This week brings a strong mix of action as the Flat season officially gets under way, with the traditional curtain raiser at Doncaster on Saturday.
The Lincoln (3:32) takes centre stage, a race that often sets the tone for the months ahead. A big field, plenty of pace and the straight mile at Doncaster usually combine to produce a competitive start to the season.
That is not the only point of interest on Saturday. Racing returns to the Curragh, where the Gladness Stakes (3:05) stands out. Aidan O’Brien’s much talked about 2000 Guineas hopeful Albert Einstein lines up against a strong field, offering an early look at one of the season’s more talked about three-year-olds.
Further afield, attention turns to Meydan for the Dubai World Cup (4:45), where Forever Young looks to make amends for last year’s disappointing effort. With more than £5 million going to the winner, it once again draws together some of the best dirt horses in the world.
Australia also provides a major race on the same day, with the Australian Cup at Flemington (5:15) offering another high-value contest over a mile and a quarter.
In the United States, the Florida Derby and Arkansas Derby headline a busy weekend, both key races on the road to the Kentucky Derby and ones that often produce horses to follow through the spring.
Looking ahead to early next week, racing continues at Navan and Ludlow on Monday, before jumps cards at Bangor-on-Dee and Limerick on Tuesday. The midweek programme carries on with meetings at Wincanton, Southwell and Sedgefield on Wednesday, keeping things ticking over.
Big races this week
Florida Derby: 10:42am Gulfstream Park, 29 Mar (SKY)
Arkansas Derby: 11:48am Oaklawn Park, 29 Mar (SKY)
Doncaster Mile Stakes: 2:57pm Doncaster, 29 Mar (iTV)
Gladness Stakes: 3:05pm Curragh, 29 Mar (RTV)
The Lincoln: 3:32pm Doncaster, 29 Mar (iTV)
Dubai World Cup: 4:45pm Meydan, 29 Mar (SKY)
Australian Cup: 5:15pm Flemington, 29 Mar (SKY)
*All races above are listed in UK time (GMT).
Race Notes
5:15pm Australian Cup - 29 Mar, Flemington
Birdman sets the standard after a steady build-up, winning both the Blamey Stakes and Peter Young Stakes following an encouraging return. The step up to 2000 metres looks ideal, and he has already beaten several of these rivals.
Tom Kitten brings strong recent form after his All-Star Mile win, though a wide draw and his record third-up raise slight questions. Pride Of Jenni adds further quality, with over $11 million in earnings and a runner-up finish in this race in 2024, but her form can be a little hard to predict.
Last year’s winner Light Infantry Man returns with a solid record at Flemington and could be involved again despite being beaten by Birdman last time. Apulia has twice finished behind the favourite and now steps up in trip, making him an interesting each-way option. Leica Lucy, Sabaj and Mark Twain all have claims if they improve for the distance, while Just Fine, Damask Rose and Basilinna appear to have a tougher task against this level of opposition.
Weekend Nap
ALBERT EINSTEIN (4/6) – 3.05pm (Saturday 29 Mar) Curragh:
Unbeaten in two starts, he showed serious pace as a juvenile, most notably in the Marble Hill Stakes where he overcame trouble in running before quickening clear. Those who have seen him at home have spoken in strong terms, and Aidan O’Brien himself has gone as far as to suggest he could be the fastest horse he has trained, which is no small claim given the names that have passed through Ballydoyle.
Antepost Watch
Grangeclare West was available at 25/1 in the ante-post Grand National market not long ago, now he’s been cut into 10/1.
A smart win at Fairyhouse in the Bobbyjo Chase at the end of February caught the eye, and support has followed for the Willie Mullins-trained 10-year-old.
He ran a solid race in last year’s Grand National, finishing third behind Nick Rockett and I Am Maximus, and plenty seem to think he can go even closer this time.
Racing Syndicates
Pompey Ventures is a young syndicate team focused on offering smaller, more personal racehorse ownership experiences. Their aim is to make ownership more open, straightforward and accessible for racing fans.
If you’d like to find out more about Pompey Ventures and the horses they currently have shares available in, click here.
Betting Offers
Betrino is a bookmaker that combines competitive odds with a mobile-friendly platform, along with a welcome offer and ongoing rewards, all operating under UKGC regulation with secure, reliable payments.
18+ Please gamble responsibly. #ad Need help? contact GambleAware.org
Racing News
Here are a few racing updates that caught the eye this week.
Racing Legends - Nijinsky
In racing, some names carry weight far beyond the confines of the sport. Nijinsky is one of them. The Canadian-bred colt, trained in Ireland by Vincent O’Brien, carved his place in history in 1970 by becoming the last horse to win the British Triple Crown of the 2000 Guineas, Derby, and St Leger.
More than half a century later, his name still sits in that exclusive company, untouchable and celebrated as the benchmark of brilliance.
Thanks for reading! Let’s catch up again next week.
Regards
The Newsletter Team
Recommend Racing Newsletters
