Irish 2000 Guineas contender Free Solo has already delivered surprising performances – Shane Foley

You might not know it from his homework, but Free Solo comes alive on race day. That’s according to Shane Foley who rides the 2000 Guineas contender for in-form trainer Jessica Harrington at the Curragh on Friday.

Free Solo quietly and efficiently goes about his preparation and surprised his yard after romping home for his maiden at Leopardstown last year.

And Foley is hoping that race-day buzz brings another strong performance from his mount on Friday.

“Look he’s a horse that doesn’t really excite you at home and he was the same last year and he went out and he impressed us in his maiden,” Foley told Paddy Power’s From The Horse’s Mouth Podcast. “That form got a boost, the horse that was behind him [Cormorant] came out and won a trial the other day – look he’s a horse that he’ll go on good ground.

“He’s been pleasing us in his work without ever exciting you and I hope he comes alive at the races, but he was quite impressive that day at Leopardstown – he surprised me a bit considering his homework was just okay, so hopefully he can do the same tomorrow.”

Siskin leads the betting from Aidan O’Brien trio Lope Y Fernandez, Armory and Vatican City.

Tauran Shaman is Foley’s ride for the Paddy Power Irish Lincolnshire at 19.15 tomorrow and he thinks the four-year-old is fresh enough to impress.

“I think Tauran Shaman is a horse that is lightly raced and he’s in good shape,” Foley continued. “He runs in the [Paddy Power] Lincoln tomorrow. It’s his first run, I think he’ll improve a bit, but he’s been working good and we’re happy with him.”

We’re paying six places for the Paddy Power Irish Lincolnshire at Curragh and you can check out Paddy, Ruby Walsh and Frank Hickey’s best bet for the race on the From the Horse’s Mouth podcast.

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