A potential Arc candidate could return on Brigadier Gerard night at Sandown before French Derby heads weekend action

Monday

The Racing TV Zetland Gold Cup (4.35) is the pick of the action and Redcar's £40,000 handicap has attracted a strong field of ten runners.

See That Storm bids for a five-timer for trainer Ed Bethell and takes on another in-form type in Sir Lowry's Pass, a smart winner at Goodwood this month.

More Flat racing can be found at Leicester and Windsor, where Durham Castle (3.20) and City Of Delight (4.30) put their winning sequences on the line and the track stages a £30,000 Class 2 handicap (3.55).

The highlight over jumps is at Ballinrobe with the McHale Mayo National (6.30). The Listed race has been won by Gordon Elliott for the last two years and he saddles Western Fold.

Huntingdon also open its doors and Ilikedwayurthinkin heads to Cartmel, where he attempts to claim a third course success (4.05).

Sir Lowry's Pass wins at Goodwood last autumn - he has the Zetland Gold Cup in his sights on Monday

Sir Lowry's Pass: contests the Zetland Gold Cup on MondayCredit: Getty Images

A busy week of international fixtures kicks off in the US, where the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes and Shoemaker Mile take place at Santa Anita.

Away from the track, Lee Mottershead pens the latest chapter in the story of horseracing in 20 races with the tale of the first Grand National, available online on Monday evening and in Tuesday's paper.

Tuesday

A quiet day on the track – with Ballinrobe the only jumps fixture alongside five Flat meetings – is overshadowed by a flurry of big-race developments as the fields for the Royal Ascot Group 1 races begin to take shape.

Acceptances for the Queen Anne, King Charles III, St James's Palace, Prince of Wales's, Gold Cup, Coronation Stakes, Commonwealth Cup and the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes close at noon, when owners will have to pay to keep their runners in contention before the confirmation stage in two weeks.

The handicap weights for Royal Ascot's Royal Hunt Cup and Wokingham Stakes – and the Northumberland Plate on June 28 – are also revealed and the Racing Post will be on hand with expert analysis, including Tom Segal's Pricewise verdict for the Commonwealth Cup.

To top it off, entries are also due for the Sussex Stakes, a popular clash between the best of the Classic crop and their older counterparts at Goodwood on July 30.

A 7f handicap (4.10) at Brighton, featuring the hat-trick-seeking Oj Lifestyle may be the day's highlight on track. Leciester, Redcar, Tipperary and Wolverhampton also stage Flat cards.

Wednesday

Quadrantids and Secret History have promising pedigrees and could make their debuts in a 6f fillies' maiden (6.22) at Kempton, which is one of three Flat fixtures alongside Beverley and Hamilton.

Gale Mahler and Henry Brooke win novices' hurdle at Market Rasen

Gale Mahler: could head over fences on WednesdayCredit: Steve Davies

Cartmel makes a quick turnaround from its Monday meeting to open its doors again and useful hurdler Gale Mahler could make her chasing debut in the 2m5f novice handicap chase (7.40).

Some seasoned handicappers could line up at Newton Abbot in its 3m2f contest (3.48) and there is also jump racing at Wexford.

Thursday

Sandown stages one of the best evening cards on the British Flat racing calendar with the Star Sports Brigadier Gerard Stakes (7.35) the feature event.

Certain Lad finished behind Royal Rhyme 12 months ago and could return to the Group 3 race against the unbeaten Ombudsman, a fascinating French Group 3 winner who is 10-1 for the Prince of Wales's Stakes and holds an entry in the Arc.

Another Group 3, the Henry II Stakes (7.05) features on the undercard alongside the Listed National Stakes (6.35) and Heron Stakes (8.05), with the latter a popular proving ground for St James's Palace candidates.

Before the evening's excitement there is more Flat racing at Ripon, which stages their feature Cathedral Handicap (3.05). Almeraq has some nice entries later in the year and is of interest in the 6f novice (3.10) at Yarmouth, while Carlisle, Lingfield, Fairyhouse and a jumps card at Limerick complete the day's offerings.

Friday

All the big names of the hunter-chase division descend on Stratford for a popular evening card headlined by the Foxhunters Champion Hunters' Chase (7.35), where 15 possibles could compete in the 65th running of the Horse And Hound Cup.

The John Corbet Cup is also up for grabs in the preceding Champion Novices' Hunter Chase (7.00) and the Warwickshire track is the sole British jumps fixture of the day alongside an Irish meeting at Tramore.

Gina Andrews: “I didn’t think getting to ride in the Grand National was ever going to actually happen, because why would I?"

Gina Andrews: will be in action at Stratford for its hunter-chase cardCredit: Edward Whitaker

Haydock stages the first day of a two-day Flat meeting and several smart types have emerged from its 7f novice stakes (6.40), including subsequent Group 1 winner Ancient Wisdom in 2023.

Honour Your Dreams has options at Chepstow (3.25) and Catterick (7.28) in his quest for a hat-trick for Mick Appleby and Carlisle and Brighton also hold meetings. The Listed His Majesty's Plate is the feature event at Down Royal.

Keep an eye on the Racing Post site on Friday evening for a special reader Q&A with Tom Segal, which is also available in Saturday's paper.

Saturday

We head back to Haydock for more Flat racing, with a pair of Group 3 races to tide us over during the countdown to Epsom and Royal Ascot.

That timeline speeds up as confirmations and supplementary entries are revealed for the Oaks at noon, in advance of the Derby confirmations on Monday.

Back on the track, the Group 3 Betfred Nifty 50 Lester Piggott Fillies' Stakes (2.58), won last year by Queen Of The Pride, precedes the John Of Gaunt Stakes (3.33), and the Listed Achilles Stakes (2.23) is worth taking note of as the last two winners – Regional and Believing – have gone on to score at Group 1 level.

York hosts a Group 3 race of its own in the William Hill Bronte Cup Fillies' Stakes (3.15) and fixtures also take place at Chester, Lingfield and Southwell.

Jump racing at Stratford is complemented by fixtures at Tramore and Listowel but Flat racing dominates proceedings, including a rich array of international races.

The Group 3 trial for the German Derby takes place at Baden-Baden and the Sha Tin Vase is staged in Hong Kong. Australia provides the only Group 1 race of the day with the Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm.

Sunday

The Qatar Prix du Jockey Club is the headline event on a top-class day of action at Chantilly.

The French Derby has been won by home runners for the last three years but Britain and Ireland will send some strong candidates in hopes of adding their names to an honour roll featuring recent winners Ace Impact, Vadeni and St Mark's Basilica.

Camille Pissarro: winner of the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere

Camille Pissarro: could run in Sunday's French DerbyCredit: Patrick McCann

The undercard includes two Group 3 races – the Prix Du Gros-Chene and Prix de Royaumont – as well as the Group 2 Grand Prix de Chantilly and Prix de Sandringham.

Baden-Baden gets in on the Group action with the Grosser Preis Der Badischen Wirtschaft, while Japan stages its own Derby with the Group 1 Tokyo Yushun.

In Britain there is decent prize-money on offer at Chelmsford, which plays host to the Sky Bet Sunday Series, and a mile fillies' handicap (4.35) is the feature race at Nottingham.

Ireland holds fixtures at Listowel and Kilbeggan, which is one of two jumps fixtures of the day along with Fakenham.

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