Five highlights of the racing week...
MORE FAIRYTALES FOR DISNEY?
CAPTAIN Guy Disney was one of the stories of February as he partnered Rathlin Rose to success in the Royal Artillery Gold Cup at Sandown, and it would be fabulous if the pair were reunited for Friday’s Grand Military Gold Cup back at the Esher track. Disney lost his lower right leg while serving his Afghanistan back in 2009 but his long road to recovery ended in a victory that left barely a dry eye in the house. Similarly emotional scenes are to be expected if the pair can double up.
IMPERIAL CALL
SATURDAY’S Matchbook Imperial Cup could offer a couple of final clues as to the main players in some of the handicap heats at next week’s Cheltenham Festival. The sponsor is offering a £50,000 bonus to the winner if they can then go on to claim a chunk of Festival glory. Olympian, Blowing Wind and Gaspara have all secured the bumper pay day in recent years, so perhaps the winner is one to keep in mind in the Cotswolds. His name might be Peace And Co.
WOLVES WONDERS
WOLVERHAMPTON hosts its biggest day of the year with the Lincoln Trial the feature event, boasting a total prize fund of £50,000. The extended mile affair has not proved a particularly rich environment for future Doncaster heroes, but combined with the Listed Lady Wulfruna Stakes, it makes the Wolverhampton card a tempting amuse bouche ahead of the Flat season proper.
NATIONAL SERVICE
THE Leinster National is the highlight of Naas’ pre-Cheltenham Sunday card. The prize fund for the three-mile contest has been increased to 100,000 euros this year and it could well be on the agenda of many an Irish Grand National candidate. The feature is ably supported by the Grade Three Naas Directors Plate Novice Chase and the Irish Racing Writers Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle.
ARRIVALS LOUNGE
CHELTENHAM will be abuzz as the Festival masses begin to assemble for the four-day feast of action that kicks off 48 hours later. Sunday typically sees the Irish hordes begin to arrive, with the likes of Willie Mullins shipping in their contenders for the first half of the week. Expect plenty of snippets from Prestbury Park as the National Hunt legions prepare for some of the biggest days in the calendar.
FIXTURES (FLAT in capitals) Monday: Lingfield, Southwell, WOLVERHAMPTON. Tuesday: Exeter, Newcastle, SOUTHWELL. Wednesday: Catterick, Fontwell, KEMPTON, LINGFIELD. Thursday: Carlisle, NEWCASTLE, SOUTHWELL, Wincanton. Friday: Ayr, Leicester, NEWCASTLE, Sandown. Saturday: Ayr, CHELMSFORD, Hereford, Sandown (ITV4), WOLVERHAMPTON (ITV4). Sunday: Market Rasen, Warwick.