Saturday updates: punters looking to take on Field Of Gold in Irish 2,000 Guineas with two notable rivals shortening

Punters are seeking alternatives to Field Of Gold in the Irish 2,000 Guineas (3.40) and there has been significant support for Aidan O'Brien's number one contender Officer.

Field Of Gold, a narrow runner-up in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket three weeks ago, had been odds-on during much of the week but has drifted and is out to 5-4 with most bookmakers.

By contrast, Officer's price has tumbled to 9-2 from 9-1 and he is the third favourite, also behind Cosmic Year at 7-2. The regally bred Dubawi colt, who will be ridden by Ryan Moore, was a comfortable winner of the Listed Tetrarch Stakes last time and bids to give O'Brien a 13th success in the race, with Paddington his most recent winner in 2023.

Another Ballydoyle winner Officer heads to the Irish 2,000 Guineas next

Officer: improver from Ballydoyle is one of the leading threats to favourite Field Of GoldCredit: Patrick McCann

It will be a big day for the trainer as he will also be represented by sprinter Storm Boy in the Greenlands Stakes (3.05), with the highly touted Australian recruit making his Irish debut. Despite having not run for 217 days, he is strong in the market at 7-4.

Last year's Golden Slipper third is a best-priced 7-1 for both the King Charles III Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Irish 2,000 Guineas:

Rosallion took the Irish 2,000 Guineas prize back to Britain a year ago and Rashabar is as short as 11-1 to do the same from 16-1 last night. The colt was an 80-1 winner of the Coventry Stakes last year and was a respectable second to Jonquil on his return to action in the Greenham Stakes.

Rashabar's bullish trainer Brian Meehan said on Friday: "I'm really happy with him; he’s in really, really good shape for this. He shouldn’t have been 80-1 when he won the Coventry and he’s a big price once again, but I'm not bothered about what price he is."

Updated at 12.20pm

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Today's exclusive tips:

Little change at the Curragh as ground is good

The going at the Curragh is good with minimal rain following yesterday's action, although there is the potential for 3-5mm to fall during the afternoon.

The Irish 2,000 Guineas is the feature event on a nine-race card, while it is the turn of the fillies in the Irish 1,000 Guineas (3.40) tomorrow, with a sparkling Tattersalls Gold Cup (3.05) the preceding Group 1 event.

Clerk of the course Brendan Sheridan said: "The ground remains good on both tracks. We had 1mm of rain overnight and 3mm of rain yesterday evening.

"There is a revised forecast speaking to Met Eireann this morning, mid-afternoon there's 3-5mm coming through today and then tonight there's the possibility of a further 10mm and then scattered showers tomorrow.

"The ground is in a good place, we've got fresh ground today and we're looking forward to a good meeting again today."

Posted at 8.40am

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