It's Guineas weekend at Newmarket, while Willie Mullins is not done redefining the art of the possible at Punchestown
A long and potentially very good Friday awaits racing fans as the opening salvo of Newmarket's Qipco Guineas festival on ITV segues seamlessly into day four of Punchestown, where Willie Mullins continues to rewrite his and everyone else's history at a relentless pace.
Fresh from raising his own mark in terms of Grade 1 victories for the season on Thursday, Mullins plays two of his most powerful cards in a pair of showpiece races that not only aim to set the seasonal seal on their divisions for this campaign but also illuminate what might be major themes next winter.
It is only right to start with the reigning Champion Hurdle hero State Man, whose unerring ability to get the job done means he will be long odds-on to confirm his Cheltenham superiority over Irish Point in the Boodles Champion Hurdle (6.00), despite having only a length and a quarter to play with from last month.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
inPreviews
- Saturday updates: conditions quicken at Newbury ahead of mouthwatering Lockinge Stakes clash between Inspiral and Big Rock
- Cracking the Premier puzzle with Harry Wilson's tips for each of the seven races live on ITV on Saturday
- From Palio to Chantilly: Maurizio Guarnieri's journey to becoming Big Rock's new trainer
- 3.40 Navan: Gasper De Lemos and The Equator step up in distance as Aidan O'Brien bids to extend excellent Yeats Stakes record
- 12.01 Pimlico: dramatic Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan continues on Triple Crown trail in Preakness Stakes
- Enhanced Tyson Fury betting odds: get 60-1 for Fury to beat Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday with Parimatch
- Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk betting offer: get 50-1 with Paddy Power on Fury or Usyk this Saturday
- Enhanced Oleksandr Usyk betting odds: get 60-1 for Usyk to beat Tyson Fury on Saturday with Parimatch
- Saturday updates: conditions quicken at Newbury ahead of mouthwatering Lockinge Stakes clash between Inspiral and Big Rock
- Cracking the Premier puzzle with Harry Wilson's tips for each of the seven races live on ITV on Saturday
- From Palio to Chantilly: Maurizio Guarnieri's journey to becoming Big Rock's new trainer
- 3.40 Navan: Gasper De Lemos and The Equator step up in distance as Aidan O'Brien bids to extend excellent Yeats Stakes record
- 12.01 Pimlico: dramatic Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan continues on Triple Crown trail in Preakness Stakes
- Enhanced Tyson Fury betting odds: get 60-1 for Fury to beat Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday with Parimatch
- Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk betting offer: get 50-1 with Paddy Power on Fury or Usyk this Saturday
- Enhanced Oleksandr Usyk betting odds: get 60-1 for Usyk to beat Tyson Fury on Saturday with Parimatch