Irish 1000 Guineas Betting Guide
Flat horse races are wildly popular in Ireland, with the thrilling Irish 1,000 Guineas race (part of the Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival) being a major focus. This is a Group 1 flat horse race held each year at the Curragh Racecourse found in County Kildare, Ireland, an Irish equivalent of the British 1000 Guineas Stakes.
Only three-year-old thoroughbred fillies can participate in this event. This makes it different from the Irish 2000 Guineas race, where colts and fillies are accepted. On the other hand, just like its 2000 counterpart, this one includes a distance of 1 mile/1,609 metres. If you are planning to get involved in Irish 1000 Guineas betting, you should definitely check the guide we have prepared. Thanks to this guide, you can familiarise yourself with the various betting markets, the history of the race, the winners, and get advice and tips for placing bets.
1000 Guineas Ireland Race
As an annual race, the 1000 Guineas Ireland race is held at approximately the same time every year. More precisely, the race usually takes place at the end of May. This year, the Tattersalls 1000 Guineas Festival is due to take place on Sunday, May 28th.
Another important thing that every potential bettor should remember is that the Irish 1000 Guineas race was held at the Curragh Racecourse for the first time in 1922. That's just one year later after the first Irish 2000 Guineas race. As for the racecourse, it's across all flat ground and takes place in County Kildare in Ireland. The same track hosts many other events, including the so-called Classics (five essential flat races).
This is one of the most important horse races in Ireland, and one thing that can confirm this fact is the prizes. For example, after offering prize money of €400,000 for a few years, this amount increased to €500,000 in 2022. The same amount is promised to the winner this year. Of course, other participants who will end in the top 5 can also expect rewards.
If you want to wager money on this race (or any other race), then you should learn about its type. Here, you're looking at a Group 1 flat race. So, this is the highest-level event regarding thoroughbred horse racing. Also, as a flat race, it's run without any obstacles, and in this case – it takes place on grass.
Just to say it again, it's a race where horses should cover a distance of 1 mile/1,609 metres. The distance that jockeys and their horses must cover to finish the race is 1 mile or 1,609 metres. It usually takes between 1:30 and 2 minutes for the winners to complete the 1000 Guineas Ireland race.
Irish 1000 Guineas Betting Markets
The Irish 1000 Guineas race is a highlight of the horse racing calendar. At LeoVegas, you will find various betting markets and competitive odds. To help you learn more about these markets, we'll cover the three most popular bets related to the Irish 1000 Guineas and provide examples.
Forecast/Winner
While different, these two bets work in a similar way. The forecast bet involves predicting the first and second horses to cross the finish line in the correct order. Since this is not easy to anticipate, the returns are usually higher than for other types of bets. The straight forecast bet is usually preferred by experienced punters.
On the other hand, a winner bet involves choosing the horse you think will win the race, and if your pick finishes first, you win.
For the 2023 race, Tahiyra is the favourite, but many punters agree that there's value in backing Meditate too.
The latter won a few races in 2022, many of which were on flat turf like Curragh Racetrack. Still, 2023 didn't start that well for Meditate (ended in sixth place in the only race where it participated).
As for Tahiyra. This horse ended in second place at the Qipco 1000 Guineas and won the Moyglare Stud Stakes and the COLM QUINN BMW Irish EBF Fillies Maiden last year. The former is a flat horse race at the Curragh. Tahiyra also finished second this month in the British 1000 Guineas (Mawj was first). So, it's no surprise that it's one of the first picks for many bettors.
Each Way
In this case, you're looking at an option that merges two bets. You wager money on a horse to win the race and another bet on the same horse to place (finish in the top three positions).
This is a relatively safe bet and is highly recommended to beginners because even if the horse doesn't win but ends in the first three positions, you will still get paid. It goes without saying that the odds are lower compared to winner bets.
To get the most from this bet, you should check the odds and analyse the form of the horses. This year, you have several options to help you with this bet because we have two or three horses considered favourites.
Accumulator
You could also choose an accumulator for your Irish 1000 Guineas betting session. With an accumulator, you can throw two or more individual bets into a single wager, expanding the payout potential.
Let's take an example. Say you're confident about a horse winning and another horse ending the race in the top 3. With the help of an accumulator, you could mix these two predictions on a ticket. You would need both picks to come through to get a return. While accumulator bets can lead to higher rewards, they are also riskier.
If you're confident about your research and predictions, accumulator bets are worth considering.
