'He won't be 33-1 for the King Charles for much longer' - Richard Birch marks your card for a Super Saturday of action

What's the big story?

It is day one of Irish Guineas weekend at the Curragh and Field Of Gold is likely to start a shade of odds-on to go one better than at Newmarket when he tackles the Irish 2,000 Guineas (3.40).

The John and Thady Gosden-trained son of Kingman will have a new rider in the feature, with Kieran Shoemark being replaced by Colin Keane, and is bidding for Classic redemption, just like his sire, after finishing an agonising second in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. 

Eight rivals stand in the way of Field Of Gold, including the Harry Charlton-trained Cosmic Year, who is also owned by Juddmonte and and rates as a hugely exciting prospect as he steps up in trip.

He has won all three of his starts, most recently at Sandown, but he will need to take a big step forward to beat Field Of Gold, who looked an unlucky loser at Newmarket after making a huge impression when landing the Craven Stakes. I expect him to win easily.

What about the British action?

Haydock is one of seven meetings, with the Group 2 Betfred Temple Stakes (3.30) the main event. American Affair, who bolted up in a York handicap last Thursday, attempts to make the jump into Group company a winning one, and he is likely to have plenty of supporters as he bids to do so.

Goodwood hosts a Derby trial, the Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Cocked Hat Stakes (2.05), while Cartmel stages its first meeting of the year with a seven-race card.

After a mainly dry two months, guess what? The forecast is for heavy downpours, just in time to put out the barbecues and dampen the fun of the fairground rides.

Who is your best bet of the day?

American Affair came from much further back than ideal at York last Thursday, but still won easily. 

He has looked like a Group horse since winning the Portland in September, and none of his ten rivals leap off the page as being exceptional sprinters.

To put things in perspective, Washington Heights was twice beaten off 94 in handicaps before winning a Group 3 race. American Affair graduates to Group company with an official rating of 105, and this thoroughly likeable speedball should take the world of beating.

I do not expect him to be 33-1 for the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot immediately after the Temple.

American Affair15:30 Haydock

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Jky: Paul Mulrennan Tnr: Jim Goldie

Who else do you fancy on Saturday?

I will not be able to resist backing Valsharah (7.00) at Windsor. 

The Charlie Hills-trained three-year-old was badly drawn when third over course and distance to Distant Rumble last time but that form has been franked many times since, most recently by runner-up Thurso, who won at Haydock on Thursday, when the second and third were separated by eight and a half lengths.

Valsharah19:00 Windsor

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Jky: Neil Callan Tnr: Charles Hills

Saturday's ITV4 Racing schedule

1.15 Haydock Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Hell Nook Handicap 1m
1.30 Goodwood BetGGoodwin Harroways Handicap 7f
1.50 Haydock Betfred Silver Bowl Handicap 1m
2.10 Beverley Hilary Needler Trophy EBF Fillies' Conditions Stakes 5f
2.25 Haydock Betfred 'Nifty 50' British EBF Hedge Of Oak Stakes 1m2½f
2.45 Beverley bet365 Two Year Old Trophy EBF Conditions Stakes 5f
3.00 Haydock  Betfred Sandy Lane Stakes 6f
3.15 Goodwood BetGoodwin Height Of Fashion Stakes 1m2f
3.30 Haydock Betfred Temple Stakes 5f
3.40 Curragh Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas 1m

Read more:

Harry Wilson tipped three winners in his last column - find out his 20-1 pick for the Irish 2,000 Guineas 

Paul Kealy's play of the day at Goodwood 

'He’s in really, really good shape' - who is bullish about their chances in the Irish 2,000 Guineas? 

The Temple Stakes has become a proving ground for top sprinters - so who takes the eye this year? 

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