Race In Focus: Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas, Saturday May 24

Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas - 3.40 Curragh

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Nine colts line up in a fascinating Irish 2,000 Guineas. Field Of Gold heads them after his 2000 Guineas second at Newmarket, Colin Keane taking over in the saddle after the high-profile demotion of Kieran Shoemark. He's not guaranteed to get things his own way with owner-mate Cosmic Year looking highly promising too, while there's a strong home team challenge as well with Hotazhell, Officer, Scorthy Champ and Expanded aiming to keep the prize in Ireland. Rashabar and Windlord are other interesting raiders in a compelling race.

Fran Berry Insight

It's a cracking renewal of the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas and it should be a great weekend's racing. It's fantastic for the Curragh that so many visitors are over from the UK throughout the weekend and they are headed by FIELD OF GOLD for John & Thady Gosden.

It's a case of unfinished business after that defeat in Newmarket. He was a very good two-year-old and he came back with an excellent win in the Craven, ridden cold, ridden to pick up his rivals and do everything right.

In dry conditions on Guineas day, taking on a different calibre of horse off quite a steady pace - unusually so for a Guineas - he just found himself with far too much ground to make up when the pace increased and he still almost got there.

But the damage was done at the two and three-quarter furlong markers. It was still a cracking effort and I expect him to go one better this time under Colin Keane.

This track should play more to his strengths, the more galloping nature of the course, without the undulations. Keane is a quality jockey and has a good association with Juddmonte considering he won the Irish Derby under similar circumstances on Westover.

It looks like he should have an even gallop, crucially, given that the likes of Officer will want a strongly-run mile to be at his best. He's an interesting type given his pedigree. He might just come up short here, but I could see him running on well to get in the mix and you'd have to respect Rashabar as well.

But if the likes of Expanded and Windlord were to go forward, along with Comanche Brave, it looks to me like Field Of Gold will have a really good set-up.

As for the wide stall in nine, I think Keane would rather be out there than in one, two or three.

If the pace is sufficient for Field Of Gold to get cover and get settled, it gives him options to come around the horses inside the final two furlongs, whereas if you're drawn one, two, three, you're at the mercy of the whole field and things panning out your way.

It can be a very tricky track in that regard. When you look out on the Curragh, you think 'what a beautiful track' but if they race hard against that far rail on fresh ground it can often get very messy.

I don't think Field Of Gold will encounter any problems from stall nine, however, and he can swoop late off a strong gallop to gain Guineas redemption.

Timeform Pace Map

Pace Forecast: Strong

Draw Bias: N/A

Specific Pace Hint: However the race develops shouldn’t inconvenience FIELD OF GOLD who is sure to command plenty of .

Individual Price Hint: FIELD OF GOLD is well up there on the figures but has been beaten twice before when trading at odds on in-running.

FIELD OF GOLD 03/05/2025

COSMIC YEAR 02/05/2025

OFFICER 05/05/2025

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