Irish 1000 Guineas Stakes Ante-Post Betting
Ante-post betting is a favourite among punters. While many wait until just a few days before the race to make their selections, ante-post betting takes predictions to the next level by letting you place your bets weeks or even months before the event.
Imagine this: It's early in the racing season, and you've been following the form of several talented fillies. You have a strong hunch about a specific horse, believing it will have the form to shine in the 1000 Guineas Ireland race. With ante-post betting, you can back your intuition and place your wager on that promising horse long before the race day. Now, since getting involved in such an activity so early is risky, it's fair to ask why someone would like to do that.
The most important reason is the opportunity to get better odds. As the race gets closer, the odds tend to lower. When you bet well in advance, you can expect generous odds even if you pick the favourite.
Many argue that this approach will leave you without a chance to consider the current form and other factors (like the weather conditions) right before the race. However, when you use ante-post betting, you have a longer time to research.
The current form doesn't mean checking the last race – it means analysing the performance over a long period. There's no time pressure when you use this strategy. So, the ample time for research, the better odds, and the more betting opportunities make ante-post betting an option worth considering.
1000 Irish Guineas Winners
With over one hundred 1000 Irish Guineas winners, it's fair to say that this competition has a long history and interesting stats. For example, Homeless Songs won the race in 2022 with the 7th-best time in the history of this race.
A year before, in 2021, Empress Josephine won with one of the slowest times. This horse's trainer Aidan O'Brien won the previous two races with Peaceful and Hermosa. Another interesting fact about the winners is that Misty for Me (2011) holds the track record – 1:35.90.
How to Prepare Your 1000 Guineas Bets
Strategy and research are the keys to making the most of any betting activity. If you are new to Irish 1000 Guineas betting, there's no need to feel overwhelmed because other than a few specific things about this race, the usual horse racing betting strategy applies. Analysing the recent results, checking the race order, and assessing the trainer and jockey form play a significant role in this process. Let's explore these factors below!
Previous performance
One of the first things to check before the race is a mix of both recent and long-term performances. It's essential to look at finishing positions and running times.
The Irish 1000 Guineas is a flat race, so you should focus on the performance on similar grounds. You should look for patterns of consistency, such as horses regularly showing solid finishes. Additionally, look for races of similar distance and level of competition.
Race Order
The race order is strongly connected to the different racing conditions on the day of the race. This wouldn't help much if you prefer ante-post betting, but it will be helpful in almost all other cases.
The track maintenance and weather can change the track conditions and affect the outcome. It's best to check if any horses have excelled in races with similar conditions earlier. The 2023 Irish 1000 Guineas race is expected to take place on good to firm ground. Additionally, there's a warm weather outlook for Sunday, May 28th.
Jockey & Trainer Form
Jockey and trainer form are just as important. The key again is to consider their recent performances within this specific race type. A jockey who has performed well in similar flat races and 1-mile-long events may have the skills to successfully navigate the Irish 1000 Guineas. We’ve also covered a list of Irish jockeys on the blog, so check it out!
Similarly, trainers known for excelling with fillies or specific bloodlines could have a competitive edge in this race.
Irish 1000 Guineas Festival History
It's been over 100 years since the first edition of the 1000 Irish Guineas festival in 1922. The first winning duo was Lady Violet and jockey Morny Wing, who still holds the record of the most successful jockey at this event with 7 wins.
A trainer to look for is Aidan O'Brien, who managed to get to 10 wins, the one in 2021 being his most recent.
Once again, we'll mention Tahiyra and jockey Chris Hayes, who will compete this year. The same jockey won the 2022 Irish 1000 Guineas with another horse – Homeless Songs. In addition to Tahiyra, a few other participants with great potential are expected to start this race. For instance, we have Meditate and jockey Ryan Moore, who had a great season with a few wins and second places last year but got 6th place in their only race this year. You can find out a more detailed analysis, with Irish 1000 Guineas betting tips and the racecard in our dedicated blog post.
FAQs
Q. Who Won the 2022 Irish 1000 Guineas?
A. The 2022 1000 Guineas Ireland race was won by Homeless Songs, with Tuesday finishing in second, and Concert Hall in the third position.
Q. What Time is the Irish 1000 Guineas?
A. Traditionally, the Irish 1000 Guineas is held annually in late May. There are just a few examples of when the race was held in other months due to specific reasons. For 2023, the race is scheduled at 15:50 on May 28th.
Q. Who are the 2023 Irish 1000 Guineas favourites?
A. The ante-post favourites include Tahiyra, Meditate, and Never Ending Story.