Strong O'Brien team for Irish 2000 Guineas.
Thursday, 22 May 2003 13:27Aidan O'Brien's team of five head a field of 16 for the Entenmann's Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday. As expected the Ballydoyle trainer has taken out his French 2000 Guineas runner-up Catcher In The Rye, but he still has a strong hand as he bids to register his fifth success in the Irish Classic in the last seven years.
His representatives are Tomahawk, France, Great Pyramid, Salt Lake City and the unraced Solskjaer. There is a six-strong British challenge.
These include Godolphin's Desert Destiny and the Paul D'Arcy-trained Indian Haven, who were both supplemented on Tuesday at a cost of ¤40,000
Indian Haven, badly hampered when 14th to Refuse To Bend in the Sagitta 2000 Guineas, is one of four horses who took part in the Newmarket Classic bidding for Curragh glory.
The others are runner-up Zafeen (Mick Channon), fourth-placed Tout Seul (Fulke Johnson Houghton) and Saturn (Michael Bell), who finished fifth.
Completing the raiding party is the Barry Hills-trained Makhlab. Refuse To Bend's trainer Dermot Weld saddles Evolving Tactics.
Filed by James McMahon
