Horseracing Betting Briefing: Andrew Hughes' highlights of the week

General / Andrew Hughes / 10 May 2008 / Leave a Comment

It may only be May, but all this weather has put Andrew Hughes is in a thoroughly Summery mood. Here are the highlights of the upcoming week, after which the rain will return and we'll get back to normal.

The whiff of sun cream, the pop of champagne corks and the sun glinting off the bookies' Mercedes. Yes, Summer is here and I've already administered more sun block than Kevin Pietersen on a trip to the Sahara. Whether it's the acceptable face of global warming or just a good old-fashioned early British summer, the forecast is for more of the same. So dig out last year's shades, don a panama hat if you're that way inclined and grab your notebook as I give you the essential guide to next week's hottest betting heats.

Sunday 11th May

Highlight of the day belongs to our French cousins. Longchamp hosts the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (that's the French 2000 and 1000 Guineas to you and me). Then there is the Prix de Saint Georges, the first of four big French sprints that culminate with the Prix de l'Abbaye at the Arc meeting in October.

Meanwhile, in a week featuring more intriguing trials than a year at the Old Bailey, Leopardstown stage the Derrinstown Derby Trial Stakes. Unlike many of the Derby workouts at this time of year, the Derrinstown has an excellent record of producing top class staying contenders, from winners of the Epsom Classic to the Arc.

Wednesday 14th May

All eyes on the Ascot of the North as York holds its popular May Festival. Highlight of day one is the Duke of York Stakes. This traditional starting point for Group class sprinters always attracts a large, high-class field that hares up the straight six furlongs to the roar of a packed crowd. You might also pick up one or two pointers for the Oaks in the often-intriguing Musidora Stakes.

Thursday 15th May

Day two features the most prestigious Derby Trial of all, the Dante Stakes. Three of the last four winners have gone on to Derby glory and whichever colt triumphs here is certain to shorten dramatically in price for Epsom. There is also the Middleton Stakes, an interesting ten-furlong affair for mares and fillies.

Friday 16th May

The York meeting concludes with the always-popular Yorkshire Cup, a Group Two contest for stayers won last year by the heroic Sergeant Cecil. Besides that centrepiece there is the Reland Jorvik Stakes, a competitive twelve furlong race for top handicappers, the Michael Seely Memorial Fillies Stakes over a mile for promising three year old fillies and the Marygate Stakes, a Listed contest for two year old fillies that can sometimes reveal a live contender for Royal Ascot's Queen Mary Stakes.

Friday also sees the start of Newbury's Lockinge meeting and features a couple of interesting three-year-old races. The Carnarvon Stakes is a six-furlong sprint that can pave the way for a crack at bigger prizes later in the summer. Then there's the last of the recognised Oaks Trials, the Swettenham Stud Fillies Stakes over ten furlongs.

And after the action has finished at York and Newbury, there's 'Braveheart Night' at Hamilton, featuring two interesting middle-distance races, the Glasgow Stakes, formerly run at York as a Derby Trial, but now an opportunity for three year olds who are just short of top class and the Braveheart Stakes, a Listed handicap that usually attracts a field of top class handicappers.

Saturday 17th May

Saturday is Lockinge day. Though the last two renewals have seen smallish fields and testing going, this is traditionally a scorching Group One in which there is no hiding place as a field of all-aged top class milers battle down the middle of the wide Berkshire track. Antepost favourite is James Fanshawe's veteran Cesare at [3.9] who has an excellent record in straight mile races on galloping courses. But if you fancy a less exposed sort, Henry Cecil's lightly raced and undefeated four year old, Phoenix Tower, is available at [8.0]. Besides the feature race, there is the London Gold Cup, a big field middle distance handicap that can offer pointers to the King George V and a classy Listed race for stayers, the Aston Park Stakes.