Ivawood seeking Gleneagles revenge in ‘2000’

Richard Hannon is under no illusions about the task facing Ivawood ahead of his rematch with Gleneagles in the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas.

A winner of three of his four juvenile starts before being touched off in the Middle Park Stakes, Ivawood was a disappointing favourite on his reappearance in the Greenham at Newbury, but raised his game significantly to finish a three-length third behind Gleneagles in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket three weeks ago. The pair renew rivalries at the Curragh on Saturday and Gleneagles is unsurprisingly a hot favourite to confirm his superiority, but Hannon could not be happier with his charge.

He said: “The odds are stacked against us, but we think Ivawood has improved again since the Guineas and, though we are not claiming we will beat Gleneagles who looked a proper horse at Newmarket, we have always loved our fellow and he’ll be giving his all to gain revenge.

“He’ll be going there at the top of his game.”

Hannon also sends outsider Lexington Times in a bid for Classic glory. The son of Paco Boy won the Spring Cup at Lingfield in March but has been beaten on each of his two starts since on the all-weather.

“Lexington Times has it all to do on ratings but has definitely improved for a little break. The owners are keen to have a shot, and why not?” Hannon said on his website www.richardhannonracing.co.uk.

The Hannon pair are joined on the trip across the Irish Sea by the Roger Varian-trained Belardo. Last season’s Dewhurst hero finished down the field on his Greenham return, but Varian expects a much improved performance this weekend with underfoot conditions that bit easier.

“He was unsuited by the fast ground at Newbury in the Greenham and, all being well, the ground won’t dry out too much,” the trainer told his website.

Gleneagles is one of three runners for Aidan O’Brien, with Ryan Moore’s mount joined by stable companions Smuggler’s Cove (Seamie Heffernan) and The Warrior (Joseph O’Brien).

Ger Lyons fires a twin assault with Endless Drama and Convergence in contention. Kevin Prendergast’s Mohaayed and Carbon Dating from Pat Shanahan’s yard complete the field.