Plenty of fantastic racing to look forward to this week – including a whopping NINE meetings on Bank Holiday Monday! You can take advantage of 888Sport’s fantastic new customer offer and get £30 in Free Bets + £10 Casino Bonus when you sign up here + place a £10 bet!
See all the key meetings and races this week in our weekly guide ↓
Monday
If only every Monday was like this! Nine meetings across the UK + Ireland to look forward to – including Fairyhouse hosting the Irish Grand National. 30 runners go to post in the feature, won last year by 150/1 outsider Freewheelin Dylan. Could the Brits spring a surprise with their sole runner in the race (Time To Get Up)?
Time To Get Up will be hoping to bring the Irish Grand National trophy back to England today.
There’s also three Grade 2 races on the Fairyhouse card, with the likes of Icare Allen (2:40), Thedevilscoachman (3:50) and Janidil (4:20) all expected to run big races in the JP McManus silks.
Elsewhere, the pick of the Flat action comes at Kempton, where there’s Listed action on the cards. My Astra heads the betting and will be looking to resume her winning ways, but with the likes of Potapova and Roman Mist in the mix she may find that difficult.
There is further Flat action at Redcar and Wolverhampton, whilst the jumps action continues at Cork, Plumpton, Chepstow, Huntingdon and Fakenham.
Tuesday
Epsom plays host to it’s first meeting of the Flat season, and the pick of the action looks to be the Listed Cazoo Blue Riband Trial (2:20). Charlie Appleby and William Buick were in scintillating form last week and hold every chance with Nahanni, who was a convincing nine-length winner on his final run last season.
However, John Gosden has won four of the last six renewals and has Frankie Dettori on board his runner – Mighty Ulysses. The colt won cosily on debut at Yarmouth last season and the step up in trip could bring further improvement. His connections have entered him in the Derby so he’s clearly highly thought of!
Elsewhere, there’s afternoon action at Sedgefield and Yarmouth, whilst Worcester and Wolverhampton host evening cards.
Wednesday
Sandown scorer Complete Unknown will be for more success at Perth on Wednesday.
There’s a couple of Listed races to look forward to on the opening day of the Perth Festival.
Paul Nicholls’ Complete Unknown won a Grade 3 contest at Sandown last month so will prove popular in the ‘National Hunt’ Novices Hurdle (3:35), whilst the Fair Maid Of Perth Mares’ Chase (4:10) features a trio of Cheltenham Festival runners – Pink Legend (2nd), Zambella (4th) and Maid O’Malley (F) all ran in the Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at the Festival last month and will be hoping for better fortunes here.
Elsewhere, Salisbury hosts it first meeting of the season and there’s also action at Bellewstown, Catterick, Lingfield and Ludlow.
Thursday
Minella Trump‘s bid for a seven-timer came up short but he could resume winning ways at Perth (3:15), as they host their second day of the Perth Festival. Elsewhere on the card, Dan Skelton’s West To The Bridge (2:40) will be bidding for a five-timer, and Hillview (3:50) will likely prove popular after comfortable wins in his last couple of races.
Away from Perth, there are six other meetings to look forward to, with further jumps action at Kilbeggan, Taunton and Warwick. Flat action comes from Beverley, Tipperary and an evening meeting on the all-weather at Chelmsford.
Friday
Sandown plays host to the first Derby trial, the Group 3 bet365 Classic Trial (3:35), which features the likes of Goldspur, Cash, River Thames and Frantastic. The first mentioned won the Group 3 Zetland Stakes and came third in a Group 1 over in France so will no doubt prove popular – especially as he represents the bang in-form Charlie Appleby yard and will be ridden by man of the moment William Buick.
Alcohol Free looks set to make a bold bid in her reappearance run at Sandown on Friday.
Other races on the card include the Group 2 bet365 Mile (3:00), where Alcohol Free is fancied to make a winning reappearance, and the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes (2:25), where Darley Stakes winner Mostahdaf faces off against fellow Group 3 winners Al Aasy and Foxes Tales.
Elsewhere, it’s the final day of the Perth Festival and there’s further action at Chepstow, Doncaster and Southwell.
Saturday
It’s Jump Finale Day at Sandown on Saturday – with FOUR Graded races on the card.
Sandown hosts it’s Jump Finale day and there’s plenty of quality racing on the card, with four Graded races to look forward to:
- 2:25 – bet365 Oaksey Chase (Grade 2)
- 3:00 – bet365 Celebration Chase (Grade 1)
- 3:32 – bet365 Gold Cup (Grade 3)
- 4:07 – bet365 Select Hurdle (Grade 2)
The Grade 1 Celebration Chase was won by Greaneteen last year, and Paul Nicholls’ runner could attempt to make it back-to-back victories in the race. The bet365 Gold Cup was an eventful race last year which was eventually decided in the stewards’ room. Enrilo (first past the post), Kitty’s Light (third past the post) and Potterman (second past the post) saw the places reversed (Potterman awarded the race, Kitty’s Light second and Enrilo third) and the trio look set to reappear in the race this year.
Elsewhere, there is Listed action on the card at Leicester and there’s further action at Doncaster, Haydock, Navan, Ripon and Wolverhampton.
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Sunday
Which mascot will you be cheering on in the Mascot Gold Cup at Wetherby on Sunday?
Sunday’s racing is a bit bare, with just two Flat meetings going to post. Bath and Wetherby both play host to seven-race cards, but the pick of the action could be the ‘Mascot Gold Cup’ at Wetherby, in what is sure to be a great watch!