General / Andrew Hughes / 19 April 2009 / Leave a Comment

A decent Irish meeting, the first Epsom races of the season and a possible late season appearance from Masterminded... Andrew Hughes looks forward to the next seven days' racing...

Sunday April 19

Leopardstown

2:25 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden

Sunday wouldn't be Sunday without a decent Irish meeting to study and today is no exception. This two year old contest includes a number of unraced horses from top stables including Aidan O'Brien's Air Chief Marshall and Jim Bolger's Gold Bubbles. One to watch with the notebook handy.

3:25 Heritage Stakes

This Listed event is run over a mile and features some interesting entries. Pick of the bunch is Three Rocks who has run up three straight victories already this season, the last of which was particularly impressive. He is being stepped up in class here en route to a tilt at either the Amesthyst Stakes or the Duke of York next month.

3:55 PW McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes

Some exciting three year olds on show for this twelve furlong Group Three race that has an excellent record for finding subsequent Group One winners. Eight of the ten entrants hold entries in either the English or Irish Derbies, including the undefeated Montjeu colt Fame and Glory from the Ballydoyle stable.

Wednesday April 22

Epsom

3:40 Weatherbys Bank Blue Riband Trial Stakes

The first Epsom meeting of the season and a Derby trial that doesn't have a great history of producing contenders for the big one, though it is at least a good test of whether a horse can handle the unique Epsom gradients. The Noseda colt Your Old Pal is likely to attract plenty of support after his impressive debut in a Newmarket maiden last October.

4:15 City and Suburban Heritage Handicap

A race with a fine tradition, dating back to 1851 and at one time being contested by some high class horses with Classic ambitions. It doesn't have quite the same cachet these days, but nevertheless offers plenty for punters to get their teeth into with a large field of handicappers going to post.

Friday April 24

Sandown

1:25 Esher Cup

The traditional two day meeting that brings the curtain down on the National Hunt season begins with a cracking flat card. This Class Two handicap confined to three year olds is always a competitive mile event and well worth studying.

2:00 Classic Trial

Another Derby trial, this ten furlong Group Three hasn't produced an Epsom champion since Benny The Dip in 1997 but it can still turn up a decent animal, such as last year's winner Centennial who went on to take the Great Voltigeur at Goodwood.

Saturday April 25

Sandown

2:35 Celebration Chase

One of the newer Graded contests on the calendar and originally conceived as a replacement race for the cancelled Queen Mother Champion Chase of 2001. It is an event that usually attracts a field of speedy chasers who have proven to be just below the very top class, though the possibility of Masterminded putting in a late season appearance is an exciting one.

3:10 Gold Cup Chase

A real favourite, this end of season Group Three handicap is a stamina sapping affair over three miles and five furlongs with a big field tackling the stiff fences. Amongst the main contenders to take the prize are the 2006 winner Lacdougal for Philip Hobbs and the current favourite Hoo La Baloo for Champion Trainer elect Paul Nicholls.

3:45 Sandown Mile

This Group Two often provides a decent contest as horses battle up the rising ground at the end of a galloping mile. Field sizes vary but the spoils usually go to a top performer from one of the better stables.

4:15 Gordon Richards Stakes

A Group Three run over ten furlongs, there is often a small field turning out for this race, but though it may be low on numbers, it is invariably high on quality and there is plenty of top class form to scrutinise amongst the records of these older horses.

Leicester

3:40 Leicestershire Stakes

A rare opportunity for this Midlands venue to get a mention, but in between all the top class action from Sandown, it might be worth checking out this Listed event. The uphill finish provides a real test and it might be worth siding with those who stay further than the seven furlongs, particularly if the ground is soft.

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