Terrific clash in the Clarence House and new Winter Million head a stellar week

Monday

It is a busy start to the week's proceedings with four meetings in Britain and Ireland, with an intriguing fast-track qualifier for All-Weather Finals Day over 2m½f (6.30) headlining Wolverhampton's evening card.

Alan King saddles two of the five runners in the contest, which includes the 2019 winner Rainbow Dreamer and 2020 Ascot Stakes hero Coeur De Lion, while jockey Liam Keniry has three chances on the card to notch his landmark 1,000th British winner.

The jumping action in the afternoon comes from Chepstow and Fakenham, while there is also a seven-race card from Punchestown.

Tuesday

Newcastle hosts jumps racing and stages a classy-looking seven-race card that includes four qualifiers for the Racing Post Go North Series.

The pick of the bunch is the 2m½f handicap chase (1.55), where the prolific Gallic Geordie will aim to land a remarkable four-timer following his impressive victory on Challow Hurdle day at Newbury last month.

Exeter also hosts action during the afternoon before an eight-race twilight card at Southwell on the all-weather.

Wednesday

Some classy sorts were successful on Newbury's card last year and Cousu Main could be a bright prospect to emerge this time in the 2m½f novice hurdle (1.15) following his 12-length romp at Uttoxeter early last month.

The Class 2 mares' handicap hurdle (3.30) is the feature race on the card and could see recent course-and-distance winner Gran Luna aim for another success at the Berkshire track.

Plumpton also stages a jumps card in the afternoon before another evening fixture from Southwell, while the Irish action comes from Dundalk.

Thursday

The Somerset National (3.50) is one of the feature races of the year at Wincanton, despite being over 'only' 3m2½f, and could feature some well-known stayers from the local Nationals circuit.

Dawson City (right): bids for more Somerset National glory on ThursdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Popular veteran Dawson City scored in this race last year and the Polly Gundry-trained star is back to attempt to retain his crown as a 13-year-old, but could come up against the likes of Sussex and Devon National winner Christmas In April and 2018 bet365 Gold Cup hero Step Back.

There is also a seven-race card from Ludlow before the all-weather action commences in the evening from Newcastle.

Friday

It is a big day for Lingfield as the inaugural Winter Million weekend begins with some quality jumps action, which will be broadcast on ITV4.

The feature race is the 2m7f Winter Million Hurdle (2.25), which could see dual Grade 2 winner On The Blind Side take on useful mare Molly Ollys Wishes, while star novice chaser Threeunderthrufive could make a swift reappearance in the 2m7½f novice chase (3.00) following his win in the Hampton Court at Warwick last Saturday.

Market Rasen also stages four races in front of the ITV cameras including the Listed mares' bumper named in honour of Alan Swinbank (2.40), which was won last year in impressive fashion by Eileendover.

The all-weather racing comes from Southwell in the afternoon before two evening fixtures at Newcastle and Dundalk.

Saturday

A blockbuster day of racing to blow away any remaining January blues, this could be the day crack two-mile chasers Shishkin and Energumene take each other on in a titanic clash in the Clarence House Chase (3.35).

The leading novice chasers from last season were denied their first bout in the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival last year, but both trainers reported their stars to be on course for Ascot in what could be the race of the season.

Shishkin: made a perfect return at Kempton last timeCredit: Edward Whitaker

Haydock stages the best of the rest of the action with four Grade 2s on offer at the Merseyside track, including the Peter Marsh Chase (2.35) and the The New One Unibet Hurdle (2.00), which is widely recognised as a Champion Hurdle trial.

The Portman Cup (3.15) is the feature race of the day at Taunton and has been won by Yala Enki for the past two years, while the second of three days of racing takes place at Lingfield, which switches to the all-weather and sees the newly created Winter Oaks (3.40) headlining a terrific Flat card.

A Grade B handicap hurdle heads the Irish action from Navan, before the evening racing comes from Wolverhampton.

Sunday

Thurles's Grade 2 Horse and Jockey Hotel Chase has been won by some stars of the jumps in the past, including Cheltenham Gold Cup heroes Don Cossack and Sizing John, and was won last year by Allaho before his demolition job in the Ryanair Chase.

The Grade 2 mares' novice chase was scooped last year by Colreevy before she went on to Cheltenham Festival and Grade 1 glory later on in the season before her retirement. Could there be another star mare to follow in her footsteps?

The final day of Lingfield's Winter Million fixture takes place and is headlined by the £150,000 Fleur De Lys Chase as well as the Surrey National, while the other action in Britain comes from Warwick.

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