Hollie Doyle's blog: Duty First headlines stellar line-up on a Classic weekend at the Curragh
Our ambassador Hollie Doyle heads to Goodwood on Saturday with a full book of rides and makes the trip to the Curragh on Sunday to partner Duty First in the Irish 1,000 Guineas.
Saturday 24 May 2025 11:15, UK
With seven rides at Goodwood on Saturday, Hollie Doyle previews her chances on the downs as well as the best of the action from the Curragh, where she partners Duty First in the Group One Irish 1,000 Guineas on Sunday.
DUTY ON REVIVAL MISSION IN IRISH GUINEAS
It's a busy start to the weekend for me with seven rides at Goodwood but the highlight of my weekend is flying out to the Curragh to ride DUTY FIRST in the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas on Sunday.
It looks like we're on a revival mission after her disappointing performance in the Newmarket equivalent at the start of the month but Archie Watson and the team have been really happy with her at home.
Victorious Racing's filly just didn't handle the track at headquarters, getting very unbalanced in the dip, but the stiffer test on Sunday should suit her better. She'd be in the first four in the betting on her impressive Fred Darling win at Newbury in April so hopefully she can show that kind of sparkle again.
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BEST RATES HIGHLY IN GOODWOOD BOOK
BEST RATE is among my best chances of a winner at Goodwood in the £100,000 BetGGoodwin Harroways Handicap on Saturday.
It's always good to team up with my old boss Richard Hannon whose three-year-old brings strong form to the race following his agonising defeat at York's Dante Festival.
It's annoying that he's been nudged up two pounds for that but he gets into this off a light weight and we seem well enough placed in stall seven to run another big race.
STAMINA TEST SHOULD SUIT BASALT
BASALT looks set to be sent off at a big price in the Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood but we're expecting a good run from this lovely son of Pinatubo on his seasonal return.
We think he's trained on as his work has been pleasing at Archie's Saxon Gate Stables in Lambourn and he's bred to appreciate this step up in distance.
Basalt got stuck in heavy ground at Pontefract on his final start last autumn but still did well to finish third in that Listed race so he's definitely worth his place in this despite having something to find at the weights.
BLACK TYPE ACHIEVABLE FOR WALKER FILLY
NEVER LET GO steps up in class in pursuit of some valuable black type in the BetGoodwin Height Of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood.
Ed Walker's filly, who is out of an ex-Richard Hannon mare I knew well, has been placed in two handicaps this year but this is a much more demanding test. That said, it doesn't look the strongest race for the grade so it could be a good opportunity to secure some stakes form.
OCEAN READY FOR STEP UP IN TRIP
OCEAN OF DREAMS is definitely beginning to get the hang of things so I'm expecting big things from him in the BetGoodwin Download The App Handicap at Goodwood.
This is another step up in trip for Archie's ex-Aidan O'Brien gelding, who ran a super race for me at Ascot earlier this month on his first try at a mile and a half. He promises to relish the extra quarter mile and gets weight from his key rivals.
The cheekpieces go on stablemate CARRADOS for the first time when he reappears in the five-furlong Goodwood Horseracing Club Membership Handicap.
Archie found Wathnan Racing's gelding a winning opportunity at Wolverhampton a few weeks ago and this speed track should be just what he needs to make an impact on this handicap debut.
BIRD READY TO FLY HIGH
I rode Hughie Morrison's MYTHICAL BIRD on her first two starts and really liked her, particularly at Kempton when she finished third in a one-mile maiden last August.
I'm back on board in the Darley British EBF Fillies' Restricted Novice Stakes at Goodwood when she sets out to build on a promising return at Wolverhampton last month.
I'm also looking forward to BLUE NGURU's first day at school in the James Reid 60th Birthday EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes. Archie's filly is a big girl but has been going nicely at home and though she will be better in time I think she can acquit herself well.
STRONG PACE THE KEY TO GOLD
The race of the weekend is the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday when a strong gallop over a stiffer mile can see FIELD OF GOLD go one better than he did at Newmarket.
With a good pace to aim at I do believe John and Thady Gosden's grey can make himself a Classic winner but I'm also expecting big things from Jessica Harrington's HOTAZHELL.
Bred by my boss Imad Alsagar's Blue Diamond Stud, he showed his class by winning the Group One Futurity Trophy at Doncaster last back-end and looks the one Field Of Gold has to fear the most.
