There’s some superb racing this week as we head into a Bank Holiday weekend – including the Flat Season back in style with Newmarket’s Craven meeting. There’s also plenty of other superb racing to look forward to across the UK & Ireland – we look at the key events happening this week.
Monday
The feature race of the day is the Class 2 ‘Riu Hotels And Resorts Handicap’ at Pontefract (3:40), featuring the likes of Ey Up It’s Maggie, Rayong and Huddle Up. We’re siding with Ey Up It’s Maggie to come on for her reappearance run at Doncaster last month.
Elsewhere, Brian Hughes is just seven wins away from reaching the 200 winners landmark, and he could get closer today with four rides at Hexham:
- Lou Trek (1:30)
- Dee Star (2:40)
- Taxmeifyoucan (3:15)
- Grain d’Oudairies (4:20)
Tuesday
Newmarket plays host to it’s opening day of their Craven Meeting, featuring two Group 3’s on the card.
The first Group 3 on the card is the Earl Of Sefton Stakes (3:00), where Master Of The Seas will be hoping to make a winning reappearance and the market has been in favour of Charlie Appleby’s gelding to do just that.
The Second Group 3 is the Nell Gwyn Stakes, which should be a cracker. Catchet and Hello You finished 4th and 5th respectively in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar last year and look set to fight this out.
Wednesday
Day Two of Newmarket’s Craven Meeting where the unbeaten Native Trail makes his long awaited reappearance in the Group 3 Craven Stakes (3:35). Charlie Appleby’s star colt should take the world of beating.
There’s also the Group 3 Abernant Stakes (3:00) which should be more competitive, with the likes of Ebro River, Jumby and Garrus all in with live chances.
Elsewhere the pick of the jumps action to be had at Cheltenham, which features the Grade 2 Silver Trophy Handicap Chase (2:05). Coole Cody will fancy his chances back over C&D after winning so convincingly at Cheltenham Festival last month.
Thursday
The third and final day of Newmarket’s Craven Meeting, and the feature race is the Listed Feilden Stakes (3:35). Andrew Balding’s Masekela finished just behind unbeaten star Native Trail in the Superlative Stakes last season so will have plenty of support in this.
The pick of the jumps action is again at Cheltenham, with Grade 3 action (3:50) and THREE Listed races to get stuck into. There’s also seven-race cards at Exeter and Clonmel for National Hunt fans to enjoy.
Elsewhere, there is a cracking card at Ripon, which features the Ripon Silver Bowl Handicap (2:50) and there’s further flat action at Bath.
Friday
Frankie Dettori is set to be in action on All-Weather Championships Day at Newcastle
The pick of the Good Friday racing on Friday comes from Newcastle, where it’s their All-Weather Championships Day. The stars of the All-Weather season should be here and with top jockey Frankie Dettori booked for a couple of rides it’s sure to be an eventful day’s racing!
It’s all about the all-weather on Friday as the other two cards at Chelmsford and Lingfield are also AW.
Saturday
Newbury plays host to it’s first flat meeting of the season and it’s a thrilling start with THREE Group 3 races on the card. Last year, those three races produced three of that seasons flat stars:
- John Porter Stakes – Al Aasy
- Fred Darling Stakes – Alcohol Free
- Greenham Stakes – Chindit
Alcohol Free won the 2021 Fred Darling Stakes – who will win it this year?
There’s EIGHT meetings altogether to get stuck into, so it could be the perfect day to go racing! If not, get relaxed and watch the pick of the racing live on ITV – we’ll have our ITV tips available from Thursday.
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Sunday
It may be Easter Sunday, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the racing. In fact, there’s a further EIGHT meetings to look forward to!
The pick of the races is over in Ireland, as Fairyhouse plays host to two Grade 1 races. The Fairyhouse Gold Cup Novice Chase (4:55) looks to be the pick of the two, with the likes of Galopin Des Champs, Blue Lord and Stattler entered.
What a way to end the week!