A week for Classic dreams to be fuelled as Derby and Oaks hopefuls put to the test across Britain and Ireland

Monday

John Murphy's stable star White Birch makes his much-anticipated return on Monday in a fascinating clash with Irish Derby winner Los Angeles in the Coolmore Stud City Of Troy Irish EBF Mooresbridge Stakes (4.10) at the Curragh.

The smart grey has not been seen in almost a year but hopes will be high he can retain the class that saw him land this before fending off Auguste Rodin in style in the Tattersalls Gold Cup. 

There is more Group racing on the undercard with the Coolmore Stud Auguste Rodin Irish EBF Athasi Stakes (3.35), headed by the Ger Lyons-trained hat-trick-seeker Chantez, while the Listed Tetrarch Stakes (2.25) and First Flier Stakes (1.50) round off the top-quality card. 

Flat racing is the focus of the day, with British fixtures at Bath, Windsor, Kempton and Beverley, where Duran Fentiman returns from a seven-month spell on the sidelines after breaking his leg at Pontefract last year. 

Jump racing fans are treated to an afternoon card at Warwick alongside a fixture at Down Royal, where the Shark Hanlon-trained Topgun Simmy will aim to leave a series of runner-up efforts behind him in the feature 3m hurdle (2.45). 

The Guineas may be over but ante-post punters in search of Classic clues should head to the Racing Post site on Monday evening for Tom Segal's Pricewise picks for the Oaks, which are also available in Tuesday's paper.

Tuesday

Classic trials get under way on Wednesday but first the fields for Epsom take greater shape, with the acceptance stage for the Betfred Derby and Coronation Cup revealed at noon. Entries are also made for Sandown's Coral-Eclipse and Haydock's Temple Stakes. 

The pick of the action on the track is again in Ireland as the Cork Derby (6.38) takes place on Tuesday evening. Ten runners have been declared for the premier handicap, including recent winner Saturn, who could provide Jessica Harrington with her second win in four years. 

The action at Cork also includes the Goffs Irish EBF Polonia Stakes (6.08), which has attracted a strong field of 14 runners. O'Brien won the race last year with Cherry Blossom and has another talented candidate in Truly Enchanting, a Group 2 winner last year.

Truly Enchanting: set to run at Cork on TuesdayCredit: Patrick McCann

Jump racing takes place at Worcester, Ffos Las and Fakenham, where the feature 3m veterans' handicap chase (4.15) has familiar names in Tommie Beau and Le Milos. 

It's Tim aims to bring his winning streak to four in Wolverhampton's apprentice handicap (6.30) but there are better riches abroad, with the Group 3 Prix de Guiche (2.05) and Listed Prix des Lilas (2.40) the standout races at Chantilly. 

Wednesday

The Boodles May festival is the mid-week highlight at Chester and the three-day meeting kicks off with a bang thanks to the Group 3 Chester Vase (3.05). 

Aidan O'Brien has the two market leaders before declarations in Stay True and Lambourn, who both have Classic entries, while William Haggas and Ralph Beckett both have Derby hopefuls of their own in Opportunity and Pinhole respectively. 

The Ballydoyle operation is also a potent force in the Cheshire Oaks (2.35), which O'Brien has landed five times in the last ten runnings. The trainer has three entered this year, with the market headed by maiden winner Giselle.

More prizes for fillies and mares await at Gowran, which stages the Listed Vintage Tipple Stakes (6.20) and Victor McCalmont Memorial Stakes (6.50), alongside racing at Kempton.

The highlight contest for jumps enthusiasts is the opening race at Newton Abbot (1.45), where Dan Skelton is back searching for winners with possible runners Heltenham and Asta La Pasta. Fixtures at Kelso and Fontwell complete the day's offerings. 

Thursday

Haggas will hope for rain this week as he prepares to send popular nine-year-old Hamish back to Chester in the hunt for a third success in the Ormonde Stakes (3.05). 

The Group 3 race went the way of O'Brien last year and he looks poised to strike again with classy pair Illinois and Jan Brueghel among his possible runners. 

Jan Brueghel (near) and Illinois both entered at Chester's May festival meetingCredit: Edward Whitaker

The Listed Dee Stakes (2.35) is also staged on Thursday with several more Derby entries, including Acapulco Bay, Mount Kilimanjaro and Push The Limit among the potential field. 

Flat racing also takes place at Brighton and Chelmsford on Thursday while Supreme winner Slade Steel could be among the jump names of note at Tipperary as he aims to get off the mark over fences in a 2m7½f beginners chase (6.42). 

The day is rounded off by meetings at Huntingdon and Stratford, where Therapist could aim to follow up her wide-margin course win last month in the 2m½f mares' handicap hurdle (7.35).

Friday

The Ladbrokes Chester Cup (3.05), showpiece of this week's May festival at Chester, dominates racing on Friday with £170,000 of prize-money available in the fiendishly tricky handicap. 

No favourite has won in the last decade, a worrying sign for connections of market leader East India Dock, but he does aim to continue to trend of successful dual-purpose runners after recent wins by Metier and Zoffee. 

Former Derby runners have become a mainstay in the Group 2 Huxley Stakes (2.35) and The Foxes fits the bill for King Power Racing, but Space Legend is another interesting prospect on his first start since being gelded.

A £45,000 7f handicap (1.50) is the feature event at Ascot but the 1m2f maiden fillies' stakes (2.55) is also worth noting due to the potential debut of Good Old Days, a Godolphin sister to the four-time Group 1 winner Nations Pride. 

Derby possible Rogue Millions has an entry at Chester on Wednesday but may take up his option in Nottingham's 1m2f novice stakes (7.35) instead, while more Flat racing can be found at Ripon. Jumps meetings take place at Hereford and Market Rasen, while Ireland stages two evening fixtures at Ballinrobe and Downpatrick. 

Saturday

Haydock stages its unique mixed card on Saturday with a blend of jumps and Flat racing offering something for all racing fans. 

The jumps feature is the Swinton Handicap Hurdle (1.35), the first major prize for the new jumps season, before Royal Ascot hopefuls come to the fore later on the card for the Listed Spring Trophy Stakes (3.55).

Classic contenders are also primed to emerge from Lingfield's turf card, with the Oaks (2.25) and Derby trials (3.00) likely to be full of Epsom possibles. The same might be seen at Naas, which stages a Listed Oaks Trial Stakes (4.20).

Ambiente Friendly: winner of last year's Lingfield Derby trialCredit: John Grossick

The track also stages the Group 3 Chartwell Fillies' Stakes (3.35), while Ascot stages a card of its own headlined by the £100,000 Victoria Cup (2.40). The 7f contest is always a tantalising punting affair, with seven of the last ten scorers winning at double figures. 

Saturday's Flat racing cards are completed at Lingfield and Leicester while Warwick, Hexham and Cork stage jumps fixtures. 

Sunday

Classic trials continue at Leopardstown with the Group 3 Derby trial, won last year by Los Angeles. The track also hosts the revamped Al Shira'aa Racing 'Mutamakina' Stakes (2.35) for fillies, which has been dropped back to seven furlongs and opened to older runners.

Ireland also plays host to the jumps highlight with Killarney's competitive National (4.30) and a Listed mares' hurdle (2.10), while Plumpton and Ludlow also stage jumps cards in Britain.

The sole British Flat fixture of the day is at Newcastle, which ends its all-weather card in style with a £75,000 sprint (6.45). 

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