Events / Andrew Hughes / 31 May 2009 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

Andrew Hughes marks your card for a week which includes a showcase for Europe's finest sprinters, future stars at Naas and culminates in the 2009 Epsom Derby. Will Johnny Murtagh choose Fame and Glory?

Sunday May 31st

Chantilly

2:30 Prix de Sandringham

A Group Two mile for three-year-olds that tends to attract fillies who have not quite lived up to their trainers' Guineas ambitions.

3:05 Grand Prix de Chantilly

One of the better middle distance Group races around, with entrants here offering plenty of top class form for punters to study. Winners of this race are often aimed at the prestigious Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.

3:40 Prix du Gros Chene

Named after a large oak tree that once stood on this most idyllic of courses, the third Group race of the day is a five furlong dash showcasing some of Europe's best sprinters.

Monday June 1st

Naas

3:40 Naas Sprint Stakes

A Listed event for sprinters just below top class that usually draws a fair sized field.

4:40 Coolmore Stud Fillies' Sprint Stakes

Worth watching this Group Three for two-year-old fillies closely for future stars with last year's winner Cus Ghaire going on to finish runner up in the 1000 Guineas.

Windsor

7:55 Leisure Stakes

A similar event to the earlier race in Naas, this evening sprint is likely to attract an even bigger field and is competitive for its class.

Thursday June 4th

Leopardstown

7:00 Ballyogan Stakes

A Group Three sprint for fillies and mares in which British raiders have a good record though punters won't have it easy trying to weigh up the form of these unexposed or disappointing animals.

8:30 Glencairn Stakes

A Listed mile event that shouldn't take much winning but the small field can lead to an uncertain pace and an unpredictable outcome.

Friday June 5th

Epsom

1:40 Diomed Stakes

This Group 3 over an extended mile is often not more than Listed class and likely to feature some thoroughly exposed sorts. As ever at Epsom, the ability to handle the unique gradients is the key.

2:45 Coronation Cup

This is a mouth-watering clash of Classic contenders from years past and should be one of the more straightforward races for punters to study this meeting.

3:25 Heritage Handicap

A 10 furlong scramble featuring a big field that is likely to be highly competitive and a thorough test of punters' mettle.

4:05 Oaks

Michael Bell's Sariska, impressive winner of the Musidora Stakes is the current antepost favourite for this fillies Classic on [4.4] but John Gosden's Rainbow View is fancied at [5.2] as is Henry Cecil's Midday, currently around the [6.4] mark.

Goodwood

7:20 Tapster Stakes

Obviously overshadowed by events at Epsom, but this Listed contest over a mile and a half is worth looking at if you have the chance and could feature some promising and possibly underrated types.

Saturday June 6th

Epsom

1:25 Sir Clement Freud Memorial Stakes

Appropriately renamed to commemorate the great man, this 10 furlong Heritage handicap is usually fiercely contested. Punters should be on the lookout for rail alterations from the first day.

1:55 Woodcote Stakes

A Listed contest for two-year-olds that is a tricky one to unravel, partly because you can't be sure how these youngsters will take to the quirky course and partly because many of them will be unexposed.

2:25 Princess Elizabeth Stakes

A Group Three for fillies and mares run over the extended mile. It hasn't always lived up to its status but it represents a good punting race with most of the horses on show having plenty of form in the book.

3:00 Investec 'Dash'

A big field cavalry charge down the fastest sprint course in the country, this valuable event is quite a spectacle and though it will take some work to unravel, handicap lovers will be in their element.

3:45 Derby

Irish horses have dominated the antepost market this year. In choosing his Derby mount, Johnny Murtagh has a tricky decision to make between favourite Fame And Glory and his Ballydoyle stablemate Rip Van Winkle. John Oxx's 2000 Guineas winner Sea The Stars also has his supporters and if he were to win, he would be the first horse since Nashwan to do the Classic double.