The RTÉ cameras get dusted off and sent to the Curragh. The first two Classics of this interrupted Flat season will be run on Friday and Saturday. The colts will be first to strut their stuff. There is some rain about on Thursday. I imagine the ground will still be on the quick side of good. 

4.05 Tally-Ho Stud Maiden 
Very little to go on. The Ballydoyle juveniles have looked very forward this week. Merchants Quay appears the chosen one here. Stablemate Admiral Nelson cost plenty as a yearling.

Selection: Merchants Quay 6-4

4.40 Irish Stallion Farms Maiden
Probably not a particularly strong maiden. Galileo Chrome looked green on debut in Leopardstown last October. That was a decent maiden and he did put in eye-catching work at the finish. He wouldn't need to find that much to prevail here. Aiseirigh holds an Irish Derby entry. He's the most interesting newcomer.

Selection: Galileo Chrome 10-1

5.10 Equine MediRecord Handicap
Ice Cold In Alex is hard to win with. He still looks well handicapped though, and should go close here. Verhoyen can be hard to pass on this sprint track. He's feared most.

Selection: Ice Cold In Alex 13-2

5.40 Anglesey Lodge Handicap
Layfayette looks on a handy mark. He has plenty of potential for improvement. He's also well berthed in stall four. United Front has fared less well in terms of starting position. He could be very well treated though.

Selection: Layfayette 12-1

6.10 Coolmore Gallinule Stakes
Chiricahua is still a maiden. This imposing specimen should enjoy a profitable three-year-old campaign. This race demands a big step up, but at the prices it's worth chancing that he can bridge the gap. Mythical sets the form standard.

Selection: Chiracahua 10-1

6.40 Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas
This looks very tricky. Vatican City is interesting. He's regally bred and looked the part when winning his maiden in Dundalk. This is obviously a big step up. Armory looks the type to improve as a three-year-old.

Selection: Vatican City 8-1

7.15 Paddy Power Irish Lincoln
A typically competitive renewal. A lack of obvious front-runners makes things even trickier. Bowerman can race handily, and is well drawn. He rates the token selection. Current Option heads the long list of viable alternatives.

Selection: Bowerman 9-1

7.45 Coolmore Mooresbridge Stakes 
A cracking renewal. It should boil down to a match between two top-class fillies. Search For A Song looks the real deal. She ran out a comfortable winner of the Irish St Leger last term despite racing inefficiently. She should have plenty more to offer this term. Fleeting is greatly feared.

Selection: Search For A Song 2-1

Watch live coverage of the Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival at the Curragh on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player on Friday and Saturday from 6-8pm.