Flat racing nearly all the way as Ballydoyle and Godolphin face off in Guineas

After the curtain came down on the 2017-18 jumps season in Britain on Saturday it is Flat racing all the way – at least until Saturday when the next campaign starts.

Nevertheless, we are into Guineas week which climaxes with the first Classics of the season at Newmarket, the Qipco 2,000 Guineas on Saturday and the Qipco 1,000 Guineas on Sunday.

Here is a more detailed breakdown of the week's highlights:

Tuesday

There has been no time to rest on laurels in Ireland as the new jumps campaign continues at Ballinrobe, just three days after the last one climaxed in one of the most memorable of Punchestown festivals, remembered here by David Jennings.

Willie Mullins retained his trainers' title with the most extraordinary recovery from a £500,000 deficit to Gordon Elliott at the start of the meeting and will be going all out to do it again. He looks to have already replenished his string with eight entries in the closing bumper.

Wednesday

Ascot stages its first Flat meeting of the year, including two Group races which are bound to provide clues for the royal meeting.

It features two particularly key warm-up races, the Group 3 Pavilion Stakes for emerging sprinters, and the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes which is a Gold Cup trial.

Limato and Society Rock are former winners of the Pavilion Stakes in which Blue Point beat Harry Angel last year. Gold Cup fifth and Long Distance Cup runner-up Torcedor is engaged in the Sagaro.

Thursday

In-fighting among the factions who make up the board at Musselburgh had put the future of the track under threat, but racing is set to go ahead after progress towards establishing a new working model was enough to convince the BHA to issue a temporary licence and allow this two-day meeting to take place.

Page Fuller: among the riders at Cheltenham's Hunter Chase eveningCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Friday

Heading into a bank holiday weekend Cheltenham stages its final fixture until the autumn, this one its popular hunter chase evening for amateurs.

Lorcan Williams and Page Fuller, who lead the amateur ranks this season, are among those set to be in action.

Saturday

A pivotal day at Newmarket, which hosts the first European Classic of 2018, the Qipco 2,000 Guineas, a race which could set the narrative for the summer.

Will Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle juggernaut – who are responsible for ante-post favourite Gustav Klimt – seal a third 2,000 Guineas in four years, or will Godolphin's resurgence be confirmed with only a second win in the Classic this century.

O'Brien will probably be without Ryan Moore who is expected to be at Churchill Downs where Mendelssohn lines up for the Kentucky Derby.

There is also the first action from the year at Goodwood, which has two Listed races on its card.

Star columnist Richard Hughes will be back in the Racing Post to give his unique view on the season.

Soliloquy and William Buick win the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn from Altyn Orda and Eirene (green and yellow colours) at Newmarket on WednesdayCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Sunday

It could be deja vu in the Qipco 1,000 Guineas in which Aidan O'Brien (Happily and September) and Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby (Wild Illusion and Soliloquy) have the leading candidates.

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