Absurd timing of Guineas trials hands advantage to raiders

The start of the Flat turf season has generated more debate than you’ll find in the chambers of the House of Lords. And when all was said and done, there seemed no better way than to start it at Doncaster in time-honoured tradition with a bit of a whimper.

We could all pretend to remain interested in the Lincoln, a race in which Classic winners were once regular runners, and go into hibernation for another four weeks until Newmarket’s Craven meeting sated the yearning to see worthy young members of the Classic crop.

It’s a different matter, however, where Classic trials for the Guineas Festival weekend are concerned. There must surely be a better way of scheduling them, especially when a cursory glance at the equivalent programmes in Ireland and France illustrates the contrary nature of our own.