What's on this week: Punchestown and the Guineas headline a stunning seven days

Monday

The calm before the storm and with the British jumps season having come to a thrilling climax on Saturday, six Flat meetings across Britain and Ireland start a fascinating week.

The pick of the day's racing comes from Navan where the Listed Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Woodlands Stakes (2.25) is the feature of an eight-race card.

Ayr hosts the first of its two-day meeting to herald the beginning of its Flat season, Lingfield and Southwell host all-weather afternoon fixtures and Windsor and Thirsk keep the action going well into the evening.

Tuesday

The jumps season might be over in Britain, but there is plenty still to play for in Ireland as the five-day Punchestown festival gets under way with three Grade 1s.

The opening day is headlined by the William Hill Champion Chase (5.25) with devastating Ryanair Chase winner Allaho dropping back to two miles to take on Champion Chase second and third Nube Negra and Chacun Pour Soi.

Allaho: Ryanair winner drops back to two miles in the Champion Chase at PunchestownCredit: Michael Steele (Getty Images)

The race of the week could well come in the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (6.30) as outstanding novice chasers Monkfish and Envoi Allen clash.

The eCOMM Merchant Solutions Champion Novice Hurdle (4.15), for which Echoes In Rain will be a warm order after back-to-back Grade 2 victories, completes the top-level action.

In Britain, Nottingham stages the Listed Nottinghamshire Oaks Stakes (3.55) alongside afternoon meetings at Yarmouth and Brighton, before Lingfield and Ayr take over in the evening.

Wednesday

All eyes will be on Punchestown for the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (5.55) where Al Boum Photo has the chance to bounce back after losing his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown to the absent Minella Indo.

2019 winner Kemboy and impressive Betway Bowl scorer Clan Des Obeaux feature among the opposition.

Cheltenham one-two Sir Gerhard and Kilcruit could be set for a rematch in the ITM – Supporting Irish Store Sales Champion INH Flat Race (6.30), while the top novice stayers go in the 3m Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle (5.20).

In Britain, supreme stayer Stradivarius is on course to return in the Longines Sagaro Stakes (2.45), on an Ascot card which also features the Pavilion Stakes (3.20), a key trial for the Commonwealth Cup, and the Listed Paradise Stakes (3.55).

Elsewhere, meetings at Wolverhampton and Pontefract in the afternoon are followed by evening cards at Brighton and Chelmsford.

Thursday

On day three of Punchestown, Stayers' Hurdle winner Flooring Porter is set to attempt a memorable spring double for Gavin Cromwell in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (5.25), with Sire Du Berlais, Beacon Edge, Ronald Pump and Lisnagar Oscar among his possible opponents.

Cheltenham absentee Energumene will be out for compensation in the Ryanair Novice Chase (6.35) after missing his clash with Shishkin in the Arkle.

Energumene: Arkle absentee set for the Ryanair Novice ChaseCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Chelmsford stages the Listed Chelmer Fillies' Stakes (6.40) in the evening, while there are other British fixtures at Lingfield, Redcar, Musselburgh and Southwell.

Friday

Hurdling queen Honeysuckle will be the star attraction on day four of Punchestown as she aims to extend her unbeaten record to 12 in the Paddy Power Champion Hurdle (5.25).

Former Champion Hurdle winner Epatante, Aintree Hurdle scorer Abacadabras, Sharjah and Goshen could offer some stern opposition, while Cheltenham Festival winners Bob Olinger and Appreciate It could clash in the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle (6.00).

Goodwood begins its season with a card headlined by the Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Daisy Warwick Fillies' Stakes (2.45) and Cheltenham stages its hunter chase meeting in the evening.

Chepstow, Musselburgh and Newcastle complete the day's schedule.

Saturday

A monumental weekend of action kicks off with the first Classic of the year as Flat racing's stars gather for the Guineas meeting at Newmarket.

The 2,000 Guineas () has a very open look to it this year, but the race's leading trainer Aidan O'Brien should have a typically strong hand with Wembley, St Mark's Basilica and Battleground among the major contenders.

His son Joseph is set to run National Stakes winner Thunder Moon, who was behind St Mark's Basilica and Wembley in the Dewhurst, while the home team is spearheaded by the Charlie Appleby-trained pair One Ruler and Master Of The Seas.

One Ruler spearheads the home challenge for the 2,000 GuineasCredit: Getty Images

At Punchestown, the Irish jumps season concludes with a card headlined by a pair of Grade 1s, the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle () and the Mares Champion Hurdle ().

The Listed Conqueror Fillies' Stakes is the feature race at Goodwood, while Thirsk and Doncaster also host Flat fixtures. After a week off, the 2021-22 jumps season gets under way in earnest at Uttoxeter and Hexham.

The Kentucky Derby returns to its usual date after being run in September last year. The Triple Crown was turned on its head in 2020 due to the pandemic, with the Belmont Stakes run first, followed by the Kentucky Derby, then the Preakness.

Normally staged in front of a crowd of more than 150,000, there will be a limited number of spectators at Churchill Downs for the Run for the Roses when the unbeaten Essential Quality, who won last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile, will aim to give trainer Brad Cox a first success in the race.

Sunday

It's 1,000 Guineas day (3.40) at Newmarket with this year's crop of top fillies looking to follow in the footsteps of recent winners Love, Hermosa and Billesdon Brook.

Despite victory in a Curragh maiden being the only run under her belt, Ballydoyle's Santa Barbara is set to go off favourite after a sustained market move. There is a strong group forming behind her, made up of Cheveley Park Stakes winner Alcohol Free, Fillies' Mile heroine Pretty Gorgeous and Nell Gwyn scorer Sacred.

The Group 2 Dahlia Stakes (3.00) forms part of a classy undercard.

Elsewhere, the ITV cameras will also broadcast part of the action from the day's two other Flat meetings at Doncaster and Hamilton.

Read more on Punchestown:

Stellar book of Punchestown rides gives Paul Townend title-race edge

2021 Punchestown festival: essential information for the Irish racing bonanza

Rachael Blackmore takes over Envoi Allen ride against Monkfish at Punchestown

'We're not frightened of anyone' – Skelton's Nube Negra to tackle Mullins stars

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