Armchair racing fans are particularly well catered for this Saturday as they will have no less than four televised British meetings to choose from. All eyes will be focused on Lingfield for the Group 3 totesport.com Derby Trial Stakes.
John Gosden has enjoyed a terrific start to the season, even if his much-heralded filly failed to deliver by finishing only fifth in last Sunday’s 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.
However, Debussy should provide the Clarehaven handler with a measure of consolation by winning this extended 11-furlong contest and in all probability the Dieces-sired colt’s biggest danger is likely to emerge in the form of Aidan O’Brien’s Age Of Aquarius.
Johnny Murtagh interestingly has been booked to partner William Haggas’ Damaniyat Girl in the Group 3 totesportbingo.com Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes and the hint should be taken as the daughter of Elusive Quality should have most to fear from Chasing Stars.
Duncan is put forward to oblige from Halicarnassus in the totesportgames.com Conditions Stakes and seasonal debutante Copperbeech is marginally preferred to Midday in the totesportcasino.com Oaks Trial Stakes.
Ascot
At Ascot, competition is likely to be intense in the John Doyle Buckhounds Stakes, a listed race over a mile and a half. Mark Johnston’s Zaham has been relatively lightly raced of late, but perhaps the son of Silver Hawk can get back on the winning trail here at the expense of Inventor.
Supaverdi could make light of a relatively lenient mark by excelling from Feeling Fab in the Bovis Homes Fillies’ Heritage Handicap whilst the hat-trick seeking Mr Macattack should have most to fear from Prescription in the totesport Victoria Cup.
There’s a mixed card at Haydock and perhaps First Point will continue trainer Nicky Henderson’s excellent season by dispensing with Classic Swain in the featured Grade 3 toteswinger Swinton Handicap Hurdle.
Darkness could benefit from a definite drop down in class by showing a clean pair of heels to Elzahann in the toteplacepot Long Distance Handicap Hurdle and City Style could complete a quick hat-trick by getting the better of Icelandic in the totescoop6 Spring Trophy Stakes.
Nottingham
At Nottingham, Look Busy can play to part to continue the resurgence of trainer Alan Berry’s career by dispensing with Lesson In Humility in the featured Bigger Odds Guaranteed At totesport.com Kilvington Fillies’ Stakes.
Kingscape could make a victorious return to flat racing by claiming the scalp of Remember Ramon in the Bet On totescoop6 At totesport.com Handicap. Run For The Hills should send bookmakers scurrying for cover by making a victorious return to action from Gilt Edge Girl in the Bet In Play At totesport.com Handicap.
Home front
There’s plenty of domestic racing over the weekend with action at Dundalk on Saturday afternoon whilst enthusiasts can choose between Leopardstown and Killarney on Sunday.
Brian Nolan has made an explosive start to the flat season with his small string and the Co Carlow handler should capture the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Race for two-year-olds’ at Dundalk with This Is Real.
Significantly, This Is Real already has experience of Dundalk for she made a winning debut over this same five-furlong distance at the Co Louth venue in an auction maiden in early April. This Is Real is recommended to continue on her merry way here at the expense of Stand And Fight.
Dash Back could well provide the solution to the Oriel Handicap whilst Hideaway Girl is likely to possess too many aces for Dunne Grand in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Fillies Maiden.
Leopardstown
At Leopardstown, Fame And Glory is the definite class act in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes over 10 furlongs. Fame And Glory, a colt with realistic Epsom Derby credentials, is unbeaten on his three starts to date and Aidan O’Brien’s colt made a winning return to action over this same course and distance when beating Fergus McIver in the Group 3 P W McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes last month. It seems as if Fame And Glory is improving the whole time and the Montjeu-sired colt is taken to beat Mourayan.
The Jim Bolger-trained Maidin Maith, a facile winner on the all-weather at Dundalk last November, could prove capable of springing a mild surprise by beating Jakarta Jazz in the Group 3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial. Dermot Weld’s Mad About You should get back on the winning trail by dispensing with Mourinho in the Group 3 Amethyst Stakes.
At Killarney, Freds Benefit should continue trainer Willie Mullins’ purple patch by eclipsing Emotional Article in the Mallon Hotel Chase. For those seeking to end the meeting on a profitable note, Aughnacurraveel should atone for finishing third when sent off favourite on his most recent start at Tipperary late last month by seeing off fellow former point-to-point winner Kilmurry in the O’Connor, Sutton & Cronin (Pro-Am) INH Flat Race.
