Irish 1000 Guineas falls to Karl Burke's Angel

Trainer Karl Burke won his second 1000 Guineas in the space of just over 40 minutes, when Fallen Angel made most under Danny Tudhope to win the Irish fillies classic at the Curragh.

Successful with Darnation in the German equivalent at Dusseldorf less than an hour before, Burke enjoyed another memorable success as his daughter of Too Darn Hot made up for a somewhat disappointing effort at Newmarket on her reappearance.

The filly, who had proven her liking for the Curragh when winning the Moyglare Stud Stakes on her final start at two, was quickly into stride under regular pilot Danny Tudhope.

Disputing with Opera Singer and Finsceal Luas in the early stages, the British raider held a slender advantage over the home team at halfway.

Pushed along to extend her lead over two furlong out, Fallen Angel went on by a couple of lengths. Always holding the chasing pack, the 11/4f stayed on strongly to win by two-and-three-quarter lengths.

A Lilac Rola stayed on best of the remainder to claim second for Paddy Twomey, with Opera Singer back in third.

Winning jockey Danny Tudhope said: "I was confident we would see a different filly from Newmarket.

"I was pleased when the rain came to be fair. She just keeps galloping and stays very very well.

"She is very versatile ground wise and takes everything that comes in her stride."

Karl Burke said: "She showed last year that she’s top-class. Obviously we were disappointed with the Guineas, but I find it hard with three-year-olds — you just don’t know where you are with them.

“We sent her down to Newmarket fit and she didn’t blow that much afterwards. The ground maybe was a bit quick on the undulations, but that’s looking for excuses — we were beaten fair and square on the day.

“I knew coming out of the Guineas coming into this race that mentally she was in the right place. She just sparked up, especially in the last week or 10 days, and physically she looked fantastic.”

On claiming his second Classic win of the day and third overall after Laurens’ victory in the 2018 French Oaks, the trainer added: “Amazing, that doesn’t happen very often. This is what we work for.

“I had cancer late last year and an operation and a bit of chemotherapy. I finish the chemo in December and since then it’s been back to work, we keep going and hopefully we’re all square.

“I never took a backwards step, you have to face what’s happening to you and worse things happen to a lot of other people, so you’ve just got to get on with it.

“I don’t know (about Royal Ascot), we’ll have to have that discussion. We’ve got the option of the French Oaks as well and as you can see she stays very well. We’ll enjoy today and worry about that later.”

Paddy Power went 7/2f(from 12/1) Fallen Angel for the Coronation Stakes. Opera Singer is now 5/1(from 10/3f) for that same race.