Tattersalls Irish Guineas Weekend: Full Schedule, Must-Watch Races & Early Predictions
Adam Mace
The Tattersalls Irish Guineas weekend returns to Curragh Racecourse on Saturday, the 23rd and Sunday, the 24th of May, 2026.
The weekend regularly brings together two days of elite Flat racing and some of the strongest Classic contenders seen anywhere in Europe. Don’t miss the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (Saturday, 15:40), the Tattersalls Gold Cup (Sunday,16:30) and the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas (Sunday, 15:55).
With championship ambitions on the line and major Royal Ascot clues often emerging from the meeting, the Curragh’s showpiece Guineas weekend rarely disappoints. Below, we’ll break down the full race schedule, highlight the key races to watch, and take an early look at the horses most likely to make headlines at the 2026 running.
Saturday 23rd May
The Irish Guineas Weekend gets underway on Saturday with the Tally Ho Stud Irish EBF (13:20). There are nine full races to keep track of, but none bigger than the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (15:40). The full schedule is listed below:
13:20: Tally Ho Stud Irish EBF
13:55: Sherry FitzGerald Country Homes Orby Stakes
14:30: Keadeen Hotel Handicap (Premier Handicap)
15:05: Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes
15:40: Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas
16:15: Heider Family Stables Gallinule Stakes
16:50: NorthStandard Handicap
17:25: Irish Stallion Farms EBF Habitat Handicap (Premier Handicap)
17:55: O'Driscolls Irish Whiskey Irish EBF Maiden
Don’t miss the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas, but there’s plenty of action in other races scheduled to run throughout the day!
Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (15:40)
The Irish 2,000 Guineas is the feature race and, without doubt, the highlight of the first day of the weekend. It’s a short 1m contest with 13 runners currently entered with a going of Good To Yielding.
At the time of writing, it’s A P O’Brien’s Gstaad that stands as the early favourite, quietly followed by Charlie Appleby’s Distant Storm. O’Brien’s competitor has run over 1m in the last two runnings, placing 2nd and 1st at Newmarket and Del Mar, respectively.
K R Burke’s Alparslan is also looking good – he’s won 3 of the last 4 races entered, including a previous win at Curragh over 6½f in September, and a 7f contest at Newbury in April with a starting price of 9/1. The 1m distance will be new territory for the colt, but he’s already proved his winning pedigree. Watch all the action unfold for free on ITV.
Sunday 24th May
There’s another packed schedule for Sunday with eight more races, including the Tattersalls Gold Cup (15:55) and the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas (16:30). The full schedule is listed below:
13:45: Revamp Conservation And Restoration Irish EBF Fillies Maiden
14:15: Kilkea Castle Marble Hill Stakes
14:45: BYD At Finlay Motor Group Spring Fillies Handicap
15:20: Lanwades Stud Stakes
15:55: Tattersalls Gold Cup
16:30: Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas
17:05: Velo Coffee Handicap
17:40: CAVALOR Equine Nutrition Handicap
Don’t miss the Tattersalls Gold Cup and Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas – the pair of feature races scheduled for late afternoon. However, many races are still happening today, with plenty of action in each.
Tattersalls Gold Cup (15:55)
The Gold Cup is our first proper bit of racing action on Sunday, featuring a flat 1m2½f Group 1 race with 14 runners currently entered. There’s a cool €294,500 on offer for the winner, with the race open to mares and fillies aged 4+.
A P O'Brien’s once again holds the favourite with Minnie Hauk. She’s had good preparation with a win at Curragh over 1m2f earlier this month, hoping, but that’s just one of two recent victories at the racecourse. She also stormed home to victory in July of last year over 1m4f.
Outside the favourites, it’s George Scott’s Bay City Roller that’s caught my eye. The 4-year-old has a string of recent quality performances, including a second-place finish at Chester over 1m2½f earlier in the month and a first-place finish in Munich over 1m4f in November of last year.
Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas (16:30)
The Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas brings the weekend’s big races to a close with a 1m flat Group 1 race with an enormous €285,000 going to first place.
It’ll come as no surprise that A P O’Brien once again has the favourites among the 16 runners in this one, this time with Precise and True Love. O’Brien’s best shot, Precise, is running in tremendous form, winning 4 of the last 5 races, losing out only to True Love earlier in the month.
The alternative pick, True Love, has also been an impressive runner as of late. A win over 1m at Newmarket on May 3rd makes for good practice before the Irish 1,000 Guineas. From the outside looking in, A P O’Brien looks like he’s got this one all wrapped up before it’s even started.
Outside of the favourites, P Twomey’s Black Caviar Gold could be a good each-way pick. He’s been running well over the 1m distance with a second-place finish at Curragh earlier in the month. But he’s more suited to the longer distances – only time will tell who will be the best performer on the day.
What to Watch at the Tattersalls Irish Guineas Weekend 2026
Punters are absolutely spoiled for choice at this year’s Tattersalls Irish Guineas Weekend with 17 races crammed into just two days.
If you’re short on time or simply want to focus on the headline events, there are three races that stand above the rest. Don’t miss the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (Saturday, 15:40), the Tattersalls Gold Cup (Sunday,16:30) and the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas (Sunday, 15:55).
The Tattersalls Irish Guineas meeting rarely disappoints, and a packed two-day Curragh Racecourse schedule promises a memorable 2026 Irish Flat racing chapter.
