Intriguing racing at Longchamp, the Silver Bowl and the small matter of the Irish 2000 Guineas

General / Andrew Hughes / 17 May 2008 / Leave a Comment

Andrew Hughes tells the racing fans out there about what they can look forward to over the next week with interesting racing coming up at Longchamps, Sussex and at the Curragh to name but a few...

Before I give you this week's Betfair guide, I have an apology to make. In last Saturday's column, I rather foolishly suggested that summer was imminent. This boldness clearly angered the weather gods and for the resulting dampness and generally soggy end to the week, I can only apologise. So this week, in an effort to appease them, I predict wax jackets all round, a sea of umbrellas in the winners enclosure and Jupiter Pluvius to win the Irish 2000 Guineas.

Sunday 18th May

A sleepy start to the week is enlivened by another tempting day's racing at Longchamp, complete with a cluster of Group races. The Prix Saint-Alary for three year olds is a race that can vary in quality but in a good year will throw up a serious contender for next month's Prix de Diane at Chantilly as well as a handful of potentially top class fillies. The Prix d'Ispahan has a similarly mixed record but a good renewal can pay its way subsequently, so you'd be advised to take an interest. But it is the Prix Vicomtesse Vignier that offers the most exciting betting heat. This Group Two over just shy of two miles is the leading prize for stayers in the first part of the French season.

Wednesday 21st May

That jewel in the Sussex countryside, Goodwood, provides the most interest today with their laid back midweek meeting. The card is built around a couple of famous races that were at one time regarded as key Epsom trials. The Cocked Hat Stakes (formerly the Predominate) is a keenly contested affair over eleven furlongs for colts likely to be tussling for minor Group honours this year. Similarly the Height of Fashion Stakes (formerly the Lupe) is an intriguing ten-furlong test for promising middle distance fillies.

Saturday 24th May

Top of the pile is Irish 2000 Guineas day at the Curragh, a really enjoyable card featuring one of Europe's most prestigious prizes. Expect a high quality field and plenty of thrills as the cream of this year's three year olds sweep along the lush green straight of the headquarters of Irish flat racing.

And it is Irish horses who dominate the ante post market this year. Henrythenavigator swooped in the final furlong to claim the English 2000 Guineas but he is [3.8] 2nd favourite whilst the horse he beat that day, New Approach, is the strong favourite at [2.34] You can get big odds against all the others, with Jupiter Pluvius next best at [9.4].

Besides the Irish Classic, there is the Greenland Stakes, a six furlong sprint that often attracts some top quality English raiders and the fifth running of the Ridgwood Pearl Stakes, a mile long contest for fillies and mares that attracted a sizeable field last year, despite being downgraded to Group Three status.

On a typically busy Saturday, Haydock stage their Silver Bowl meeting. The showpiece race is the Silver Bowl Handicap over a mile, a popular race for three year olds with a hefty purse that invariably attracts a competitive field. There is also the Temple Stakes, a Group Two sprint formerly run at Sandown that is likely to offer a lively betting heat and the twelve furlong Pinnacle Stakes for fillies and mares that usually attracts a small but select field.

Not to be outdone, the Newmarket Spring Bank Holiday meeting enters its second day with a cluster of interesting contests. The King Charles II Stakes is a Listed race for three year olds at the specialist distance of seven furlongs and as well as being a fascinating betting heat in it's own right, is a useful pointer to the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. More Ascot clues could be uncovered in the Fairway Stakes, a ten-furlong race for three year olds.

This is usually contested by horses just below the very top class but a really impressive winner of this race has a chance of being supplemented for the Derby or aimed at the Eclipse. And for those who love the challenge of big field handicaps, there is the Coral Sprint, a six-furlong cavalry charge full of progressive and improving three year olds.