Weekend Preview: Irish Guineas and Temple Stakes feature on classic weekend

Haydock is the venue for the best racing in Britain this weekend and the Group 2 Temple Stakes is the highlight on an eight-race card that features seven handicaps.

Bated Breath heads the Timeform ratings for the feature, considered 3 lb superior to his nearest rival, Sole Power. Bated Breath finished second in Group 1 company on no fewer than three occasions last year, proving that he is up to mixing it at the top level, and the step down in class should mean he's thereabouts at the finish.

Sole Power, the winner of the 2010 Nunthorpe Stakes, has run creditably in recent starts having landed the Temple 12 months ago, and the pair look set to put up bold efforts. Masamah cannot be ruled out, however, neither can the returning Tangerine Trees, the winner of last season's Prix de l'Abbaye.

The Silver Bowl Stakes is the handicap highlight at Haydock on Saturday, a Class 2 contest over a mile due off at 14:30. Archbishop and Mabaany look the two most likely winners, the former having posted a very promising seasonal reappearance at Newmarket last time, and the latter shaping well when fourth in a minor event at Leicester last season. Gabrial is another entered who looks open to progression in what could prove a very hot renewal.

There is also high quality racing from Goodwood on Saturday with two listed contests on offer on the Sussex Downs. The Festival Stakes is the first to get underway, due off at 14:45, with the likes of Cai Shen and Fiorente currently holding entries. Fiorenete is one of the Timeform Fifty To Follow and could be open to further progression on just his sixth racecourse start. He still has a bit to find with Retrieve, however, the winner of a minor event at Lingfield on his latest start.

The Tapster Stakes is the other listed contest on the card, a race in which racing enthusiasts are set to see the eagerly anticipated return of Sea Moon. Sea Moon looked to be a three-year-old of the highest quality when landing last season's Great Voltigeur Stakes at York but he was unable to follow-up with Group 1 success, finishing third in last season's St Leger, having been denied a clear run, and then finishing second behind St Nicholas Abbey in the Breeders' Cup Turf. He should take the beating on Saturday in a race that also features Dandino.

The listed Grand Cup is the highlight on a seven-race at York with Godolphin's Cavalryman in the line-up. The six-year old finished third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe back in 2009 for Andre Fabre but is yet to recapture that level of form since.

There is also racing from Chester on Saturday afternoon, with action on the level completed by evening meetings at both Newbury and Lingfield, the latter hosting an all-weather card.

The Irish 2000 Guineas is the feature in Ireland on Saturday with the Curragh classic having attracted 11 top entries. Hermival, who finished third in the English equivalent, heads the Timeform ratings, considered 1 lb superior to Wrote and Trumpet Major, as he bids to land another classic victory for Makfi's trainer Mikel Delzangles. There will be plenty of competition in Saturday's Group 1 with Takar, Born to Sea, and Dewhurst winner Parish Hall all entered though.

The Group 3 Greenland Stakes is also on the Curragh Card, with the likes of Definightly and Mayson currently heading the entries. Bated Breath is also engaged but this looks a precautionary measure with his intended target the aforementioned Temple Stakes at Haydock.

The Group 3 Equestrian Stakes is the other pattern contest, with Emulous currently heading the Timeform ratings for the one mile event. Emulous is relatively lightly-raced for her age and looks head and shoulder above the majority of her rivals. Alanza is likely to prove the biggest threat to Dermot Weld's mare, John Oxx's runner still potentially open to progression after a promising season in 2011.

Fakenham and Kelso are the two venues for racing in Britain on Sunday, with both tracks hosting National Hunt meetings.

The Irish 1000 Guineas is the highlight in Ireland with the second classic of the weekend coming from the Curragh. Homecoming Queen heads the Timeform ratings after her runaway victory of the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and, if reproducing anything like that form, she will be very difficult to beat. Aidan O'Brien also has Maybe, Wonderful, After, Reply, Devotion, Soon and Ishvana entered at time of writing.

The other feature race at the Curragh is the Tattersalls Gold Cup. Aidan O'Brien is once again mob-handed amongst the entries with St Nicholas Abbey, Await the Dawn and So You Think all currently in the line-up. So You Think is the highest rated in Timeform terms having posted several high-class performances last season and he is the one to beat if turning up in top form. Famous Name is the highest rated of the non O'Brien entrants but his chance of upsetting the Ballydoyle party is slim.

The Gallinule Stakes completes the Group action on Sunday with Tannery currently leading the way in terms of the figures, considered 3 lb in advance of the field. Tannery has looked on an upward curve based on her last two runs and it isn't difficult to see her improving once again. Soon and Coral Wave are the two most likely to upset David Wachman's three-year-old with the former also entered in the Irish 1000 Guineas.