General / Andrew Hughes / 28 June 2008 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

Tricky times at Chateau Hughes. With more sport on television this week than you can shake a pointy stick at, domestic harmony could well be at stake.

In return for being able to take in all the cricket, tennis, football and top class racing over the next seven days, this weekend's list of 'little jobs' resembles the labours of Hercules. But, ever the professional, in between tackling the overflowing drain and the leaky shed, I've found time to tell you about this week's top racing action.

Sunday 29th June

Irish Derby Day at the Curragh, a race that has become one of the most important middle distance races in the world. Can New Approach do the Derby double? He's currently trading at [2.38] but if you fancy Tartan Bearer, you can back the Epsom runner up at [3.85] Besides the feature, we can all play spot the next Aidan O'Brien superstar in The Railway Stakes, a Group race for two year olds that has become something of a Ballydoyle benefit in recent years. Then there is the newly promoted Sapphire Stakes, a classy sprint that usually attracts a strong contingent of British raiders; the Celebration Stakes, an intriguing Listed contest over a mile and for the braver punters there are a trio of Premier Handicaps, featuring the usual massive fields to get stuck into.

Over in France, thoughts are already turning to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud is an important pointer to the older horses who might be aimed at Longchamp in early October. Aidan O'Brien's Soldier of Fortune is the current favourite at around the [2.2] mark

And at Uttoxeter, there is a welcome reminder that jumps racing bubbles away all summer as the flower-decked Staffordshire course holds the Summer National. But even though this is a relatively easy track, four miles is a test for all but the toughest of chasers and the going particularly in the home straight can become a quagmire if there is any unseasonal rain. Faint hearts and short runners need not apply.

Wednesday 2nd July

Leopardstown's midweek card includes the Brownston Stakes for fillies and mares, invariably attracting some top quality animals and the Golden Fleece Stakes, a new contest for quality two year olds who can already get this galloping seven furlongs.

Friday 4th July

A couple of Listed contests at Sandown. The five-furlong Dragon Stakes is a race for spotting Goodwood potential in some promising two year olds already with a win or two under their belts. And the Gala Stakes over ten furlongs is notable for the astonishing success rate of three year olds despite that age group only representing a small percentage of entrants over the years.

Saturday 5th July

Eclipse Day, one of the best races of the year. It is always fascinating to see the best of the three year olds clash with their elders for the first time in the season and the ten-furlong distance also attracts an intriguing mixture of milers and middle distance types. Mount Nelson [4.0] is currently favourite in what is an immature antepost market. A high calibre card also features the Sandown Sprint Stakes, a race that has improved steadily in recent years and offers plenty of exposed sprinting form to peruse as a field of Group Class sprinters goes to post. There are also a couple of Listed races: the Distaff Stakes over a mile for improving three year old fillies and the Esher Stakes, a two mile stamina test for older horses. And for lovers of big field handicaps, there is the tricky puzzle of the toteswinger Stakes over a strong-run mile.

Meanwhile, Haydock are staging the Lancashire Oaks, a popular Group Two that nearly rivals the Epsom original for the keenness with which it is contested. Pride of place at that meeting though goes to the venerable Old Newton Cup, one of the oldest handicaps in the country. The tempting prize money on offer and the lack of an upper rating limit makes this a fiercely contested mile and a half with a big field and plenty of betting action.

Tags: Curragh Betting, Goodwood Betting, Leopardstown Betting, Racing Betting, Sandown Betting, Uttoxeter Betting