Counting down to a spectacular nine-race card at Ascot on Saturday

Wednesday

There are four meetings scheduled across Britain following the resumption of racing after equine flu, with Fairyhouse providing the action in Ireland.

There might be more interest than usual in a Class 6 apprentice handicap at Southwell, which will be the first race to take place in Britain following the six-day shutdown. Plumpton, Musselburgh and Kempton also stage meetings.

Racing also takes place at Happy Valley in Hong Kong. Born In China – formerly known as Born In Bombay when trained by Andrew Balding – drops in class for the highlight, the Happy Valley Trophy.

Kelso: stages one of its premier meetings of the season on ThursdayCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Thursday

There is racing at Kelso, Leicester, Fontwell, Chelmsford and Clonmel. Kelso stages the Morebattle Hurdle, won in the past by Peddlers Cross (2011), Simonsig (2012) and Top Notch (2016).

Malcolm Jefferson, who won the Morebattle in 2017 with Cyrus Darius, is honoured on the card with a chase run in his memory. Charlie Hall Chase winner Definitly Red could take his chance in the 2m7½f contest.

The Grade 3 Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle takes place at Clonmel, where Champion Bumper second Carefully Selected and Salsaretta are among the possible runners, as well as Dublin Racing Festival winner Dallas Des Pictons.

Simonsig: won the Morebattle Hurdle in 2012Credit: Edward Whitaker

Friday

Flat racing is due to take place at Dundalk, Lingfield and Newcastle, while the Royal Artillery Gold Cup – in which Guy Disney and Rathlin Rose bid for an unprecedented hat-trick – should make for good viewing at Sandown, along with the Grade 2 Jane Seymour Mares' Novices' Hurdle and the salvaged Kingmaker Novices' Chase.

Fakenham also hosts a meeting over jumps, plus Chantilly is set to stage a Flat meeting in France.

Saturday

After the equine flu outbreak shut down British racing, Waiting Patiently would be an apt winner of the Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase. Last year's winner could face Politologue, Fox Norton and Cyrname, who produced a relentless performance to win by 21 lengths at the track in January.

The Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novices' Chase, won last year by Black Corton, is another highlight of a brilliant card.

The addition of the salvaged Betfair Hurdle and Denman Chase mean Ascot will be brimming with quality and quantity.

Emotional renewal: Waiting Patiently beat Cue Card in last year's Ascot ChaseCredit: Mark Cranham

Aintree possibles will take to the stage at Haydock, where the Grand National Trial is the feature while Wincanton's highlight is the Kingwell Hurdle.

Jumps fans are in for a delayed Super Saturday, for Gowran Park hosts the Red Mills Chase, which could feature Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Presenting Percy.

Sunday

Huntingdon and Market Rasen stage jumps cards, as does Navan, where the Boyne Hurdle is the feature race, while Grade 1s take place in Japan (February Stakes) – including a first ever ride in a JRA Group 1 for a female rider, Nanako Fujita – and Brazil (Grande Premio Estado do Rio de Janeiro).

There's also racing at Sha Tin, where Ryan Moore is due to be in action, and St Moritz, where British hopefuls Berrahri and New Agenda contest the Grosser Preis von St Moritz, the concluding highlight of three weekends of 'white turf' racing.

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