Testing conditions on the cards at Hamilton as Group 1 winners go head to head

Hats off to Hamilton who have arguably the best contest of the week in the shape of a six-runner conditions race worth nearly £17,000 to the winner.

Group 1 winners Sands Of Mali and Brando face off with possible Royal Ascot contenders in Donjuan Triumphant and Wokingham entry Fighting Irish.

Last year's race was won by Sir Dancealot, who went on to finish seventh in the Diamond Jubilee next time before winning the Criterion, Lennox and Hungerford while also fitting in a fourth in the July Cup.

Elsewhere Haydock starts its three-day meeting and Ripon is back for a second day after an incident-packed evening meeting yesterday where there were two fallers and a favourite unseating out of the stalls.

Chelmsford and Leopardstown on the Flat and Ffos Las over jumps end the day with evening meetings.

Going report

Hamilton (first race 2.00)
Soft, heavy in places (GoingStick 5.9)
Distances: 3.00 & 4.00 +8yds

Haydock (2.10)
Good to soft (GoingStick 7.4)
Distances: 2.10 & 5.10 +30yds and 4.40 +15yds

Ripon (2.20)
Good, good to soft in places (from good to soft, GoingStick: 7.6)
Distances: 2.50, 3.20, 3.50 & 4.50 +6yds

Chelmsford (AW) (5.25)
Standard

Ffos Las (5.35)
Good, good to soft in places
Distances: 5.35 & 6.40 +42yds, 6.10, 7.45 & 8.50 +31yds and 7.15 & 8.15 +21yds

Leopardstown (5.45)
Good to yielding

Market movers

2.30 Hamilton 4 Puerto Banus 4-1 (from 7)
4.00 Hamilton 8 Vive La Difference 4-1 (from 13-2)
4.10 Haydock 14 Show Palace 8-1 (from 12)

What to back

Robbie Wilders has the quickfire three tips, one each from Ripon, Hamilton and Leopardstown.

What to read

Catch up on the latest news about leading Diamond Jubilee contender Invincible Army.

Find out the thoughts of professionals at Nottingham involved in the last of three trials of "lunchtime race meetings".

What to watch

Who was caught on camera on the Newmarket gallops by our Newmarket correspondent David Milnes? It includes an intended runner at Windsor next Monday.

The countdown continues to Royal Ascot and here is the latest ante-post instalment from the Postcast team.

The best of Racing Post Sport

It is Thursday so it must be over to golf guru Steve Palmer on the tee for this week's tips with the European event the novel GolfSixes in Cascais, Portugal.

Final thought

How many Liverpool fans, who made the 1,300-mile trip to Madrid for the Champions League final last Saturday will make the 15-mile trip from Anfield to Haydock for today's meeting? Bookmakers might have to dive for cover if the topical two of Anfield Girl (2.40) and Klopp (3.40) oblige.

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