---
title: "Gstaad heads Irish 2000 Guineas runners as O’Brien eyes thirteenth Curragh classic win"
canonical: "https://readhorseracing.com/2026/05/21/irish-2000-guineas-runners-curragh-gstaad-favourite/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Andy Newton"
section: "Features"
published: "2026-05-21T10:25:36Z"
modified: "2026-05-21T12:02:15Z"
---

# Gstaad heads Irish 2000 Guineas runners as O’Brien eyes thirteenth Curragh classic win

**Aidan O’Brien’s Gstaad is one of the leading Irish 2000 Guineas runners ahead of the big Curragh race this Saturday – as he looks to go one better than his second in the English version earlier this month.**

## **Irish 2000 Guineas Runners 2026 – Gstaad All The Rage**

Last season, the Gosden-trained Field Of Gold was runner-up in the Newmarket 2000 Guineas but improved on that to win the Irish 2000 Guineas in his next run.

And that’s exactly what the Aidan O’Brien-trained **GSTAAD** will be trying to do on Saturday – having been runner-up to Bow Echo at HQ earlier this month (watch below).

[Bow Echo wins Betfred 2000 Guineas | Full Race | 2026 | Racing TV (embedded)](https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/BOxbn06N1qQ?feature=oembed)

That recent run was his first since winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf last November, so is sure to come of for it too.

While, from his seven career starts – Gstaad is still to finish out of the top two – with three wins and four silvers.

Having also won the 2025 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot by 3 lengths and was second in the 2025 National Stakes – on his only previous run at the Curragh

He’s been installed as the red-hot 2/5 Irish 2000 Guineas favourite with the bookies, and will head into the Curragh race as the top-rated (119).

### **Irish 2000 Guineas Runners and Betting Odds 2026**

- Gstaad 4/9 (Aidan O’Brien)
- Distant Storm 4/1 (Charlie Appleby)
- Alparslan 8/1 (Karl Burke)
- Thesecretadversary 8/1 (J A Stack)
- Power Blue 33/1 (Robson De Aguiar)
- Go Just Do It 40/1 (Joseph O’Brien)
- Pacific Avenue 40/1 (Jamie Spencer)
- Neolitchic 50/1 (Aidan O’Brien)
- Bamako Beach 66/1 (M D O’Callaghhan)
- Take Charge Star 100/1 (Johnny Murtagh)

*Note: [Irish 2000 Guineas betting odds](https://readhorseracing.com/2026/05/18/irish-2000-guineas-betting-odds-2026/) are subject to change.*

## **Aidan O’Brien Eyes Record-Extending Thirteenth Curragh Classic Win**

![Aidan O'Brien 2000 Guineas Winners](https://media.readhorseracing.com/readhorseracing/2026/04/Aidan-OBrien-2000-Guineas-Winners-300x200.jpg)

Gstaad will also be looking to give his trainer Aidan O’Brien a record-extending thirteenth Irish 2000 Guineas win.

With his first coming back in 1997 with Desert King and his most recent Paddington in 2023 (watch below).

[Paddington strikes in the Irish 2,000 Guineas for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore! (embedded)](https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/sstOmQ8Qct8?feature=oembed)

### **Aidan O’Brien Irish 2000 Guineas Winners**

- Desert King (1997)
- Saffron Walden (1999)
- Black Minnaloushe (2001)
- Rock of Gibraltar (2002)
- Henrythenavigator (2008)
- Mastercraftsman (2009)
- Roderic O’Connor (2011)
- Power (2012)
- Magician (2013)
- Gleneagles (2015)
- Churchill (2017)
- Paddington (2023)

### **When Is The Irish 2000 Guineas 2026? 🗓️**

📅 Date: Saturday, 23rd May 2026\
⌚ Time: 3:40pm\
🏇 Racecourse: Curragh\
🔄 Trip: 1m\
💷 Winner: €285,000\
📺 TV: Racing TV