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Elarqam still in Irish 2000 Guineas

Elarqam ridden by Jim Crowley goes on to win the Tattersalls Stakes at HQ
Image: Elarqam ridden by Jim Crowley goes on to win the Tattersalls Stakes at HQ

Elarqam is one of 14 possible runners in the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday.

The Frankel colt finished an honourable fourth in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and is now set to cross the Irish Sea for the Mark Johnston operation.

Symbolization, trained in Newmarket by Charlie Appleby, could join Elarqam in the line-up, but would be taking a significant leap in class having won a handicap last time.

Aidan O'Brien has left in Gustav Klimt, who finished sixth in the 2000 Guineas, US Navy Flag, Conclusion, Spanish Point and Threeandfourpence,

The Ballydoyle handler said: "The plan at the minute is that US Navy Flag, who ran in France, and Gustav Klimt, who ran at Newmarket, will go.

"Threeandfourpence might go as well. We'll see what else, but they are the main ones at the moment."

Imaging is prominent in the betting for the Dermot Weld team, while Fozzy Stack has high hopes for Zihba after he won a Group Three at Leopardstown earlier in the month.

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Landshark, Quizical, Romanised, Theobald and Would Be King are also involved at this stage.

Irish 1000 Guineas latest

Aidan O'Brien is responsible for nine of the 20 remaining fillies in contention for Sunday's Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh.

Heading up the team are Happily, who was third at Newmarket behind Richard Hannon's Billesdon Brook, and last year's Cheveley Park Stakes winner Clemmie.

Clemmie had been favourite for Newmarket before being ruled out of the race when a stone bruise held up her preparation.

"Happily will run and it's the plan to run Clemmie," said O'Brien.

"It will be Clemmie's first start and she will improve a lot from it, whatever she does. It was nothing major (her setback) and as long as she runs a nice race, we'll be pleased."

Actress, Athena, Could It Be Love, Hence, I Can Fly, Magical and Most Gifted are still in contention for the Ballydoyle team.

Karl Burke's Laurens, runner up at Newmarket, is still possible at this stage but Hannon decided against supplementing Billesdon Brook and Mick Channon has taken out Dan's Dream.

Burke had planned on taking Laurens straight to France for the Prix de Diane, but a run this weekend is a possibility, with the Prix Saint-Alary at ParisLongchamp another race to consider.

"She is in such good form that we couldn't not leave Laurens in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and we'll see what the ground is like closer to the weekend," said Burke.

"She has come out of the English Guineas in great form and PJ (McDonald) sat on her last week and this morning and he couldn't be happier with her and we are all delighted with her.

"We've also got an entry in France in the Prix Diane trial (Saint-Alary) as well so that race comes into the equation."

Charlie Appleby's Soliloquy and Mark Johnston's Threading at possible travellers, also.

Lightening Quick is due to have her first start for Johnny Murtagh after leaving the care of Ger Lyons, while Lyons has supplemented Who's Steph, a winner of two trials this season.

Kevin Prendergast's Alghabrah, Jessica Harrington's Alpha Centauri and Dermot Weld's Chiara Luna are other interesting contenders.

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