This week has a slightly quieter feel than recent editions, largely because the racing world is looking ahead to one of the biggest weekends of the year. The Epsom Oaks and Derby are now just one week away, with the Oaks taking place on Friday 5 June and the Derby following on Saturday 6 June.
There is still plenty of racing to enjoy before then. Across Britain, meetings take place at Carlisle, Chester, Beverley, Stratford and Lingfield over the weekend, while in Ireland the action comes from Listowel on Sunday and a National Hunt card at Kilbeggan.
The highest-quality racing this weekend is likely to come from overseas. In Japan, the Japanese Derby takes centre stage at Tokyo, where a prize worth around £1.5 million awaits the winner.
France also stages a major Classic with the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) at Chantilly. Worth more than £745,000 to the winner, the race has attracted a strong international field. Aidan O'Brien is set to be represented by Hawk Mountain, Montreal and Constitution River, while John and Thady Gosden saddle Oxagon. At the head of the betting are Daryzan and Constitution River, setting up what promises to be a fascinating contest.
The early part of next week remains relatively low key before attention turns fully towards Epsom. Racing takes place at Lingfield, Windsor and Newbury on Monday, while Southwell hosts a jumps meeting on Tuesday.
Wednesday brings an eight-race card from the Curragh, alongside National Hunt action at Newton Abbot, before the programme begins to gather momentum on Thursday with meetings from Hamilton, Wetherby, Uttoxeter and Leopardstown.
By then, all roads will be leading towards Epsom and one of the biggest weekends of the Flat season.
Big races this week
6:13am Eagle Farm, Saturday (SKY)
Queensland Derby (Group 1)
1m4f, Flat Turf
2:33pm Carlisle, Saturday (iTV)
Achilles Stakes (Listed Race)
5f, Flat Turf
3:10pm Carlisle, Saturday (iTV)
Lester Piggott Fillies' Stakes (Group 3)
1m3f, Flat Turf
7:40am Tokyo, Sunday (Stream)
Japanese Derby (Grade 1)
1m4f, Flat Turf
9:05am Sha Tin, Sunday (SKY)
Lion Rock Trophy (Group 3)
1m, Flat Turf
12:45pm Dusseldorf, Sunday (Stream)
German 1000 Guineas (Group 2)
1m, Flat Turf
3:30pm Chantilly, Sunday (SKY)
Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) (Group 1)
1m2½f, Flat Turf
*All races above are listed in UK time.
Looking ahead
With Epsom now just around the corner, the Oaks market is beginning to focus on a handful of leading contenders. At the head of the betting is Amelia Earhart (5/2), who strengthened her claims with an impressive victory in the Cheshire Oaks at Chester.
Among her main rivals is Legacy Link (7/2), who enhanced her own credentials by winning the Musidora Stakes at York. The Juddmonte filly showed plenty of determination to fend off her challengers and looks likely to appreciate the step up to a mile and a half at Epsom.
One horse worth keeping an eye on at a bigger price is Cameo (16/1), another from the Ballydoyle operation. Her victory in the Oaks Trial at Lingfield suggested she could be suited by Epsom's unique test, and history has shown that Aidan O'Brien's apparent second or third strings can often emerge as major players when the Classics come around.
With the Oaks taking place next Friday, the final declarations and market moves over the coming days should provide a clearer picture of what is shaping up to be a fascinating renewal.
Race Notes
3:30pm Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) - Chantilly
Constitution River faces a significant challenge in Sunday's Qatar Prix du Jockey Club after being handed stall 15 in a field of 16 at Chantilly.
The Dee Stakes winner was confirmed for the French Classic rather than the Epsom Derby earlier this week, but bookmakers reacted to the draw by easing him from 6/4 to 2/1. History suggests the task is far from straightforward, with few recent winners emerging from such a wide position.
Aidan O'Brien remains upbeat, however, and reports the colt has come out of his Chester victory in excellent form. Ryan Moore takes the ride and will need to decide early whether to push forward or slot in behind from the gates. O'Brien believes the race could be tactical and much will depend on how the opening stages unfold.
Constitution River is joined by stablemates Hawk Mountain and Montreal, giving Ballydoyle a strong hand in one of France's most prestigious races for three-year-olds.
Among the opposition, Daryzan looks particularly interesting. The unbeaten colt has raced only once but created a strong impression on debut and has already moved towards the head of the betting. Trainer Francis Graffard admits it is an ambitious move, but believes the colt's pedigree and natural ability justify taking his chance.
Another unbeaten contender is Dolmalan, who arrives after a sequence of impressive victories and is expected to appreciate the step up in trip. Meanwhile, Komorebi, Hankelow and the supplemented Oxagon all bring strong form into the contest and could be well positioned from their draws.
With a wide draw for the favourite, several unbeaten challengers in the line-up and a fascinating tactical element to the race, this year's Prix du Jockey Club is shaping up to be one of the most competitive European Classics of the season.
Selection: Constitution River (Win), Dolmalan (E/W)
Antepost Watch
The Oaks market saw another notable move this week after Precise landed the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh on 24 May.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained filly was cut from 3/1 into 11/4 for the Epsom Classic following her latest success, continuing a remarkable campaign that has firmly established her among the leading contenders.
What makes her profile particularly interesting is that the Irish Guineas victory was a return to the form. Her seventh-place finish in the English 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket remains the only blemish on an otherwise flawless record. Remove that run, and she would boast a perfect six wins from six starts.
Racing Syndicates
Pompey Ventures have added an eye‑catching new recruit to their 2026 team: an unraced, unnamed two‑year‑old colt by Starspangledbanner out of Privacy Order, to be trained by dual Guineas‑winning handler George Boughey at Craven House in Newmarket.
He was secured in a private deal for £120,000 and comes with a very smart hook – he is a full brother to the unbeaten Protection Act, who is two from two and already rated 102, with Royal Ascot firmly on the agenda.
Interest in learning more, click here.
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Racing News
Here are a few racing updates that caught the eye this week.
Racing Legends - Count Fleet
He was, by almost any measure, one of the greatest horses that ever raced. His two-year-old season produced ten wins from 16 starts. His three-year-old season was unbeaten. He won the Kentucky Derby by three lengths, the Preakness by eight, and the Belmont by 25.
He was voted American Horse of the Year and ranked fifth among the 100 greatest American racehorses of the 20th century by a panel assembled by The Blood-Horse. And yet mention his name outside dedicated racing circles, and you are likely to be met with a blank look.
Thanks for reading! Let’s catch up again next week.
Regards
The Newsletter Team
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