With ground conditions varying almost daily, you could be forgiven for thinking that the racing pages are simply an extension of the weather forecast

And determining what the going will be at the Curragh for tomorrow's Boylesports-sponsored Irish 2,000 Guineas and Sunday's 1,000 Guineas is the first factor to consider before parting with our hard-earned.

Curragh manager Paul Hensey could not be accused of being wildly optimistic for the prospects of decent ground when he said last night: "We had a wet start to the week, with 12mm of rain on Monday, 23mm on Tuesday and around 5mm on Wednesday, but today was bright and sunny with a drying wind.

"We have had a lot of soakage. The going is still heavy but it is all systems go for Saturday and Sunday."

In summary, decent racing ground may be a pipedream for the first Irish Classic of the season, since between six and 10mm of rainfall is predicted by the Met Office in the next 24 hours. It is a mile trip that will really take some getting.

Many thought that Delegator(3.45) was the best horse in the 2,000 Guineas, even though he was beaten a length and a half by Sea The Stars.

The sages at Timeform may not see it that way, but still rate Brian Meehan's colt superior to Mastercraftsman, who was three lengths behind his rival in fifth at Newmarket.

Yet on official ratings, the Aidan O'Brien-trained Mastercraftsman is rated 3lb superior to the Craven Stakes winner and it must not be forgotten that the Ballydoyle stable was not in top gear prior to the Guineas.

Some have questioned Delegator's ability to handle soft ground, which is likely to be yielding at best. He has raced solely on good to firm since his debut on good to soft, but his mother is an unraced sister to the top-class sprinter Tomba, who relished ease in the ground.

Meehan's only concern prior to Delegator's run on the Rowley Mile was the fast going. His fears were not without foundation, because the beaten favourite was hanging left in the closing stages, a sure sign the horse would have preferred a little more give underfoot. He still ran an excellent race, however.

Mastercraftsman and unbeaten Rayeni, the obvious dangers, have both shown form on ground with plenty of cut - Mastercraftsman's National Stakes win at this course was on heavy, while Rayeni won two races on soft and good to soft ground.

Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial winner Recharge was just a length behind Sea The Stars in on yielding ground over course and distance last September and could prove a decent each-way bet tomorrow.

The adage that 'champions go on any ground' should be borne out 24 hours later when Again (3.40, nap) is taken to land the 1,000 Guineas.

Trained by David Watchman, she is proven on any going - in particular soft - and gets a mile well.

By outstanding sire Danehill Dancer, she is also related to multiple middle-distance winner Montjeu, and already she shown evidence that she has class in her genes.

O'Brien's Heart Shaped is a notable absentee from the field declared today, but the trainer is still represented by outsider Totally Devoted.