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Smart sprinters and stayers on show before stellar Irish Guineas festival

Poetic Flare (third left) beats master Of The Seas (left) and Lucky Vega (2nd left) in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket
Master Of The Seas (left) and Lucky Vega (green and white) could renew rivalry at the Curragh on SaturdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Monday

Monday marks the return of racegoers in England and the best race of the day is the £40,000 Weatherbys ePassport Stakes (6.50), in which last year's Sprint Cup winner Dream Of Dreams takes on just two rivals.

There is no Irish racing but there is a Group 3 at Chantilly, where the Prix Texanita (1.35) could showcase some emerging stars. The prime candidate is the Francois Rohaut-trained Suesa, who is unbeaten in three, including the Prix Sigy in the same grade last time.

Carlisle, Redcar and Leicester also host cards in Britain, while there is afternoon jumps fixture at Ffos Las.

Monday treat: Dream Of Dreams will make his seasonal reappearance at Windsor
Monday treat: Dream Of Dreams will make his seasonal reappearance at WindsorCredit: Grossick Racing

Tuesday

The 1m½f handicap at Wolverhampton (4.10) features a host of progressive three-year-olds, including Ilza'Eem, who was favourite for the Esher Cup before being scratched.

Like him, Great King and Summa Peto won impressively on their most recent starts, so whoever comes out on top could end up good enough to contest Group races.

Course regular Pour La Victoire (2.10) will make his 116th start at one of his happiest hunting grounds at Brighton. The 11-year-old is a ten-time winner at the track.

Nottingham stages a Flat meeting in the afternoon with evening fixtures taking place over jumps at Limerick, Huntingdon and Hexham.

Wednesday

The midweek highlight could be the Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Rothesay Stakes (3.20) at Ayr. It has the potential to be a competitive heat with last year's Ribblesdale fourth Bharani Star entered as well as three-time winner Salsada and All-Weather Finals' Day heroine Pholas.

A relative to Golden Horde could be interesting on debut at Cork on Wednesday
A relative to Golden Horde could be interesting on debut at Cork on WednesdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Watch out for Royal Ascot-bound juveniles at Cork. Aidan O'Brien has a 580,000gns half-sister to Golden Horde among his entries in the 6f maiden (2.05), while Dermot Weld could run a half-brother to Tarnawa later on the card.

The novice stakes (1.30) at Yarmouth should be worth watching, with action over jumps coming at Warwick and Southwell. Kempton's evening card offers something for the all-weather fanatics.

Thursday

There's more Listed action on Thursday as the Casumo Best Odds Guaranteed Heron Stakes (6.55) is staged at Sandown.

Without Parole took the 2018 running before winning the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and perhaps John and Thady Gosden have similar aspirations for their two entries Mostahdaf and Mithras.

Without Parole and Frankie Dettori (white cap) come home in front in the 2018 Heron Stakes at Sandown
Without Parole and Frankie Dettori (white cap) come home in front in the 2018 Heron Stakes at SandownCredit: Mark Cranham

The evening meeting is also sure to have an appetising undercard, but before then there is Lingfield, Market Rasen, Wolverhampton and Tipperary to get stuck into. There is also racing on Chelmsford's all-weather surface in the evening.

Friday

Friday is for the fillies. Prospective Cazoo Oaks contenders will have one of their final chances to put their hat into the ring in the Height Of Fashion Stakes (2.15) at Goodwood – Snow Fairy was the last to do the double at Epsom in 2010. The colts' equivalent, the British Stallion Studs EBF Cocked Hat Stakes (3.25) could also provide Classic clues.

The fillies also take centre stage at Haydock in the EBF British Stallion Studs Cecil Frail (2.05). Dandalla and Umm Kulthum won at Group level last year and could take each other on. Bath, Worcester and Catterick also stage cards.

Dandalla (left) could be in action at Haydock
Dandalla (left) could be in action at HaydockCredit: Pool

Saturday

The Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (3.20) could see the rematch between Newmarket second and third Master Of The Seas and Lucky Vega, while Wembley, Thunder Moon and Battleground will be bidding to do much better than last month.

Sprinters will come to the fore at Haydock in the Casumo Best Odds Guaranteed Temple Stakes (4.10). Among the 19 horses entered is Glass Slippers, who signed off last season with a memorable win at the Breeders' Cup.

Glass Slippers: made an impact Stateside when last seen
Glass Slippers: made an impact Stateside when last seenCredit: Alex Evers

The preceeding Casumo Bet10Get10 Sandy Lane Stakes for three-year-olds could provide a pointer to the Commonwealth Cup, while the Group 3 Bronte Cup takes place at York and there are the Festival and Tapster Stakes at Listed level at Goodwood.

Sunday

Last year's champion three-year-old Love could make her seasonal reappearance in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup (2.40) at the Curragh. Addeybb, Armory, Japan, Sangarius, Serpentine, Tiger Moth, Alpine Star and Audarya also hold entries.

Love: short-priced favourite for the Oaks
Love: one of the best horses in trainingCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Pretty Gorgeous missed the 1,000 Guineas but on form would have gone very close and she could get her chance to become a Classic winner in the Irish equivalent (3.50). The stunningly bred Joan Of Arc could be her chief threat after winning a trial at Leopardstown in excellent style.


Read more . . .

St Mark's Basilica cruises to victory in French 2,000 Guineas

Seven racecourses in England you must visit now you can go racing

Newmarket gallops: Highland Avenue catches the eye in Heron warm-up (Members' Club)


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