Sedgefield play host to a competitive jumps card later today and the consistent Brother Scott (2.50) will appreciate stepping back up in trip having been done for toe at Kelso last time over the extended two miles.
Two Champion Hurdle candidates starred at the weekend with The New One winning the inaugural Betfair Price Rush Hurdle for the Twiston-Davies’ at Haydock, whilst Faugheen was flawless under Ruby Walsh at Ascot.
The start of the National Hunt season may be just around the corner but there is still some great action to look forward to on the flat, including on Friday as Newmarket plays host to their brilliant Future Champions Day.
Soft ground is likely to be the order of the day for our turf meetings this afternoon and Emirates Skywards (4.40) is taken to go one better than on his two previous starts in the Mile Maiden at Leicester.
The news broke on Saturday that the brilliant Treve would put her date with Dubawi on hold for at least another 12 months as connections have decided to keep her in training as a 5-year-old and aim her at an unprecedented third Arc success in Paris next October.
The horses were declared for today’s flat cards on Sunday on fast ground and we are likely to see a raft of non-runners after the rain of Monday which is sure to have eased underfoot conditions ahead of today’s racing.
Some top class action from Goodwood this afternoon including the listed Foundation Stakes over 10f where Grandeur (3.50) can follow up last year’s win in the corresponding race as long as the ground does not deteriorate too badly.
Some competitive midweek racing this afternoon and we begin at Newcastle where the BetVictor Racing Club’s Bob (4.20) is taken to follow up his Doncaster win two weeks ago over a mile dropping back in trip.
There’s top class flat racing from Newbury with High Church (2.25) fancied to go in again for the in-form Roger Charlton yard after scoring impressively just ten days ago at Leicester.
Musselburgh stage the flat action this afternoon and it will be disappointing if Henrytheaeroplane (2.30) can’t break his maiden at the second attempt having shaped with promise in a decent Haydock novice event won by a stablemate on debut earlier in the month.
Haydock stage a most informative afternoon card and in the opener Idder is of interest for Roger Varian but as a son of Authorized he might be quite at his best on the forecast good to firm ground and he is overlooked.
One winner for Godolphin at Royal Ascot in a handicap last week was not a vintage return for the operation and I do not think they have covered themselves in glory since the “resignation” of Racing Manager of 22 years Simon Crisford earlier in the year.
The eagerly-awaited first day of Royal Ascot is widely regarded as the best days flat racing in the calendar with three Group 1’s on the card including the opening Queen Anne Stakes over the straight mile.
We had a near 50/1 Grade One treble on Day Two of the Punchestown Festival and today’s feature sees Champion Hurdler Jezki take on Cheltenham fourth Hurricane Fly in a three-runner affair that is sure to be tactical as there is no confirmed pacemaker in the field.
The middle day of the Punchestown Festival but it is possible that on Day 1 we witnessed not one but two potential equine superstars with Faugheen (6/1 for the 2015 Champion Hurdle) and Forgotten Rules who won the concluding Bumper in the manner of a very special horse.
All flat action today and the Kempton draw could have been kinder to Heisman (2.40) who ran a cracker over C&D on debut before giving best to a useful sort of Godolphin’s here at the beginning of the month.
It is rare to have a race where all in the field won their previous race but that is what we have in the BetVictor sponsored 12f Handicap at Kempton Park this evening and all four have a realistic chance.