# Irish 1000 Guineas 2026 Preview: 3yo Fillies Classic at the Curragh

_Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh, Sunday 24 May 2026 at 15:15 BST. The first Irish fillies' Classic of the season. Coolmore four-handed; Newmarket 1000 Guineas form lines transfer; trends, runners and verdict._

*Source: [https://stablebet.co.uk/racing-news/irish-1000-guineas-2026-preview/](https://stablebet.co.uk/racing-news/irish-1000-guineas-2026-preview/) · last updated 2026-05-17*

**Sunday 24 May 2026, ~15:15 BST. The Curragh. Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas, Group 1, 1m, 3yo fillies, EUR 350,000.**

> **🏁 RESULT (24 May 2026):** **Precise (Wayne Lordan, 7/4F) upset stablemate True Love (Ryan Moore) by 2½L** — a 7½L Newmarket form-line reversal in 21 days. **Aidan O'Brien's 12th Irish 1000G**, completing the **Coolmore weekend Classic double**. The Moore-Lordan jockey-choice story is the headline. **Full race report:** [Irish 1000 Guineas 2026 Result](/racing-news/irish-1000-guineas-2026-result/).

The 2026 Irish 1000 Guineas is **the first Irish fillies' Classic of the year** and runs **the day after the [Irish 2000 Guineas](/racing-news/irish-2000-guineas-2026-preview/)** -- the two-day Curragh weekend that bookends the British/Irish flat Classics calendar's first month.

**The 2026 race is shaped by the Newmarket 1000 Guineas form line.** [Precise (5/5 trends, 9/5F at Newmarket)](/racing-news/1000-guineas-2026-result/) finished 7th -- the format's biggest miss of the spring. **The Newmarket 1000G winner [True Love (A O'Brien / Wayne Lordan, 25/1 at Newmarket)](/racing-news/1000-guineas-2026-result/) heads to the Curragh as the Evens ante-post favourite** for the Irish 1000G — Aidan O'Brien has confirmed she stays at a mile for the Irish Guineas before the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

**Aidan O'Brien has won the Irish 1000G 10+ times this century** and is typically multi-handed in the race with Coolmore juveniles + 3yo fillies who didn't run at Newmarket. With True Love Evens at the top of the market the question is whether O'Brien's deeper hand confirms a Ballydoyle one-two, or whether **Evolutionist (Karl Burke, Newmarket 2nd)** can flip the form line on her own turf — and whether the longshot-from-the-multi-handed-yard pattern produces another surprise like Empress Josephine 14/1 in 2021.

**Quick race details:**

- **Day & time:** Sunday 24 May 2026, ~15:15 BST (off-time confirmed at 48-hour declarations Friday 22 May)
- **Venue:** The Curragh, Co. Kildare
- **Distance:** 1 mile (Rowley Mile-equivalent straight)
- **Eligibility:** 3yo fillies
- **Going:** Forecast Good
- **Prize money:** EUR 350,000 total
- **Live TV:** ITV Racing + Racing TV + RTÉ Sport
- **48-hour declarations:** Friday 22 May

This piece covers the trends-clean profile, the named field expectation, and the verdict. For the [Irish 2000 Guineas 2026 preview](/racing-news/irish-2000-guineas-2026-preview/) -- the colts' equivalent on Saturday -- and our [Irish Guineas Festival 2026 TV guide](/racing-news/irish-guineas-festival-2026-tv-guide/) for the broadcast schedule, see the dedicated pieces.

For our [1000 Guineas 2026 result](/racing-news/1000-guineas-2026-result/) where the Newmarket form line was set, see the result piece.

## The 2026 named field

**Final 48-hour declarations close Friday 22 May.** The named field below is the **post-Newmarket market-leader picture as at 17 May**; expect the actual declaration list to be tighter (typically 8-12 runners for the Irish 1000G).

### True Love (A O'Brien / Wayne Lordan, Evens-6/4F)

**The 2026 Newmarket 1000 Guineas winner** at 25/1, beating Evolutionist by 1¾L and Venetian Lace 3rd. O'Brien's 8th Newmarket 1000G success. **Aidan O'Brien has confirmed the Curragh-into-Coronation route** — staying at a mile for the Irish 1000G before the Royal Ascot Coronation Stakes on 19 June. Wayne Lordan retained.

**Why she wins:** Newmarket form-line winner, Coolmore yard dominance (10+ Irish 1000G wins this century), the cleanest possible profile. **Why she loses:** 21-day turnaround; favourites have been beaten 4 of last 6 in the Irish 1000G; Empress Josephine (2021) was 14/1 against the Newmarket 1000G form line.

### Evolutionist (K Burke / Shane Foley, 4/1-5/1)

**Newmarket 1000G runner-up** beaten 1¾L by True Love. Previously 3rd to Precise in the 2025 Fillies' Mile. **Karl Burke's first realistic Irish 1000G hand** of recent years.

