Aidan O’Brien’s Causeway and Donnacha O’Brien’s Kensington Lane strengthened their Classic credentials at the Curragh on Monday, landing two key mile contests that now feed directly into the Irish Guineas conversation later this month.
Causeway and Kensington Lane Enter Irish Guineas Picture After Curragh Wins
Aidan O’Brien’s Causeway and Donnacha O’Brien’s Kensington Lane both emerged from Monday’s Curragh card with their names pushed higher up the Irish Classic agenda after taking separate stakes contests over a mile.
Causeway struck first in the Listed Coolmore Stud Henry Longfellow Irish EBF Tetrarch Stakes, giving Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore another notable three-year-old result just a day after Ballydoyle’s Newmarket Classic success.
Following in Paddington's footsteps 😍
Causeway lands a hat-trick by winning the Listed Tetrarch Stakes for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore @Ballydoyle @coolmorestud | @IrishEBF_ pic.twitter.com/CVSdyydBy8
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 4, 2026
The Wootton Bassett colt, already a winner at Naas on his seasonal return, travelled strongly before asserting inside the final furlong to beat Andab by two lengths.
With stablemate Neolithic third.
The result kept Causeway on the same early-season path once followed by Paddington, another Ballydoyle colt who used the Tetrarch as a springboard.
O’Brien said afterwards that the colt had completed his preparation for a possible return to the Curragh and looked comfortable at the mile.
While he also shaped like a horse who could stay further later in the campaign.
The win saw the layers shorten Causeway into 16/1 for the Irish 2000 Guineas. As trainer Aidan O’Brien hunts a record-extending thirteenth win in the race.
Kensington Lane Lands Athasi Stakes
Kensington Lane then supplied Donnacha O’Brien with a notable Group 3 success in the Coolmore Auguste Rodin Irish EBF Athasi Stakes.
Chris Hayes had the daughter of Starspangledbanner close to the pace before asking her to go on approaching the closing stages.
Keeping on well to beat Black Caviar Gold by three-quarters of a length.
Aidan O’Brien’s Drop Dead Gorgeous, sent off favourite, finished third after not getting there in time.
Group Three honours for Kensington Lane in the Athasi Stakes @curraghrace for Donnacha O'Brien and @chrishayes24 🥇@coolmorestud | @IrishEBF_ pic.twitter.com/gazKNvzcqL
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 4, 2026
That performance gave Kensington Lane her first Group victory and immediately brought the Irish 1,000 Guineas into sharper focus.
She’s now into 33/1 for the Irish Classic with the best horse racing betting sites, as she looks to give Donnacha O’Brien a first win in the Curragh race.
Donnacha O’Brien said the filly would probably head there next, adding that her natural gate speed and ability to handle a turning track could also make her a candidate for a later international campaign.
Taken together, the two races offered some of the clearest fresh domestic clues yet for the Irish Guineas programme.
Causeway advertised depth among Ballydoyle’s colts, while Kensington Lane stepped out of True Love’s shadow after meeting last year’s Newmarket heroine in the Priory Belle and showed that quicker ground and a mile could bring out a different level.
When Is The Irish 1000 & 2000 Guineas?
The first full weekend of the European Classics has already reset the three-year-old picture, and Monday’s Curragh card added two meaningful follow-up pieces.
Causeway now looks a live option for the Irish 2,000 Guineas, while Kensington Lane has earned a chance to test herself at Group 1 level in the Irish 1,000 Guineas.
With the Irish 1000 Guineas on Sunday 24th May. And the Irish 2000 Guineas on Saturday 23rd May.
Irish 1000 Guineas Betting Odds 2026
- True Love Evs
- Evolutionist 4/1
- Precise 5/1
- Sukanya 8/1
- Diamond Necklace 12/1
- Drop Dead Gorgeous 12/1
- Synchronicity 12/1
- 14/1 bar
- Kensington Lane 33/1
Irish 2000 Guineas Betting Odds 2026
- Gstaad 4/5
- Bow Echo 2/1
- Puerto Rico 4/1
- Alparslan 12/1
- Distant Storm 12/1
- Causeway 16/1
- 18/1 bar
Note: all odds listed are subject to change
