Kevin Prendergast's Dunboyne Express will bid to stop the Abu Dhabi Irish 2000 Guineas going to Richard Hannon for the second successive year.
The British champion trainer struck with Canford Cliffs 12 months ago and this time saddles Dubawi Gold, who finished second to Frankel in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket at the start of the month.
Dunboyne Express looks the best of the home team, having impressed in the 2,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown at the end of March, and his trainer is hopeful he has progressed since.
"He's in good form and has been working well, so hopefully he'll run a big race," said Prendergast.
"We have Hannon's horse to beat, but our horse is improving and we think he's a better horse than last year. We hope he's improved a bit for that first run, but he'll have to if he's going to win. The ground has been watered and it's safe ground, so that should be fine. We're happy with our lad and we think he'll run well."
Hannon is expecting a bold show from Dubawi Gold but is respectful of the opposition, telling his website www.richardhannonracing.tv: "Dubawi Gold has worked well since Newmarket and his final scope was good.
"We did not have him last year so you can't compare him with my other three winners but, though he has taken time to relax, he switched off beautifully in the Guineas.
"When you go to Ireland you never know what sort of pace you are going to get, but Hughesie (Richard Hughes) got off at Newmarket and said 'without Frankel we would have come home alone'. If he can reproduce that form he'll be hard to beat.
"He is a smashing horse with a real good turn of foot and though people are claiming that this is a sub-standard Classic, there are no easy Group Ones."
Zabarajad is still a maiden after three runs but trainer John Oxx said: "It was a real good first run back in the Tetrarch Stakes and it's encouraged us to let him take his chance. If he can continue on the upgrade and come on from that run he could have a good place chance."
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