What's on this week: can the unfortunate Kitty's Light take the bet365 Gold Cup?

Monday

The week starts with a bang as the Bank holiday provides nine meetings across Britain and Ireland, featuring jumps action from Fairyhouse which hosts the Irish Grand National (5.00).

A field of 30 line up for the marathon event where major owners Gigginstown and JP McManus provide 16 of the runners, while the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Time To Get Up is the sole British challenger.

There are also three Grade 2 events on the Irish card – Donohue Marquees Juvenile Hurdle (2.40), Rathberry & Glenview Studs Hurdle (3.50) and the Devonish Chase (4.20) – with Cork providing more jumps action from across the water.

Flat racing comes from Kempton where the Listed Snowdrop Fillies’ Stakes (4.05) has an interesting field featuring My Astra for William Haggas, and a mile Conditions Stakes (2.55) where Saga, who holds a 2,000 Guineas entry, bids to make a winning start to his three-year-old campaign.

The day's other action comes courtesy of Redcar and Wolverhampton on the Flat and Plumpton, Chepstow, Huntingdon and Fakenham.

Tuesday

The home of the Derby, Epsom, hosts its first meeting of the Flat season and features the 1m2f Listed Cazoo Blue Riband Trial (2.20).

John Gosden has won four of the last six renewals and runs Derby entrant Mighty Ulysses, who steps up in trip having won convincingly over the mile on debut.

Gosden has used this race as a platform in 2017 with Cracksman, who went on to finish third in the Derby, and the same route could be used for this colt.

There is more afternoon action from Sedgefield and Yarmouth, with Worcester and Wolverhampton bringing the day’s racing to a close.

Wednesday

The first day of the Perth Festival gets underway and features two Listed contests, a 3m novice hurdle (3.35) and the 3m Fair Maid Of Perth Mares’ Chase (4.10).

Cheltenham fourth Zambella could be amongst the mid-week runnersCredit: Tim Goode (Getty Images/Pool)

In the first of those we could see the comfortable winner of the novice handicap hurdle final at Sandown, Complete Unknown, step up in distance for Paul Nicholls. In the latter, Cheltenham Mares’ Chase fourth Zambella could look for a return to winning ways back down in class.

Salisbury hosts its first Flat meeting of the season and features a novice stakes (4.25) that was won last year by the dual Group 1-winner Angel Bleu.

Afternoon racing comes from Ludlow and Catterick, with evening action on the Flat on the all-weather at Lingfield and Bellewstown from Ireland.

Thursday

Day two of the Perth Festival with a Conditional Jockeys’ Veterans’ Chase qualifier (2.05) and a 2m4f handicap chase (3.15) which could feature Minella Trump, whose winning streak came to an end when bidding for a seven-timer last time.

Jumping action also comes from Warwick, Taunton and Kilbeggan in Ireland with Flat action filling the remainder of the day from Beverley and Tipperary on the turf and an evening all-weather meeting at Chelmsford.

Friday

All eyes will be on Sandown as the first Derby trial, the Group 3 bet365 Classic Trial (3.35), takes place with over half of the runners holding entries for the Epsom Classic.

Goldspur was third on his final start at two in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud, but will take on some unexposed rivals from the yards of Aidan O’Brien and John Gosden.

Also on the card is the Group 2 bet365 Mile (3.00) where Coronation Stakes winner Alcohol Free looks likely to make her reappearance and is already fancied to make it a winning one.

Another Group race takes place in the form of the Gordon Richards Stakes (2.25) and the Shadwell-owned duo Mostahdaf and Coronation Cup winner Al Aasy could take each other on in a Friday cracker.

Other flat action comes from Doncaster and the final day of the Perth Festival features the Highland National (2.40). Jumps cards from Southwell and Chepstow make up the remainder of the day.

Saturday

It’s Jump Finale day at Sandown as the season comes to an end with some high quality races including the bet365 Gold Cup (3.32).

Last year's race was decided in the stewards' room, as first past the post Enrilo was adjudged to have wandered in the closing stages and hampered eventual third Kitty's Light, who he was ultimately placed behind, handing the race to Potterman. All three are entered for a rematch on Saturday.

The Group 1 bet365 Celebration Chase is the feature race (3.00) and was won last year by Greaneteen. Paul Nicholls could produce this runner for a repeat bid to give the Champion trainer a seventh winner of this contest.

Greaneteen could go for back to back victories in the Grade 1 Celebration ChaseCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

The card also features a pair of Grade 2s, the bet365 Oaksey Chase (2.25) and the bet365 Select Hurdle (4.07) and three competitive handicaps make up the seven races.

Flat action makes up the remainder of the fixtures with Leicester hosting the Listed King Richard III Stakes (2.45). Other action comes from Haydock, Ripon, Doncaster, Wolverhampton and Navan.

Sunday

A quiet day to conclude the week with two flat meetings providing the only racing across Britain and Ireland as Bath and Wetherby take centre stage.

Racing may have to take a back seat though as Wetherby hosts the Guinness World Record holding ‘Mascot Gold Cup’ where 40 runners are set to line up for a great family day out.

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