This week brings a wide spread of racing across Britain, Ireland and further afield, with Flat and jumps action continuing to run side by side as the spring season builds.
The main domestic focus on Saturday comes from Ayr, where the Scottish Grand National takes centre stage. A field of 21 is set to line up, with Kim Roque heading the market ahead of King Of Answers and Road To Home, while several others arrive in good form in what looks a typically competitive renewal.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Randwick hosts the All Aged Stakes, one of the standout Group 1 races of the Australian season, while closer to home, Newbury offers a strong Flat card on ITV. There is also National Hunt racing at Bellewstown and Bangor-on-Dee, alongside Flat meetings at Thirsk.
Sunday keeps things moving with a mix of international and domestic racing. In the United States, the Oaklawn Handicap features leading contenders Sovereignty and Journalism, while the Flat continues at the Curragh and Sha Tin. Plumpton stages jumps racing, including the Sussex Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle.
The early part of next week sees Kelso host National Hunt racing on Monday, before Epsom and Ffos Las take over on Tuesday. Midweek action continues at Perth, Catterick and Gowran Park on Wednesday, keeping the schedule ticking along.
Big races this week
All Aged Stakes: 7:20am Randwick (Aus), 18 Apr (Stream)
Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle: 2:20pm Ayr, 18 Apr (iTV)
Coral Scottish Grand National: 3:35pm Ayr, 18 Apr (iTV)
Oaklawn Handicap: 12:20am Oakland Park, 19 Apr (Stream)
Japanese 2000 Guineas (Satsuki Sho): 7:40am Nakayama, 19 Apr (Sky)
Sussex Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle: 3:27pm Plumpton, 19 Apr (Sky)
*All races above are listed in UK time (GMT).
Race Notes
3:35pm Scottish Grand National - 18 Apr, Ayr
Five of the last eleven winners arrived here off the back of a win, and ten of those eleven had run within the last 56 days. Horses kept ticking over, rather than coming in fresh, have the better record.
Course experience plays a part, but it is not essential. Around half of recent winners had already run at Ayr, though only two had actually won here before. It helps, but it is not a deal breaker.
Looking at the market, favourites have a mixed record. Only three of the last eleven winners were market leaders or joint favourites, but eight of those winners did finish in the top five on their previous run.
From the saddle, Sam Twiston-Davies stands out as the most successful jockey in recent times, with two wins aboard Vicente in 2016 and 2017.
The Kim Muir Challenge Cup at Cheltenham Racecourse has produced three winners from nineteen runners who went on to win next time out. It is not the strongest trend, but it does show that recent winners of the race can follow up. Ask Brewster fits that profile after his latest success.
As for this year’s runners, a few catch the eye based on both trends and recent form. Git Maker ran a solid race to finish third in the Midlands National and now competes from a lower mark than when placed in the past. That gives him a fair each-way shout at bigger odds.
Chasingouttheblues looks like a runner with a strong profile for this sort of test, while Montregard comes here off the back of a win in the Swinley Handicap Chase, ticking that recent-form box.
Weekend Nap
Hoe Joly Smoke (11/4) – 3.30pm (Friday 17 Apr) Ayr:
Hoe Joly Smoke has been running with credit all season without quite getting his head in front. He finished third behind Three Card Brag over 3m1f at Cheltenham Racecourse in October, and filled the same position again behind stablemate Panic Attack in the Paddy Power Gold Cup.
He was not beaten far in a Grade 3 handicap at Kempton Park Racecourse last time, though he did weaken late on. A wind operation followed shortly after.
Antepost Watch
In d'Or has been one of the more notable movers in the antepost market for the bet365 Gold Cup (25 Apr) at Sandown Park Racecourse.
Trained by Fergal O'Brien, he has seen his odds shorten from around 25/1 into 12/1 in recent weeks, suggesting there is growing confidence behind him heading into the race.
He was last seen finishing third in the BetMGM Handicap Chase, where The Jukebox Kid came out on top, with Montregard taking second.
In d’Or looks the type to keep on side if the market continues to move in his favour.
Racing Syndicates
Emris Racing are a new name in the syndicate space, and their latest addition, the filly Ellie, looks a really interesting prospect for anyone keen to get involved early with a National Hunt horse. Trained by Fergal O'Brien, she is by Passing Glance and comes from a proper staying family, with depth that includes Numbersixvalverde, who won the 2005 Irish Grand National and the 2006 Aintree Grand National.
The set-up at Emris Racing focuses on giving members a clear, behind-the-scenes view of a horse’s progress, from early education through to the racecourse. Ellie is still at the early stages, but she looks the type who could give her owners a lot to look forward to as she develops.
Betting Offers
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Racing News
Here are a few racing updates that caught the eye this week.
Racing Legends - Rock of Gibraltar
Rock of Gibraltar was every bit as solid as his name suggested. Trained by Aidan O’Brien at Ballydoyle, he was tough, consistent, and hugely talented, winning seven consecutive Group 1 races between 2001 and 2002.
Yet for all his brilliance on the racecourse, his legacy is often remembered just as much for the off-track controversy involving Sir Alex Ferguson and the horse’s majority owner, the Coolmore operation.
Thanks for reading! Let’s catch up again next week.
Regards
The Newsletter Team
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