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No let-up in quality as Irish Guineas meeting and Temple Stakes lead the way

Native Trail - William Buick wins from the fieldThe bet365 Craven Stakes (Group 3)Newmarket  13.4.2022©Mark Cranhamphoto.com
Native Trail: could be set for the Irish 2,000 Guineas on SaturdayCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Monday

There are some nuggets of quality on offer to start the week including at Windsor's typical Monday evening meeting in the Listed Weatherbys Bloodstock Pro Stakes (6.10), which has been won for the last three years by Group 1 winners Dream Of Dreams and The Tin Man.

While this year's running lacks runners of their calibre, the prolific Mo Celita will bid to add more black type to her CV and comes up against Lord Of The Lodge for the red-hot Karl Burke, who had four winners at the Dante meeting last week.

Popular chaser Melon goes in the Grade 3 An Riocht Chase (7.00) and comes up against the likes of Easy Game and Samcro on the second day of Killarney's May festival, which also features the Tote-sponsored Killarney National (7.30).

Carlisle, Redcar and Leicester provide the Flat action during the afternoon alongside a jumps card from Ffos Las, while Group 1-winning juvenile Ebro River bids to get his career back on track in the Prix Texanita (2.52) at Chantilly.

Tuesday

Some of the classier stars of the jumps season switch from the hurdles to the Flat in the 1m6f contest at Killarney (8.30), none more so than Grade 3 winner and Royal Bond Novice Hurdle runner-up My Mate Mozzie, while rival Cask Mate also finished second in that Fairyhouse Grade 1 in 2020.

My Mate Mozzie: freshened up by trainer Gavin Cromwell
My Mate Mozzie: classy jumps performer runs on the Flat at Killarney on TuesdayCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Brighton – where three-time course winner Big Time Maybe runs in the opening 5½f handicap (1.00) – Nottingham and Wolverhampton stage the afternoon action before Sligo, Huntingdon and Hexham also complement Killarney's card in the evening.

Wednesday

Some classy fillies could be on show in the Listed Rothesay Stakes (2.45) at Ayr, which could be headed by the Group 2-winning Angel Power, with trainer Roger Varian also represented by the classy Lady Hayes.

The regally-bred Darlectable You could also take in the race for John and Thady Gosden.

Potential Royal Ascot clues may be on offer in the 6f novice (2.35) on Yarmouth's seven-race card, while there is also an afternoon jumps card from Warwick.

The evening Flat action comes from Cork and Kempton, while there is a twilight jumps fixture from Southwell.

Thursday

The race of the day could undoubtedly come from Sandown's high-class evening fixture in the Coral-backed Heron Stakes (7.15), in which John Gosden could unleash two of his star juveniles for their belated seasonal appearances.

One could be leading juvenile filly and Group 1 winner Inspiral, who was a late absentee from a tilt at 1,000 Guineas glory following a setback, or the Queen's Reach For The Moon, who may bid for some compensation despite already being ruled out of a tilt at the Cazoo Derby during her Platinum Jubilee year.

Inspiral and Frankie Dettori win the Fillies' MileNewmarket 8.10.21 Pic: Edward Whitaker
Inspiral (blue cap): star juvenile has not been seen so far this seasonCredit: Edward Whitaker

The Flat action in the afternoon comes from Wolverhampton and a turf fixture at Lingfield, with a jumps meeting at Market Rasen complementing them, before Chelmsford and Tipperary conclude the day.

Friday

While the main Classic trials are over, there could be some very late Oaks and Derby clues on offer at Goodwood in the Height Of Fashion Stakes (2.10) and Cocked Hat Stakes (3.20).

Snow Fairy in 2010 was the last Height Of Fashion winner to follow up at Epsom and John and Thady Gosden could add another string to their powerful Oaks bow already with Emotion – a 16-length winner at Kempton last time.

Lone Eagle won the Cocked Hat last year before being narrowly denied in the Irish Derby and the Highclere racing syndicate may find another Classic star this campaign in Lysander, who steps up in class following his wide-margin win at Newcastle previously.

There is also Listed action at Haydock in the Cecil Frail (2.30), while it is also the first of the three-day Irish Guineas meeting at the Curragh. Bath, Worcester and Catterick complete the day's action.

Saturday

It is another weekend chock-full of quality action and Classic quality with the Irish 2,000 Guineas (3.20) headlining a top-notch card at the Curragh, in which Native Trail will be strongly fancied to avenge his Newmarket defeat to stablemate Coroebus.

The top action in Britain comes from Haydock with the Group 2 Temple Stakes (3.45), with Nunthorpe Stakes heroine Winter Power in line to make her comeback on the trail to defend her crown at York in August, but could come up against Group 1 Flying Five Stakes winner Romantic Proposal.

Group 1 glory: Winter Power and Silvestre de Sousa land the Nunthorpe Stakes at York
Winter Power (right): makes her return at Haydock on SaturdayCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Commonwealth Cup contenders could be unearthed at the Merseyside track in the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes (3.10), while there is Group 3 action from York in the Bronte Fillies' Stakes (3.30).

Add into that some Listed action from Goodwood with the Festival Stakes (2.15) and Tapster Stakes (3.25), as well as fixtures from Musselburgh, Stratford and Lingfield, it is shaping up to be a Saturday to savour.

Sunday

There is no let-up on the quality to end the week as the Irish 1,000 Guineas (3.45) takes centre stage at the Curragh. Homeless Songs and English 1,000 Guineas third Tuesday head the betting for the Classic, but top juvenile Inspiral, History and Limiti Di Greccio could also take their chances in a stellar running.

The Tattersalls Gold Cup (2.40) is the other Group 1 on the card and could see two leading British challengers in multiple top-level winner Lord North and Alenquer take on the best older horses Ireland has to offer, with the likes of last year's winner Helvic Dream, Broome and Irish 2,000 Guineas hero Mac Swiney all among the entries.

The other action in the day in Britain comes from Fakenham and Nottingham.


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Matt RennieReporter

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