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Field Of Gold will take on eight rivals as he bids for 2000 Guineas redemption at the Curragh on Saturday.
A fast-finishing runner-up behind Ruling Court in the English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket a fortnight ago, Field Of Gold will look to emulate his great sire Kingman, who also suffered an agonising defeat in the Newmarket Classic before going on to set the record straight with a facile five-length success in the Irish equivalent.
As confirmed earlier in the week, Field Of Gold, who was ridden by Kieran Shoemark when defeated at Newmarket, will be partnered by multiple Irish champion jockey Colin Keane for the first time, under John and Thady Gosden's new 'best available rider' policy.' Ger Lyons' stable number one has already enjoyed Irish 2000 Guineas success in the famous pink and green silks of Juddmonte having steered Siskin to victory for his boss in 2020.
John and Thady Gosden's charge will head a three-pronged attack for owners Juddmonte, with Harry Charlton's unbeaten Cosmic Year set to take the step up to Group 1 level for the first time after he made it three from three in Listed company at Newmarket over the Guineas meeting. Ryan Moore partnered the son of Kingman to his latest success, although regular rider Oisin Murphy will be back on board as he bids to make it back-to-back Group 1 wins for the owners after driving Lead Artist to victory in last weekend's Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. Andrew Balding's bet365 Classic Trial third Windlord, who will sport first-time cheekpieces, completes the Juddmonte trio.
Aidan O'Brien will saddle both Officer and Expanded as he attempts to claim a remarkable record-extending thirteenth success in the Irish Classic. The former will bid to follow in the footsteps of O'Brien's last winner Paddington (2023), who landed the Listed Tetrarch Stakes before going on to Guineas glory. The latter pushed Shadow Of Light to within a neck on his second outing as a juvenile in the Dewhurst Stakes but finished nine lengths adrift of Ruling Court when ninth on his reappearance in the English 2000 Guineas.
Both Hotazhell and Rashabar missed their intended targets in the French 2000 Guineas, so have been redirected to the Curragh to help make up part of the nine-strong stellar line-up. Jessie Harrington's Futurity Trophy Stakes winner Hotazhell was withdrawn from the Longchamp Classic at a late stage due to quickening ground conditions, while Rashabar, who ran out a shock winner of last year's Coventry Stakes and finished runner-up in the Greenham on his reappearance this season, missed his trip to Paris due to a small setback.
Joseph O'Brien's top-level-winning two-year-old Scorthy Champ will be looking to build on his seventh-place finish in the English equivalent.
The Donnacha O'Brien-trained Comanche Brave completes the field of nine.
Curragh officials posted a ground update on Thursday morning via social media.
The statement said: "Following a dry, warm day and watering, the Curragh remains good, good to firm in places (selective watering). Temperatures in early 20s today, cooler tomorrow with possibility of 2-3mm (approx) of rain in the afternoon and 10-12mm (approx) in total through the weekend."
