Murtagh for Perfections ride

Johnny Murtagh takes the place of Thierry Thulliez, who was heavily-criticised for his riding of Six Perfections in the Sagitta 1000 Guineas, in the Irish equivalent on Sunday.

Johnny Murtagh replaces the Frenchman on the Pascal Bary-trained filly in the Entenmann’s Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh.

“The filly is very well and she runs on Sunday. Johnny Murtagh is riding the filly – an Irishman in Ireland,” said Alan Cooper, racing manager to owners, the Niarchos family.

“I’ve no comment to make about anything being expressed about Monsieur Thulliez,” he added.

Six Perfections started a hot favourite for the fillies’ Classic at Newmarket earlier this month in the hands of Thulliez but was pushed into second place a length and a half behind Russian Rhythm.

Drawn on the stands’ rail in stall one, Six Perfections was at the rear of the field with just over two furlongs to go and was forced wide following scrimmaging.

She made up a tremendous amount of ground when switched to the outside but could not reach the winner.

Thulliez has ridden Six Perfections in all her six races to date, winning four times and finishing second twice.

But the decision to replace him gives Murtagh the chance to win the Irish 1000 for the first time.