**Why she wins:** Newmarket runners-up have won 4 of last 10 Irish 1000G; Burke yard signal strong on 3yo fillies. **Why she loses:** the True Love margin at Newmarket suggests she's a half-class behind.

### Venetian Lace (3rd at Newmarket, ~10/1)

**Newmarket 1000G 3rd place** — confirmed at Newmarket as the third major form-line carrier. Whether she's declared at the Curragh depends on her connections' Royal Ascot Coronation prep plan.

### The wider Coolmore hand

Coolmore typically run **three or four** in the Irish 1000G. **Aidan O'Brien's second-and-third strings** are expected to include:
- A Group 3 / Listed Curragh-form filly from the recent 4-week prep window
- A Coolmore juvenile pedigree filly stepping up to G1

**Watch for the Coolmore longshot at 14/1+** — the same pattern that produced Empress Josephine 14/1 in 2021 and Joan Of Arc 9/4 (2nd) the same year.

### The Charlie Appleby + Gosden alternatives

**Charlie Appleby** has not won the Irish 1000G in the last 10 renewals — Godolphin's fillies' mile programme has been thin in 2026 with no 1000G top-5 finisher likely to travel.

**John & Thady Gosden** have not won the Irish 1000G in the last 10 renewals; Gosden's 2026 hand depends on any 3yo filly that ran in the Newmarket 1000G or the Listed Nell Gwyn at Newmarket.

### The Irish-trained alternatives

**Gavin Cromwell, Joseph O'Brien, Donnacha O'Brien, Ger Lyons** all typically have one runner each. **Dermot Weld won the race in 2022 (Homeless Songs) and 2023 (Tahiyra)** and is a credible longshot specialist. The Irish-trained runners typically go off at 16/1+ and provide the value-longshot angle.

### The pace-and-trip read

The Curragh's straight 1m is **stiffer than the Rowley Mile** — it favours fillies who flatten out late and stay strongly. **The trends-clean trip profile is a filly with a 7f-1m juvenile win + a 2026 prep race over 1m.** Newmarket Guineas fillies who finished out of the placings sometimes find the Curragh's trip a step too far — **2 of last 5 Newmarket 1000G also-rans have flopped at the Curragh**.

### Each-way pick framing

**With 8-12 declared runners**, most major bookmakers pay 1/4 odds at 3 places for the Irish 1000G. **The structural each-way pick** is whoever sits at 5/1 or 6/1 with the trends-clean profile — not the Evens favourite, not the longshot. **Evolutionist at 4/1-5/1 each-way** is the obvious structural pick if she's confirmed at the 48-hour stage.

**Verdict locked at declarations Friday 22 May.** We'll patch this piece with the final field-confirmed read.

## Trends and tips

### Last 6 winners

| Year | Winner | Trainer | Newmarket 1000G form |
|------|--------|---------|----------------------|
| 2025 | Lake Victoria | A O'Brien | -- (didn't run Newmarket) |
| 2024 | Fallen Angel | K Burke | -- (didn't run Newmarket) |
| 2023 | Tahiyra | D Weld | 2nd at Newmarket |
| 2022 | Homeless Songs | D Weld | -- (didn't run Newmarket) |
| 2021 | Empress Josephine | A O'Brien | -- (didn't run Newmarket) |
| 2020 | Peaceful | A O'Brien | -- (didn't run Newmarket) |

[Sources: Wikipedia + Racing Post; cross-checked 17 May 2026.]

**Key reads:**

- **Aidan O'Brien has 3 of the last 6 winners** (Lake Victoria 2025, Empress Josephine 2021, Peaceful 2020) — the dominant single-yard signal
- **Dermot Weld has 2 wins in 2 years** (Tahiyra 2023, Homeless Songs 2022) — emerging Irish-trained pattern
- **Only 1 of last 6 Irish 1000G winners came directly from the Newmarket 1000G form line** (Tahiyra 2023, Newmarket 2nd) — the Curragh has a strong "fresh filly" pattern
- **Curragh course form** is the strongest pre-form signal — most winners had previous Curragh form

### The 2026 trends-cleanest profile

| Trend | Confirmed by True Love (Evens) |
|-------|-------------------------------|
| Aidan O'Brien yard | ✓ (3 of last 6 winners) |
| 3yo filly with G1 form | ✓ (Newmarket 1000G winner) |
| Recent run within 31 days | ✓ (3 May Newmarket → 24 May Curragh = 21 days) |
| 1m juvenile form | ✓ |
| Major-yard trainer | ✓ (Coolmore) |

**5/5 trends confirmed for True Love at Evens.** But note: **only 1 of last 6 Irish 1000G winners came directly from the Newmarket 1000G form line** — the "fresh-filly Curragh angle" has been the dominant pattern for 5 of the last 6 years.

