include the ante-post favourite Parish Hall and four from Aidan O’Brien’s all-powerful Ballydoyle yard, as the champion trainer pursues an eighth win in the race.
Stan James go just 15 to 8 on O’Brien winning both Classics this weekend. He has already managed that feat four times in his career.
However, the best proven Classic form in the colts feature is provided by Hermival, who will be ridden by the 29-year-old Belgian-born jockey Gregory Benoist.
Spinning World, in 1996, trained by Jonathan Pease and ridden by Cash Asmussen, is the only French-based winner of the Irish Guineas in the record books, but Hermival has been confirmed a traveller to try and rectify that statistic.
“He did his last piece of work on Monday and it went well,” reported Delzangles, who won the Newmarket Guineas two years ago with Makfi and hit the international headlines when Dunaden landed last November’s Melbourne Cup.
Hermival was third to French Fifteen in April’s Prix Djebel before filling the same place behind both Camelot and French Fifteen at Newmarket when racing on the far side of the track.
The Curragh will be a novel experience for Benoist, who rode his first Group winner only three years ago aboard a horse owned by actor Omar Sharif.
The Curragh authorities have not ruled out watering the course for this weekend’s triple Group One festival, with the going described as “good” after manager Paul Hensey walked the track yesterday afternoon.
“Watering isn’t necessary yet, but we will monitor things and I’m not ruling it out if necessary,” said Hensey. “The forecast for the weekend is good, with temperatures expected to be in the low 20s over the next few days.”
Just two British-trained horses will line up in the 2,000 Guineas. Bryan Smart runs the Mill Reef Stakes fourth Foxtrot Romeo, while Trumpet Major, fourth in the Newmarket Classic, attempts to further extend Richard Hannon’s excellent record in the race.
The British champion trainer is a previous guineas winner with Don’t Forget Me (1987), Tirol (1990) and Canford Cliffs in 2010.
Last year’s winning jockey, Joseph O’Brien, is aboard the apparent Ballydoyle number one Power and has also been booked by the Newmarket trainer Marco Botti for Law Of The Range in the TRI Equestrian Stakes.
“The field has cut up a bit, but it still looks a good race,” said Botti.
“She’s in good order, but the Newmarket race last time just didn’t pan out for her . . . they went no pace. The ground was slower than she likes, it was a bit tacky. She’ll be back over her best trip of a mile and Joseph O’Brien will ride her. I’m expecting her to run well.”
