Field Of Gold looks set to be the focus of the Curragh on Saturday when he faces eight rivals in the Group One Irish 2,000 Guineas (1,600m), the first Irish Classic of the season.

His narrow defeat by William Buick’s Ruling Court in Newmarket’s Group One 2,000 Guineas (1,600m) has certainly been the biggest talking point in British racing this season, with the main consequence of a career-best performance being the replacement of jockey Kieran Shoemark by six-times Irish champion Colin Keane.

John Gosden, who trains in partnership with his son Thady, has also hinted that another possible consequence may be a radical alteration of tactics for this charismatic three-year-old colt.

In both starts this season – firstly with his outstanding last-to-first surge in Newmarket’s Group Three Craven Stakes (1,600m) and then in the Guineas – the emphasis has been on initial restraint.

Gosden was successful in the 2014 Irish 2,000 Guineas with Field Of Gold’s sire Kingman and will be hoping to repeat the feat 11 years on with his son.

“We could go and lead if we are not happy with the pace. That is the alternative – we can push forward if we need to,” said Gosden.

“The winner has kicked and gone and we ran out of racetrack [in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket]. Given another 25 yards and the race would have been ours.”

Interestingly, his powerhouse owners Juddmonte are also sending the unbeaten Cosmic Year, another classy offspring of Kingman, to action in the Irish 2,000 Guineas.

The mount of Oisin Murphy, he is currently rated 10lbs shy of Field Of Gold but it was difficult not to be dazzled by the style with which he accelerated in Newmarket’s Listed King Charles II Stakes (1,400m) early this month.