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Racing Preview of this weekend’s racing

Including races at Newmarket, Thirsk and Punchestown

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IT IS the first Classic weekend of the season, which some racing folk say comes far too early in the campaign for the three-year-old crop to show their true talents, but that is the very reason the 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas are run at Newmarket this weekend.

As these thoroughbreds, in their second season, mature and strengthen so they are stepped up in trip and despite the argument that many will stay at a mile, or indeed drop back to sprint distances, it remains a tried and tested set-up.

I fancy that the red hot favourite, NATIVE TRAIL, will be desperately hard to beat in the 2,000 on the Saturday (3.40) over a course and distance he has handled superbly well. Many of the 15 colts set to line up won’t be able to handle the dip and become unbalanced, but this outstanding son of Oasis Dream rolled through his trial race, the Craven Stakes, superbly well to stamp his authority even further on the market and that despite looking far from 100 per cent fit.

He has the benefit of a run under his belt over his stable mate and impressive Autumn Stakes winner, Coroebus, and I fancy will have too many guns for him with the Epsom Derby likely to be his mid-range target at the beginning of next month.

The main handicap on the card has attracted a disappointing field of just 10, but the Suffolk (2.25)  may still be worth a shot at in the form of the four-year-old FOREST FALCON who also comes here race fit following a promising third at Chelmsford over a furlong further on his seasonal debut.

The Johnston charge gets a chance to run off exactly the same mark here and I think he can make the most of the 16lbs he is set to receive from Movin Time.

FLOTUS may continue the cracking start to the season for Simon and Ed Crisford in the opening Listed fillies and mares event over six furlongs at 1.15, while I am sure that JUMBY can extend his excellent record at the track when stepping up to graded company in the Palace House Stakes due off at 1.50.

Elsewhere, there is plenty of racing to get our punting teeth stuck into and the Thirsk Hunt Cup (2.05), at that lovely North Yorkshire venue looks as competitive a renewal as always with 15 runners set to go to post.

The third, fourth and fifth from 12 months ago all lock horns again and with all three having pretty good draws it really is hard to separate them. However, I thought that ASTRO KING was a wee bit lucky not to go even closer than a strong finishing third that afternoon and Sir Michael Stoute is sure to have him spot on for this renewal running off a 4lbs higher mark, having subsequently finished third placed in the Royal Hunt Cup and Clipper Logistics Handicap at York; he deserves to win a big pot of this nature before possibly trying his hand in Listed or Group Three company again.

Barney’s Boy looks dangerously well weighted for the six furlong handicap at 1.30, but the Easterby charge surely needs a bit more juice in the ground, but is still worth keeping on the right side. So the nod in the 1.30 goes to recent course and distance winner PROSPECT. The selection hosed up that day on soft ground, but crucially has form on a quicker surface and with loads of pace on here his ability to stay a wee bit further could stand him in good stead.

I think that old boy MUSCIKA is worth an each-way play in the 2.45 now that he has slipped back to his last winning mark, while IRV (nap) could be a value best bet in the day in the other one mile handicap at class five level at 4.35. The now six-year-old generally runs his best races at a stiffer venue like Pontefract or Beverley, but has run well here before and has a fair record when fresh to boot.

It is the final day of the Punchestown National Hunt Festival with the highlight being the Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle at 5.00 and it is very hard to see past impressive Triumph Hurdle winner, VAUBAN, for the maestro Willie Mullins. He should readily see off old rival Fil Dor who looks as though he is screaming out for an extra half mile and promising stable mate Il Etait Temps.

The Mares Champion Hurdle at 3.50 looks a deal more open with Champion Hurdle runner-up and Aintree Hurdle winner Epatante bidding to add to her remarkable CV. However, she has been on the go for a while and there is plenty of each-way value available against her with TELMESOMETHINGGIRL the pick at around the 6/1 marker.

A well backed 4/1 shot for the Mares Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, the seven-year-old was cruising coming down the hill in behind the leaders when she was unluckily brought down at the second last obstacle. I fancy she would have beaten the winner that day, Marie’s Rock and can prove too good for the Nicky Henderson charge and the disappointing Burning Victory in this Grade One affair.

Finally, back to the flat and on Sunday the 1,000 Guineas (Newmarket, 3.40) may fall the way of the French filly, MALAVATH. She was a really impressive winner of the Prix Imprudence at Deauville at the beginning of April and can lead home a French 1-2 with her victim that day Zellie set to re-oppose. The best of the Irish and British teams could be Tenebrism for Aidan O’Brien and big outsider Prosperous Voyage for Ralph Beckett.

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