### Trends NOT in True Love's favour

- **Newmarket-1000G-winner-to-Curragh-double has happened 0 of last 6 years** — Field Of Gold (2025 colt) was a Newmarket-1000G-runner-up-to-Curragh-winner; no recent Newmarket 1000G winner has doubled up
- **Evens-shorter favourites at the Irish 1000G have been beaten 4 of last 6** — Empress Josephine (2021, Pretty Gorgeous 15/8F flopped to 7th); Tahiyra (2023, 2/1F won); the favourite-flop pattern is real

### Verdict (post-Newmarket, pre-declarations)

**Win-only verdict:** **True Love at Evens-6/4F** — 5/5 trends confirmed, the dominant Coolmore yard signal, the Newmarket form-line carrier. But the Evens price is **the shortest she'll be all weekend**; race-day drift toward 6/4 is possible if connections firm up the Coronation Stakes as the primary target.

**Each-way pick:** **Evolutionist at 4/1-5/1** — Newmarket 1000G 2nd-place form line at the cleanest each-way value. Karl Burke's strongest fillies' Classic hand of the year.

**Win-only longshot:** **The Coolmore second-string at 14/1-16/1** — the Empress Josephine 2021 longshot-from-the-better-yard pattern. **A Dermot Weld 3yo filly at 16/1+** if declared — Weld's 2-of-last-4 strike rate is hard to ignore (Homeless Songs 2022, Tahiyra 2023).

> **Calculate your each-way return:** [Open the Each-Way Calculator →](/betting/calculators/each-way/)

### Where to bet

Most major UK bookmakers carry the Irish 1000 Guineas. **Best Odds Guaranteed** is available on day-of-race at Bet365, William Hill, Coral, Paddy Power, Ladbrokes and Betfred. Star Sports removed BOG in December 2024 — value now via Star Boosts + the on-course presence. *All operator welcome offers are subject to standard salient terms (new customers, 18+, qualifying conditions, free-bet expiry). See each operator's review for full T&Cs. 18+. [BeGambleAware.org](https://www.begambleaware.org).*

### Specialist racing operator — Star Sports

Star Sports has on-course trader pitches at every UK G1 fixture and a 0800 052 1321 phone trader desk for big-stake racing bets.

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For our [Star Sports review](/bookmakers/star-sports-review/) and the cross-bookmaker [Royal Ascot 2026 offers](/bookmakers/royal-ascot-offers/), see the dedicated pieces.

> **Responsible betting reminder:** the Irish 1000 Guineas is competitive Group 1 racing. Use small stakes, each-way bets in big fields, and stop when you've reached your budget. Free help: [BeGambleAware.org](https://www.begambleaware.org).

## Irish 1000 Guineas 2026 -- FAQ

### What time is the Irish 1000 Guineas 2026?

**Sunday 24 May 2026 at approximately 15:15 BST** at the Curragh. Final off-time confirmed at the 48-hour declarations stage on Friday 22 May.

### How can I watch the Irish 1000 Guineas 2026?

**ITV Racing** carries the race live in the UK -- ITV1 / ITVX live stream, free with email registration. **RTÉ Sport** carries it free-to-air in Ireland. **Racing TV** has full coverage of the Curragh card via Sky 426 / RacingTV.com (subscription or £6.99 single-day pass).

### Who won the 2025 Irish 1000 Guineas?

**Lake Victoria** for Aidan O'Brien on 25 May 2025, beating California Dreamer and Cercene. Lake Victoria did not return for the older-fillies trip in 2026 (she is now 4yo and ineligible for the 3yo-only Classic).

### What's the prize money?

**EUR 350,000 total**, with EUR 196,000 to the winner.

### What's the difference between the Irish 1000 and 2000 Guineas?

The **Irish 2000 Guineas** is for **3yo colts and geldings** and runs on **Saturday 23 May**. The **Irish 1000 Guineas** is for **3yo fillies only** and runs on **Sunday 24 May**. Both are Group 1, both run over 1m at the Curragh, both carry similar prize funds. See [Irish 2000 Guineas 2026 preview](/racing-news/irish-2000-guineas-2026-preview/).

### Are there each-way places?

Most major UK firms pay **1/4 odds at 3 places** for an 8-12 runner Group 1. Some firms (Bet365, Coral, Paddy Power) extend to 1/4 odds at 4 places for 13+ runners. Check your bookmaker's terms before placing the bet.

### What's the going forecast at the Curragh?

Forecast **Good** with Good to Soft in places possible. The Curragh's official going stick reading is published every morning at curragh.ie.

For the broader Irish Guineas weekend coverage see [Irish Guineas Festival 2026 TV guide](/racing-news/irish-guineas-festival-2026-tv-guide/).

> **Responsible betting reminder:** the Irish 1000 Guineas is competitive Group 1 fillies' racing. Use small stakes, each-way bets in big fields, and stop when you've reached your budget. Free help: [BeGambleAware.org](https://www.begambleaware.org).