Smullen takes Sea ride

Pat Smullen will ride Born To Sea in Saturday’s Abu Dhabi Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh, with the colt sporting a first-time hood.

A half-brother to the brilliant Sea The Stars, Born To Sea ruined his chance in the Newmarket Guineas by pulling much too hard in the early stages and trainer John Oxx hopes the hood will help to keep him calm.

Oxx also runs Takar, who will be the mount of owner the Aga Khan’s retained jockey Johnny Murtagh.