What's on this week: Cheltenham trials to provide further festival pointers

Monday

The week kicks off with a full day of Flat racing across Britain, with Southwell and Kempton each hosting afternoon fixtures.

Kempton's seven-race card features the Karl Burke-trained Kaboo, who will be a warm order as he bids to continue his stellar winter campaign in the fast-track qualifier (3.15) for all-weather finals day in April.

Monday's evening fixture is an eight-race Tapeta meeting at Wolverhampton.

Tuesday

Flat racing comes from Lingfield, where Nuble bids for her fourth win on the bounce in the Betway Handicap (3.30) for the Marco Botti stable.

Dan Skelton could have a fruitful day at Leicester, where promising novice hurdler Walk In Clover could make her first start for the yard (2.50) before Tokay Dokey seeks to follow up an impressive win on Boxing Day with success in the 2m novice limited handicap chase (3.50).

Dan Skelton could be among the winners on Tuesday with his runners at LeicesterCredit: Harry Trump (Getty Images)

Racing returns in Ireland at Down Royal with a seven-race jumps card, while Southwell hosts the British evening fixture on its Tapeta surface.

Wednesday

Minella Plus has racked up a hat-trick over the winter for Donald McCain and could bid to extend his run at Catterick, where he is entered in the 2m3½f handicap hurdle (3.10) alongside Clarens, who is also on the hunt for a fourth successive victory.

Wincanton holds a six-race jumps card that includes an entry for four-time course-and-distance winner Native Robin, who would be attempting a hat-trick with a step up in class in the 2m4f handicap chase (2.50).

The Gary Moore yard has been in sensational form and could add another winner to the list with Essential Jaco, who drops back in trip for the 1m7f novice handicap hurdle (3.50).

Flat racing comes from Lingfield in the afternoon and Kempton in the evening, both with seven-race cards.

Thursday

In Ireland, Gowran Park hosts the first Graded contest of the week with the Grade 2 John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle (2.05), which could feature five-time Grade 1 winner Klassical Dream for trainer Willie Mullins, with stablemate Al Boum Photo also holding an entry for the 3m½f race.

Later on the card is the Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase (3.05) and last year's winning trainer Gordon Elliott has eight early entries for the 3m1f test, including Cork Grand National winner Braeside.

Klassical Dream: entered for the Grade 2 contest at Gowran Park on ThursdayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

At Wetherby, novice hurdler You Some Boy could extend his winning record at the track for the Rebecca Menzies yard in the 3m novice handicap hurdle (4.17), the final event of the seven-race meeting with a feature 2m3½f handicap chase (2.45).

Southwell hosts a valuable midweek Class 2 handicap on the all-weather (2.25) and there is evening racing from Newcastle.

Friday

Doncaster's feature 2m½f handicap chase (1.50) could see a fascinating clash between Peterborough Chase runner-up Funambule Sivola and Before Midnight, who made a successful start to the season before trailing behind Shishkin in the Desert Orchid Chase.

Friday's card also includes the Sky Bet Fillies' Juvenile Hurdle (2.25), in which the Ross O'Sullivan-trained Sea Sessions may bid for back-to-back Listed successes after scoring at Aintree last month.

There is more Listed action at Huntingdon, where the £75,000 Pertemps Lady Protectress Mares' Chase (2.35) could feature New Year's Day Handicap Chase winner Vienna Court, followed by Tip Top Cat's bid for a four-timer in the Pertemps qualifier (3.10).

Flat racing in Britain comes from Lingfield with evening racing from Wolverhampton, while Irish racing can be found at Dundalk.

Saturday

Attention will be focused on Cheltenham for Festival Trials day, which was abandoned due to waterlogging last year and switched to Sandown but traditionally marks the final day of racing at the track before the festival.

The Grade 2 Paddy Power Cotswold Chase (2.30) headlines the card, worth £120,000 and won in recent years by Native River, Santini and Frodon en route to Grade 1 tests at the festival.

Saturday's card includes three other Grade 2 contests plus the Grade 3 Paddy Power Cheltenham Countdown Podcast Handicap Chase (1.55), which also boasts Frodon on its winning roster in 2018.

Native River: winner of last year's Cotswold Chase from Bristol De Mai when it was run at SandownCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

The Grade 2 Welsh Marches Stallions At Chapel Stud Cleeve Hurdle (3.05) is of particular note due to the expected appearance of Champ, with trainer Nicky Henderson choosing to stay over hurdles with the Grade 1 winner ahead of the Stayers' Hurdle on March 17.

The second day of racing at Doncaster is headlined by the £100,000 Sky Bet Handicap Chase (3.20), won last year by 40-1 outsider Takingrisks.

The card also features two Grade 2 contests, the Lightning Novices' Chase (1.35) last won by star chaser Shishkin for Nicky Henderson, and the Yorkshire Rose Mares' Hurdle (2.10), whose past winners include Annie Power, Vroum Vroum Mag and two-time scorer Lady Buttons.

More jump racing comes from Uttoxeter and Fairyhouse, including the Grade 2 Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle (2.15), while Lingfield and Kempton hold Flat racing fixtures on the all-weather.

Sunday

Britain's jump racing comes from Fontwell and Sedgefield, with the latter fixture set to include qualifiers for the Racing Post Go North Series finals in March.

Naas holds a seven-race jumps card featuring two Grade 3 contests, the BetVictor Limestone Lad Hurdle (1.40), dominated in recent years by Willie Mullins, and the Naas Racecourse Business Club Novice Chase (3.10).

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