What's on this week: all roads lead to Scotland for the Ayr Gold Cup meeting

Monday

Brighton and Thirsk kick off the afternoon meetings with seven and eight-race cards, while Worcester holds a jumps fixture starting at 1.50.

There is also a jumps meeting at Galway with Fine Brunello, who was second to the high-class Fakir D'oudairies in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham last season, an interesting contender in the 2m2f beginners' chase (6.15).

Intellogent (noseband): racing on MondayCredit: Scoopydyga

Listed action comes from Maisons-Laffitte where the Group 3 Prix Eclipse (2.00) and La Coupe de Maisons-laffitte (3.10) take centre stage. Intellogent, last year's Prix Jean Prat scorer, heads five runners in the latter contest over 1m2f.

Tuesday

The afternoon fixtures centre around the Flat with Redcar, Yarmouth and Chepstow holding meetings.

Yarmouth's feature, the Class 2 Dan Hague, Yarmouth's Number 1 Bookmaker Handicap (3.10) has attracted three classy entries, including the unexposed El Misk and the Roger Varian-trained Three Comets.

Galway hosts an evening meeting, while the all-weather surface at Newcastle plays host to a seven-race card starting at 5.30.

Wednesday

There is Listed action in the afternoon courtesy of the EBF Stallions John Musker Fillies' Stakes (2.45) at Yarmouth and Chasemore Farm Fortune Stakes (3.25) at Sandown, with Turgenev poised to take plenty of beating for the John Gosden-Frankie Dettori axis if taking his chance.

Wadilsafa: won last year's Fortune Stakes at SandownCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

There is also plenty elsewhere for Flat fans to savour with Beverley and Naas also staging afternoon cards. Kelso hosts the sole twilight fixture over jumps, kicking off with a 2m1f novices' chase (3.40).

Thursday

It is the opening day of the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup Festival and the Listed Doonside Cup Stakes (3.30) headlines the seven-race card. Won last year by Dolphin Vista, it has attracted star names including Thundering Blue and Forest Ranger.

Yarmouth hosts a seven-race card, which includes a competitive Class 2 1m6f handicap (3.20), while Pontefract completes the trio of afternoon meetings.

The two evening fixtures are on the all-weather from Southwell and Chelmsford, with the former starting at 5.15.

Friday

The second day of Ayr's three-day meeting and there are two notable Listed sprint contests on the card. Quiet Reflection won the Harry Rosebery Stakes (3.15) in 2015 before going on to Group 1 glory, while the Michael Dods-trained Intense Romance could bid to retain her title in the Arran Scottish Fillies' Sprint Stakes (3.45).

Newbury hosts the Listed Dubai Duty Free Cup Stakes (3.55) on its seven-race card and this year's 2,000 Guineas runner-up King Of Change could make his return to action after a mid-season break.

Newton Abbot hosts the sole jumps meeting of the day, while Newcastle's all-weather track provides some evening entertainment for punters.

Saturday

The Ayr Gold Cup (3.50) is the feature race of the Scottish track's meeting, with competitive Group 3 and Class 2 action to supplement it.

Newbury's card is no less intriguing with the World Trophy (1.45), Legacy Cup (2.20) and Mill Reef Stakes (2.55) taking centre stage.

James Garfield: won the Mill Reef Stakes in 2017Credit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

The Cesarewitch Trial Handicap (3.55) should provide ante-post clues at Newmarket, while Catterick and Chelmsford also host afternoon meetings. Wolverhampton is the sole evening fixture on a busy day of racing.

Sunday

On a quieter day just Hamilton and Plumpton are in action. It is the opening meeting of the season for Plumpton and perhaps signals the beginning of the jumps season proper.

Read exclusive previews from 6pm daily on racingpost.com and the Racing Post mobile app