General / Andrew Hughes / 17 May 2009 / Leave a Comment

A scenic afternoon in Yorkshire, Cocked Hats and the Height of Fashion in Sussex and the Curragh hosts one of the highlights of the flat season... Andrew Hughes looks ahead to a week of racing...

Sunday May 17

Ripon

3:10 Ripon, Yorkshire's Garden Racecourse Handicap

A quiet Sunday but a decent handicap contest at one of the prettiest courses you'll ever visit. This race offers a decent prize for a mix of experienced and unexposed milers.

Navan

2:15 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden

Another interesting two-year-old race, run over just shy of six furlongs, for which there are a number of well bred and interesting youngsters entered. Aidan O'Brien may run the Oratorio colt, Beethoven and Reggae Dancer, a son of Rock of Gibraltar.

Monday May 18

Windsor

6:40 Weatherby's Bank Conditions Stakes

A Class Two event at this evening meeting and one of the better two year old races this side of Royal Ascot. A number of well regarded youngsters will go to post including the undefeated Richard Hannon horse Monsieur Chevalier

Wednesday May 20

Goodwood

3:25 Cocked Hat Stakes

This is the race that used to be the Predominate Stakes. It is a hard fought Listed event run over 11 furlongs for three year old colts likely to be in the running for minor Group honours as the season goes on.

Thursday May 21

Goodwood

4:00 Height of Fashion Stakes

Formerly the Lupe Stakes, this is a Listed contest for three-year-old fillies run over 10 furlongs around this beautiful Sussex course.

4:35 Turf TV Stakes

A decent enough Class Two handicap run over five furlongs and sure to feature a big field of sprinters. As ever, ascertaining the effect of the draw will be critical.

Friday May 22

Pontefract

7:30 Drury PSM Youngsters Conditions Stakes

Pontefract is an unusually configured course and this is one of the best two-year-old races to be held here. Run over six furlongs it is sure to feature some promising types.

Saturday May 23

Curragh

3:10 Weatherby's Ireland Greenland Stakes

A Group Three race run up the straight six furlongs on the lush green turf of the home of Irish flat racing, this is a contest that has attracted its fair share of British raiders.

3:45 Irish 2000 Guineas

One of the highlights of the flat racing calendar, this mile long event will feature some of the very best of the three year old generation, competing for this prestigious prize. English 2000 Guineas winner Sea The Stars will be re-opposing the Newmarket runner-up Delegator with the Aidan O'Brien pair Mastercraftsman and Rip Van Winkle also likely to attract plenty of support.

4:50 TRI Equestrian Stakes

Also known as the Ridgewood Pearl Stakes, this is a mile long Group Three contest confined to fillies and mares, that usually attracts a decent field.

Haydock

2:35 Cecil Frail Stakes

A Listed event for fillies and mares, run over the straight six furlongs and a real challenge for punters to unravel.

3:10 Temple Stakes

A Group Two sprint that was at one time held at Sandown, this is likely to be a frenetic five furlong dash with some lively betting action and the usual speculation about which side of the track is riding the fastest.

3:40 Silver Bowl

In many ways the centrepiece of the meeting, this handicap over a mile is confined to three-year-olds but has a large purse and usually attracts a highly competitive field.

Newmarket

2:20 Fairway Stakes

A 10 furlong race for three-year-olds, this is always worth watching for Ascot or Epsom clues, with a really impressive winner of this Listed event in with a chance of being supplemented for the Derby.

2:50 King Charles II Stakes

A Listed event for three-year-olds run over the intermediate distance of seven furlongs and likely to offer some pointers to the Jersey Stakes at the Royal Meeting.

3:25 Coral Sprint

A typically frenetic Saturday betting heat, this Heritage Handicap is a cavalry charge down the galloping straight and will feature a packed field of top class handicappers.

Beverley

3:50 Brian Yeardley Continental Two Year Old Trophy

One of the better two-year-old contests at this quirky course, this is a conditions race over five furlongs and worth watching for stars of the future.

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