By Tom Frary
Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's G1 2,000 Guineas runner-up Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), trained by Richard Hannon, will face seven rivals, including a trio from Ballydoyle, in Saturday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh.
Bidding to become only the fifth English-trained runner to win since 2010, the year of the stable's Canford Cliffs (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}), last year's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere hero is likely to start favourite over the Aidan O'Brien-trained top-level performers River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Hannon also saddles the Guineas third Haatem (Ire) by the 2019 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}), with Jamie Spencer due to link up with Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah's colt.
Ryan Moore has opted for River Tiber, while Wayne Lordan is on Unquestionable and Declan McDonogh is set to partner the outsider of the Rosegreen contingent Mountain Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never), who was second to Unquestionable in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. The field is completed by the Joseph O'Brien-trained Atlantic Coast (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), the Andy Oliver-trained Listed Tetrarch S. winner Bright Stripes (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) and Take Me To Church (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), representing the Jack Davidson stable.
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