The week after the Festival can often feel like an anticlimax, but whilst we can't promise you Cheltenham scale thrills, the next seven days feature some excellent betting opportunities, including the official beginning of the turf flat season. Bettingpro brings us the highlights.
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Sunday March 21
Curragh
3:55 Lodge Park EBF Park Express Stakes
The new turf season begins over the water with a high class card at the headquarters of Irish Flat racing. This first pattern contest of the year is a Group Three, confined to fillies and mares and run over a mile. There are one or two interesting entries amongst the modest-sized field, including Devoted To You, one of Aidan O'Briens multiple 1000 Guineas entries.
4:30 Totesport Lounge Irish Lincolnshire
A fine Premier Handicap to get stuck into with an enormous field of experienced handicappers and progressive types going to post. Patrick Flynn saddles six-year-old She's Our Mark, who had been competing at a higher level than this last year.
Wednesday March 24
Kempton
7:20 digibet Challenge Stakes
An interesting conditions race for three-year-olds, run over nine-and-a-half-furlongs. Pick of the entrants is Middle Club, from the Richard Hannon stable who ended last season by winning a Group Three at Chantilly.
Saturday March 27
Doncaster
2:20 William Hill Spring Mile
The traditional complement to the Lincoln, for those horses who don't make the bigger race, this is a stiff test for punters, featuring a huge field of closely-matched handicappers. Look out for clues as to how the track is riding and any possible draw bias ahead of the card's main event.
2:55 williamhill.com - Live Casino Cammidge Trophy
Another big field to unravel in this Listed contest run over six furlongs. Again, punters will need to bear in mind the effect of any draw bias and this is an early season test of your ability to predict where the pace is likely to be, crucial when analysing these cavalry charge sprint events.
3:30 William Hill Lincoln
The first of the big betting events on the Flat, the Lincoln is a grand old contest that dates back to 1858. Run over a mile, it features a substantial prize and often goes to horses capable of competing at Group level. Finding the winner of this race has been exercising minds all winter and William Haggas's Penitent has emerged the tentative antepost favourite.
4:00 williamhill.com - Play Poker Brocklesby Conditions Stakes
The first two year old turf race of the season is invariably a tricky puzzle to solve but is worth watching for future clues for the long season ahead.
Kempton
3:10 williamhill.com Roseberry Handicap
Another Heritage Handicap, this middle distance contest probably lost a little prestige when Kempton switched to Polytrack, but it is still a good quality race and likely to attract a decent field of solid competitors.
3:45 williamhill.com Magnolia Stakes
Run over ten furlongs, this Listed event is invariably well-contested and the last couple of renewals have been particularly strong. As ever on this surface, it is a good idea to treat those who have not run on Polytrack before with caution.
5:30 williamhill.com Queen's Prize Handicap
This race isn't quite what it once was, but nevertheless is worth looking at. Run over two miles, it is one of the better out and out staying handicaps you are likely to see this Flat season, though be wary of small fields leading to a less than searching pace.
Newbury
2:05 EBF/Thoroughbred Breeders Association Mares' Novices' Chase FinalA race that used to be run at Uttoxeter, this is a Listed handicap run over two miles six and a half furlongs and confined to mares. Numbers may not be high, but it is likely to contain some classy young chasers and besides being an intriguing betting event, is worth watching for potential horses to follow.
2:35 EBF Mares 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle FinalA Listed handicap, over two miles and five furlongs, this race usually attracts a big and competitive field, full of progressive mares that have been aimed at this valuable prize all season. Punters need to tread carefully and read between the lines when scrutinising the form.
