Will Reilly takes a look ahead to this week’s racing in Ireland and Britain
This week’s racing in Ireland includes the Quevega Mares’ Hurdle (Listed Race) at Punchestown (Wednesday), a Grade 3 novice hurdle at Thurles (Thursday), Bobbyjo Chase day at Fairyhouse (Saturday) and two graded races on a valuable card at Naas (Sunday). There’s also Friday-night action from Dundalk.
In Britain, some fixtures have been added to the programme following the loss of a number of meetings owing to the outbreak of equine flu.
Newcastle’s card on Wednesday includes two races worth £30,000 or more. Doncaster will stage a £30,000 veterans’ chase on the same day. On Friday, Warwick will stage a £30,000 handicap chase and Exeter will play host to its Devon National meeting.
On Saturday, Kempton will stage a valuable and usually very informative card that contains three Grade 2 contests and £100,000 handicap chase, while it is Group 3 Winter Derby day at Lingfield. The Lingfield card will also include the £45,000 Hever Stakes (Listed Race).
Just for good measure, Newcastle will stage the £80,000 four-mile Eider Chase on Saturday and, on Sunday, Fontwell’s fixture will feature its most-valuable race of the season, the £80,000 Grade 2 National Spirit Hurdle.
As ever, there is plenty to look forward to in this week’s racing.
Here is this week’s racing line-up in Ireland, with the meetings in Britain following on
There is no racing in Ireland on Monday February 18th or Tuesday February 19th.
Wednesday February 20th
- Punchestown (first race, 1:30pm) – The card contains the following races:
- €30,000 Quevega Mares’ Hurdle (Listed Race, 2m4f, 4yo+)
- €26,500 Pertemps Network Group Handicap Hurdle Qualifier (3 miles, 4yo+)
Thursday February 21st
Thurles (2pm) – The feature race is the €50,000 Grade 3 Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle (2m4f, 5yo+)
Friday 22nd February
Dundalk (5:30pm – 5pm if a race divides) – The card’s main race is a €26,000 handicap (one mile)
Saturday 23rd February
Fairyhouse (1:40pm) – The card contains the following races:
- €20,000 Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle (2 miles, 4yo+)
- €32,500 Grade 3 Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle (2 miles, 4yo only)
- €25,000 Tommy Carberry Handicap Hurdle (2m4f, 5yo+)
- €45,000 Grade 3 Bobbyjo ‘Chase (3m1f, 5yo+)
Next up is @BetVictor Bobbyjo Chase Day on Saturday 23rd February.
🕝 Gates Open 11.30am | First race 1.40pm
🐎 7 exciting NH races
🍽️ Hospitality packages from €60 pp
🎟️ Adults €15 | OAPs €10 | U16s FREE20% online discount on admission ➡️ https://t.co/NIoe373GDC pic.twitter.com/qbwy756icM
— FairyhouseRacecourse (@Fairyhouse) February 17, 2019
Sunday 24th February
Naas (1:30pm) – The card contains:
- A €50,000 Grade B novice handicap chase (2m4f, 5yo+)
- A €46,500 Grade 2 novice hurdle (2 miles)
- A €46,500 Grade 3 chase (2 miles)
Race meetings in Britain between Tuesday 19th February and Sunday 23rd February
Tuesday 19th February
Wetherby (1:55pm) – A National Hunt card
Taunton (2:10pm) – A National Hunt card that includes the £18,500 Greene King Handicap Hurdle (2m104y, 4yo+)
Wolverhampton (5:30pm) An All-Weather flat card –
Wednesday 20th February
Ludlow (1:50pm) – A National Hunt card
Newcastle (2pm) – An All-Weather flat card that includes the following races:
- £45,000 7f14y handicap (4yo+)
- £30,000 6f Conditions Stakes race (All-Weather Championships Fast-Track Qualifier for 3yo)
Doncaster (2:15pm) – A National Hunt card that features the £30,000 Napoleons Casino & Restaurant Sheffield Veterans’ Handicap ‘Chase (3m21y, 9yo+)
Chelmsford (5:15pm) – An All-Weather flat card that includes two races worth £19,000: a two-mile handicap (4yo+) and a mile handicap (4yo+)
Wolverhampton (5:30pm) – An All-Weather flat card
Thursday 21st February
Sedgefield (1:35pm) – A National Hunt card
Huntingdon (2:15pm) – A National Hunt card that features a £14,500 novices’ limited handicap chase (2m104y, 5yo+)
Southwell (2:25pm) – An All-Weather flat card
Wolverhampton (5:05pm) – An All-Weather flat card that features a £19,000 5f21y handicap (4yo+)
Chelmsford (5:50pm) – An All-Weather flat card
Friday 22nd February
Warwick (1:10pm) – A National Hunt card that features the £30,000 Feldon Dunsmore Budbrooke Handicap ‘Chase (2m4f, 5yo+)
Catterick (1:20pm) – A National Hunt card
Exeter (1:30pm) – A National Hunt card that includes the £25,400 Healthy Pets Devon National Handicap ‘Chase (3m6f153y, 5yo+) and the £16,000 GG Racing Podcast ‘Chase (a novices’ limited handicap chase, 3m54y, 5yo+)
Lingfield (1:50pm) – An All-Weather flat card
Chelmsford (5:45pm) – An All-Weather flat card
Saturday 23rd February
Kempton (1:15pm) – A card that includes the following races:
- £32,000 Grade 2 Pendil Novices’ Chase (2m4.5f, 5yo+)
- £30,000 Grade 2 Adonis Juvenile Hurdle (2 miles, 4yo)
- £30,000 Grade 2 Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle (2 miles, 4yo+)
- £100,000 Grade 3 888Sport Handicap ‘Chase (3 miles, 5yo+)
Lingfield (1:30pm) – An All-Weather flat card that includes the following races:
- £45,000 Hever Sprint Stakes (Listed Race, 5f6y, 4yo+)
- The £100,000 Group 3 Winter Derby (10 furlongs, 4yo+), an All-Weather Championships Fast-Track Qualifier
- A £19,000 Conditions Stakes race (1m1f, 4yo+)
The £100,000 Winter Derby is coming up at Lingfield on Saturday #springisintheair
Newcastle (1:35pm) – A National Hunt card that features the £80,000 Vertem Eider Handicap ‘Chase (4m122y, 5yo+); it also includes an £18,500 novices’ chase (2m75y, 5yo+)
Chepstow (1:55pm) – A National Hunt card that includes the £22,500 Roger Lewis Memorial Trophy Handicap ‘Chase (2m11y, 5yo+) and the £18,500 Pertemps-sponsored handicap hurdle (2m7f131y, 5yo+)
Wolverhampton (5:30pm) – An All-Weather flat card
Sunday 24th February
Fontwell (1:50pm) – A National Hunt card that includes the following races:
- £15,400 Josh Gifford Memorial Novices’ Chase (2m1f165y, 5yo+)
- £80,000 Grade 2 National Spirit Hurdle (2m3f49y, 4yo+)
Carlisle (2:10pm) – A National Hunt card
Market Rasen (2:10pm) – There is a £20,000 handicap hurdle at 3:!5pm (2m148y, 4yo+)
They also race at Huntingdon from 1:30pm