Baaeed and Stradivarius set to return in a star-studded week at York and Newbury

Monday

It's Flat racing almost exclusively across the cards on Monday with fixtures at Catterick, Wolverhampton, Roscommon and Musselburgh.

Windsor's evening meeting is the pick with the Listed Fitzdares Royal Windsor Stakes (6.40), where Modern News will be a short-priced favourite against three rivals for the in-form Godolphin team.

The sole jumps fixture comes from Southwell, where Harriet Dickin saddles her first runners including former Flat racer Phyllis (6.50).

Tuesday

It's a quiet day of racing prior to the week's big meeting at York, with all-weather action at Lingfield and Newcastle on Tuesday.

More maiden runners seek to get off to a winning start in the opening novice stakes at Beverley (2.10), while last year's leading jockey at Chepstow David Probert returns for a host of rides at the Welsh track.

Sedgefield hosts a jumps meeting in which Nero Rock will seek back-to-back chase wins (2.30) one week on from romping home by 16 lengths at the same track.

Wednesday

The start of the three-day York Dante meeting takes centre stage and the first day is headlined by the Musidora Stakes (3.35).

Impressive Sandown winner Emily Upjohn is expected to use this race as a launchpad to the Oaks in June, for which she is a general 4-1 shot. She could potentially face stablemate and fellow Oaks entrant Nashwa, who also recorded a comfortable victory last time out.

Emily Upjohn could bid to confirm her Oaks credentials at YorkCredit: Edward Whitaker

Elsewhere on the card is the Group 2 1895 Duke Of York Clipper Logistics Stakes (3.00), which has attracted a high-class list of entrants including Group 2 winners Rohaan and Minzaal, with multiple Group 1-placed Dragon Symbol set to make his seasonal reappearance.

Quality handicaps and a juvenile race make up the rest of the seven-race card, with jumping at Newton Abbot, Worcester and Perth, while Bath and Gowran Park both provide more action from the Flat.

Thursday

Day two at York provides another Epsom pointer with the Dante Stakes (3.35), which last year was taken by the eventual Derby third Hurricane Lane. With Godolphin not having a strong hand in this trial, John Gosden could be the the man to look out for.

Gosden took this race in 2015 with Golden Horn, who on his next start won the Derby, and this time he and son Thady are set to field Magisterial, who won a Leicester novice on his reappearance last month and is a general 14-1 shot for the Epsom Classic.

Another contender will be the once-raced Desert Crown, who has been heavily backed from 33-1 for the Derby into 6-1 for four-time Derby-winning trainer Sir Michael Stoute.

The Group 2 Middleton Fillies’ Stakes (2.25) and the Listed Westow Stakes (4.10) form a fine undercard.

Flat action also comes from Salisbury and Newmarket, with jump racing at Fontwell, Perth and Clonmel.

Friday

The final day of the Dante meeting at York doesn’t provide us with any clues for Epsom but does put a shining light on one of the greats Stradivarius, who is set to make his reappearance in the Yorkshire Cup (3.35) in what will be his final season before retirement.

The staying superstar is looking for his third win in this contest but if the ground softens we are likely to see Alan King run Trueshan, who defeated the Gosden-trained runner twice last year.

Trueshan: the dominant force in the staying divisionCredit: Edward Whitaker

The seven-race card kicks off with the Listed Marygate Fillies’ Stakes (1.50) which could produce a star juvenile as the majority of the field come into this completely unexposed, many having won on debut.

Newbury and Newmarket provide more Flat action in the afternoon, with Hamilton and Leopardstown taking place in the evening alongside jumping action from Aintree.

Saturday

A super Saturday is set to feature the return of one of the most exciting horses in training with Baaeed being prepped to return in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes (3.20) at Newbury.

Last year's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner, who defeated superstar miler Palace Pier in that race, hasn't lost in six starts but will face a tough task having to give weight to 1,000 Guineas winner Mother Earth.

Another for the older horses is the Al Rayyan Stakes (2.10), registered as The Aston Park Stakes, which usually attracts a top-class field and is often used as a stepping stone to the Group 1 Coronation Cup at the Derby meeting.

Also on the card is the Haras De Bouquetot Fillies' Trial Stakes (4.30) which has served as a launchpad to the Oaks with Dancing Rain, who was runner-up in this contest in 2011, going on to take the Epsom Classic.

Other Flat action comes from Newmarket, Thirsk, Doncaster and the all-weather at Chelmsford while jumps fans have Bangor and Uttoxeter to look forward to.

Sunday

The focus switches to Naas for its Royal Ascot trials day, with a host of Pattern-level races that include the Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint Stakes (4.15) – won in the past by Group 1 winners Sky Lantern and Alpha Centauri – and the Goffs Lacken Stakes (4.45), which was claimed by A Case Of You last year.

Two Listed contests, the Sole Power Sprint Stakes (3.45) and the Owenstown Stud Stakes (7.15), also feature on the card.

There are only two British meetings to close out the week, with jump racing at Stratford and a seven-race Flat card at Ripon, which includes a valuable 6f fillies' handicap (4.10).

More jump racing comes from Killarney, with a Grade B handicap hurdle (3.30) and Listed mares' hurdle (3.00) on offer.

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The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday