Will Reilly looks forward to this week’s racing
This week’s racing in Britain features the ‘Fred Darling’ and Greenham Stakes at Newbury, two of the season’s main Classic Trials, and the Scottish Grand National meeting in Ayr, one of the highlights of the season, with the feature race now being worth £215,000.
Joe Farrell wins the 2018 Scottish Grand National
Newbury and Ayr also stage valuable cards on Friday.
Midweek, there is the £40,000 Listed Further Flight Stakes at Nottingham (Wednesday) and a £60,000 Kentucky Derby qualifier at Chelmsford (Thursday).
In Ireland, Naas’s card on Saturday includes two £25,000 two-year-old races plus the €65,000 Group 3 Alleged Stakes and the €60,000 Group 3 Gladness Stakes.
Racing in Ireland between Monday April 8th and Sunday April 14th
Monday April 8
No racing in Ireland
Tuesday April 9
Gowran Park, 4:35pm – A turf flat card that features the €30,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies’ Handicap (7f, 3yo+)
Wednesday April 10
No racing in Ireland
Thursday April 11
Limerick, 2:05pm – A National Hunt card
Friday April 12
Ballinrobe, 4:50pm – A National Hunt card (5 hurdle races and 2 bumpers) that features the €20,000 McGrath Limestone Works Handicap Hurdle
Saturday April 13
Naas, 1:50pm – A turf flat card that features the following races:
- €25,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race (5f, 2yo)
- €25,000 Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Maiden (5f, 2yo)
- €65,000 Group 3 Alleged Stakes (10f, 4yo+)
- €60,000 Group 3 Gladness Stakes (7f, 3yo+)
Sunday April 14
Dundalk, 2pm – It is Marshes Shopping Centre Best Dressed Lady Day at the track!
Tramore, 2:15pm – A National Hunt card that features the €20,000 Tom Murphy Car Sales Race Day 31st May ‘Chase (2m5f, 5yo+)
Racing in Britain between Monday April 7th and Sunday April 14th
Monday April 8
Redcar, 2pm – A turf flat card
Kelso, 2:10pm – A National Hunt card
Windsor, 2:20pm – A turf flat card – It’s a sure sign of spring when Windsor starts racing on Monday nights
Tuesday April 9
Pontefract, 2pm – A turf flat card that features the £25,000 Sponsorship For ROA Members Handicap Stakes (10f5y, 4yo+)
Exeter, 2:10pm – A National Hunt card
Southwell, 2:20pm – A National Hunt card
Wednesday April 10
Nottingham, 2pm – A turf flat card that features the £40,000 Barry Hills Further Flight Stakes (Listed Race, 1m6f, 4yo+) and also includes a £15,000mile handicap and a £15,000 5f Conditions Stakes race
Warwick, 2:10pm – A National Hunt card
Lingfield, 2:20pm – An all-weather flat card
Kempton, 5:45pm – An all-weather flat card
Thursday April 11
Chelmsford, 2pm – An all-weather flat card that features the £60,000 Woodford Reserve Cardinal Conditions Stakes, a Plus10 Bonus race that is a ‘Road To The Kentucky Derby’ qualifier (one mile, 3yo)
Huntingdon, 2:10pm – A National Hunt card
Wetherby, 2:20pm – A National Hunt card
Newcastle, 5:30pm – An all-weather flat card
Friday April 12
Ayr, 1:50pm – The two-day Scottish National meeting gets under way with a card that includes the following races:
- £50,000 Hillhouse Quarry Handicap ‘Chase (Listed Race, 2m4f110y, 5yo+)
- £30,000 Seafield Trophy Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (3m70y, 4yo+)
Newbury, 2pm – A turf flat card that features the following races:
- £25,000 Dubai Duty Free Handicap (5f34y, 4yo+)
- £45,000 Compton Beauchamp Estates Ltd Silver Bar Handicap Stakes (2m2f, 4yo+)
- £20,000 Dubai Duty Free Full Of Surprises Handicap (7f, 3yo)
Fontwell, 2:10pm – A National Hunt card
Kempton, 5:40pm – An all-weather flat card
Saturday April 13
Ayr, 1:25pm – Scottish Grand National day, with the card including the following races:
- £40,000 The Scotty Brand Handicap ‘Chase (Listed Race, 2m110y, 5yo+)
- £100,000 J & D Pierce Novices’ Champion Handicap ‘Chase (3m20y, 5yo+)
- £105,000 Grade 2 CPMS Scottish Champion Hurdle (2miles, 4yo+)
- £45,000 Grade 2 Jordan Electrics Ltd Future Champion Novices’ ‘Chase (2m4f110y, 5yo+)
- £215,000 Grade 3 Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap ‘Chase (3m7f176y, 5yo+)
- £20,000 Ayrshire Hospice Land O’Burns Starlight Walk Handicap Hurdle Race (2m5f91y, 4yo+)
Newbury, 1:40pm – A valuable turf flat card that includes the following races:
- £60,000 Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (aka the John Porter Stakes). 12f, 4yo+
- £60,000 Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes (aka Fred Darling Stakes), 7f, 3yo fillies, a Classic Trial
- £50,000 Spring Cup Handicap (one mile, 4yo+)
- £70,000 Group 3 Watership Down Stud Greenham Stakes (7f, 3yo), a Classic Trial
Thirsk, 2pm – A turf flat card that contains three £15,000 races (a 12f handicap, a 5f handicap and a 7f 4yo+ Conditions Stakes race)
Bangor, 2:15pm – A National Hunt card
Wolverhampton, 6pm – An all-weather flat card
Sunday April 14
Wincanton, 1:50pm – A National Hunt card that features the following races:
- £17,000 Royal Bath & West Show Society Handicap Hurdle (2m5f82y, 4yo+)
- £23,000 Racing TV Handicap ‘Chase (2m4f35y, 5yo+)
Stratford, 2:05pm – A National Hunt card