General / Andrew Hughes / 03 May 2009 / Leave a Comment

Andrew Hughes looks ahead to seven days of horseracing which includes a fascinating challenge at Newmarket, an early season clash of age groups at Curragh and some quality contests at Chester.

Sunday May 3

Newmarket

2:00 Class Two Heritage Handicap

A 12 furlong handicap, with a decent sized field and likely to be a strong pace on. As ever, look out for unexposed types who may have been laid out for this.

2:35 Dahlia Stakes

An interesting Group Three, confined to older fillies and mares and run over a straight nine furlongs. Fields tend to be small, but there will be plenty of class on show.

3:15 1000 Guineas

Picking the winner from a bunch of impeccably bred and improving fillies is a fascinating challenge. Favourite Rainbow View [2.2] was mighty impressive last year in winning the Meon Valley Stud but second favourite Serious Attitude [8.4] is also undefeated and won a key Guineas trial, the Cheveley Park Stakes as a two-year-old.

3:50 Class Two Heritage Handicap

A straight six furlong dash with a big field, frenetic pace and the usual educated guesswork required about the effect of the draw.

5:00 Pretty Polly Stakes

A famous Oaks trial, this Listed event over 10 furlongs invariably features a small field, but is well worth investigating for Epsom clues.

Monday May 4

Curragh

2:00 Strategic Prince EBF Maiden

An interesting opening race for two-year-olds that looks likely to feature a number of well-bred youngsters from the top Irish stables.

2:30 Tetrarch Stakes

A seven furlong contest for three year olds, often viewed as a trial for the Irish 2000 Guineas, although it hasn't produced the winner of that Classic since 1997.

3:00 Athasi Stakes

Another seven furlong Group race, this time offering a fascinating early season clash of the age groups as three-year-old fillies take on their elders.

4:00 Mooresbridge Stakes

Confined to older horses, this Group Three is run over a galloping 10 furlongs and is often targeted by trainers looking to step their horses up to middle distances.

Wednesday May 6

Chester

1:45 Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes

The traditional curtain raiser to the May meeting, it is a high quality five furlong dash around the bend for some promising two year olds.

2:15 Cheshire Oaks

A Listed event over eleven furlongs and another trial for the big one at Epsom, having provided the winner of the fillies classic in 2007, but only once previously.

2:45 Chester Cup

A unique test of speed and stamina as a packed field of staying handicappers charge around the tight course, passing the winning post three times in all. Course experience can be real advantage in this perennially fascinating race.

Thursday May 7

Chester

2:15 Huxley Stakes

A ten furlong Group Three for older horses, dominated since its upgrade from Listed status by Maraahel. Likely to be a small field, but some quality horses on display.

2:45 Chester Vase

A recognised Derby Trial, this Group Three over a little further than a mile-and-a-half has a good recent record with 2006 runner-up Dragon Dancer finishing second in the Epsom classic and 2007 winner Soldier of Fortune taking the Irish version.

Friday May 8

Chester

2:15 Dee Stakes

Another Derby trial, this ten furlong race has a reasonable record for producing Classic winners, with two such winners in the last ten years.

2:45 Ormonde Stakes

A Group Three over a mile and five furlongs, this is an opportunity for those stayers who have proven just short of the very top level to show what they can do and may also feature one or two progressive types.

Saturday May 9

Ascot

2:15 Victoria Cup

A great betting event and a thrilling spectacle as a huge field dash up the straight seven furlongs. Also worth watching for clues for next month's Royal Hunt Cup.

Haydock

1:55 Swinton Handicap Hurdle

Always a popular event, this is a two mile handicap hurdle with a packed field where the market will be buzzing with rumours all week.

Lingfield

2:40 Oaks Trial Stakes

A Listed contest that had a good record in the nineties and last year's winner Look Here also went on to Epsom glory.

3:15 Derby Trial Stakes

A Derby trial with a strong history, seven winners here having gone on to win the Classic, though the last of these was High Rise in 1998.

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