It always seemed one of the stranger quirks of the record book that Jim Bolger hadn’t trained an Irish 2,000 Guineas winner but that anomaly was corrected emphatically at the Curragh on Saturday when the Coolcullen trainer sent out a one-two in the colts’ classic.

After Poetic Flare won the British version of this race three weeks ago, the 79-year-old remarked that there was nothing between him and Mac Swiney at home, and not for the first time, he was dead right. Mac Swiney held off his stablemate by a short head, the pair clear of their other rivals, in what was a remarkable training and breeding performance, as Bolger also reared both colts.

It was also a first classic win for Rory Cleary, a long-time servant of Bolger’s, and he excelled on this son of New Approach from the front.

The pair led from the beginning of the race and held off the sustained challenge of Poetic Flare, who veered to his left late on, perhaps feeling the effects of his third race in four weeks.

Bolger hasn’t been racing since the pandemic hit, so it was left to his daughter Úna Manning to speak on behalf of the team. She said: “It’s unbelievable to have a one-two and the boss is delighted.

“I’m delighted for Rory. He has been with us for many years and has been such a loyal jockey and he deserves nothing more than to get a slice of the action.”

Manning also reported that the Derby, on Saturday week, is very much the aim for Mac Swiney, who is rated a 7/1 shot to emulate his sire New Approach, who Bolger famously sent out to win at Epsom in 2008.

The 1,000 Guineas went to Aidan O’Brien and Seamie Heffernan for a 10th and fifth time respectively, as they combined with Empress Josephine. A full sister to O’Brien’s brilliant filly Minding, the 14/1 shot just got up to beat her better-fancied stablemate, Joan Of Arc.

Tattersalls Gold Cup

Earlier, there was a brilliant win for Noel Meade as his Helvic Dream took the Tattersalls Gold Cup. The son of Power cost just €12,000 as a yearling, but netted his connections €177,000 in one fell swoop on Sunday when he was excellently ridden by Colin Keane to nail O’Brien’s Broome on the line.

Meade, predominantly known as a jumps trainer, has edged slightly back towards the flat in recent seasons and this success will be a career highlight.