What's on this week: Native Trail to star as Flat season kicks off at Newmarket

Monday

The week begins with a great card at Pontefract that includes a highly competitive 5f handicap (3.40) where Ey Up It's Maggie is well fancied by her trainer Tony Coyle.

Windsor hosts its customary Monday meeting and there is jump action from both Tramore and Hexham. At the latter, Brian Hughes continues his march towards 200 winners and is just seven away, with several strong chances on the card.

Tuesday

The Craven meeting at Newmarket kicks off and features the Group 3 Earl Of Sefton Stakes (3.00), in which the return of Master Of The Seas is the highlight.

There is also the Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes (3.35), where Catchet and Hello You could lock horns for the first time since finishing fourth and fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar.

Ayr's jumps card is the other afternoon meeting while Wolverhampton and Dundalk host evening fixtures.

Wednesday

The Craven Meeting continues and 122-rated dual Group 1 winner Native Trail is unsurprisingly a warm favourite to make a winning return in the Group 3 Craven Stakes (3.35).

Newmarket also hosts the Group 3 Abernant Stakes (3.00) which could feature top-level scorer Ebro River, and the Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes (2.25), which tends to throw up a useful juvenile.

Beverley and Gowran Park complete the Flat programme, while Cheltenham, Southwell and Kempton are on offer for jump racing fans.

Last season's leading juvenile Native Trail is the star attraction this weekCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Thursday

The final day of Newmarket's Craven meeting is headlined by the Listed Feilden Stakes (3.35), which could feature the return of the Aidan O'Brien-trained Aikhal and Listed winner Masekela.

Ripon's opening meeting is highlighted by the Ripon Silver Bowl Handicap (2.50) and Bath also joins the Flat season with the Listed Lansdown Stakes (5.30).

There is an extensive jumps programme, with Cheltenham hosting two Listed contests and the Grade 3 Junior Jumpers Membership Fillies' Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (3.50). Clonmel and Exeter's seven-race cards cap off a busy day of action.

Friday

All-Weather Championships Day at Newcastle is the main attraction on Good Friday, a seven-race card that builds to the Betway Easter Classic All-Weather Middle Distance Championships Conditions Stakes (4.45). The highly-progressive Tyrrhenian Sea is a warm favourite, while the exciting El Caballo could go in the Coral 3 Year Old All-Weather Championships Conditions Stakes (3.10).

It a day exclusively for the All-Weather, with Chelmsford and Lingfield rounding off racing on Friday.

Saturday

Newbury's first Flat meeting of the season takes centre stage and three Group 3 contests make it a fascinating card. The John Porter (1.50), Fred Darling (2.25) and Greenham Stakes (3.00) are all live on ITV, while Musselburgh's Queen's Cup (3.14) also features on terrestrial television.

It's a hectic day of racing with eight meetings on Saturday and Haydock's Easter Family Day rates highly, with six series finals on the docket. Elsewhere in Britain and Ireland, there is Flat racing from Lingfield and Nottingham, and jumps action from Newton Abbot, Carlisle and Fairyhouse.

Sunday

Unlike most, the week ends with another marathon day of racing with eight meetings in store on Easter Sunday.

The best action can be found at Fairyhouse, where two Grade 1 races are on offer. The Fairyhouse Gold Cup Novice Chase (4.55) has attracted a mouth-watering entry list comprising of Galopin Des Champs, Stattler and Blue Lord. There is also the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final which is shaping up to be a competitive affair.

Galopin Des Champs: could be back in action at FairyhouseCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

There is more Irish racing at Cork, while a card of devilishly competitive handicaps at Newbury is Britain's best. Southwell is the other Flat meeting and Ffos Las, Market Rasen and Plumpton provide a strong day for jump racing fans to end the week.

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