A full Sunday of live racing on Sky Sports Racing covers cards at Bath, Plumpton, Southwell and ParisLongchamp.
4.05 Plumpton – BetGoodwin Sussex Champion Hurdle: Mondo Man heads the market
Mondo Man is the headline act for the BetGoodwin Sussex Champion Hurdle after an eye-catching effort in the Imperial Cup. Dual-purpose trainer-rider partnership Gary and Josh Moore will run him as they look to build on his Flat rating of 105 and target summer targets such as Royal Ascot. Fergal O’Brien’s Serious Challenge, rated 135, arrives in form after a narrow defeat in the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso and is expected to make a strong showing.
4.00 ParisLongchamp – Prix d’Harcourt (Group 2): Cualificar v Bay City Roller
Eight go to post in this rematch between Cualificar and Bay City Roller. Cualificar, for Godolphin and André Fabre, returns after finishing 15th in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe; he had earlier beaten Bay City Roller in the Prix Niel and will be reunited with Alexis Pouchin. Bay City Roller, who has since claimed a Group 1 in the Grosser Preis von Bayern, is back aiming to turn the tables despite conceding weight to several rivals. Leffard, winner of the Grand Prix de Paris, improved in the Arc and remains in contention, while Wathnan Racing’s First Look and the progressive Best Secret also command respect.
3.10 Bath – Listed Lansdown Stakes: Beautiful Diamond and Miss Attitude clash
The 14-strong Lansdown Stakes is headed by Beautiful Diamond, trained by Karl Burke, who has run at Group 1 level and carries the top rating after a Listed win at Ayr. Miss Attitude, a Listed winner at Deauville last summer, shapes as the main danger. Clive Cox’s Hold A Dream and Archie Watson’s Shine On Me are notable dangers too, with Shine On Me an interesting candidate to improve from two to three and potentially take advantage while receiving weight from older rivals.
Best of the rest
1.55 Southwell – Good Earth takes a 5lb penalty into this assignment.
2.31 Southwell – Henry Halflight remains unexposed and steps up into handicap company.
2.50 ParisLongchamp – Group 3 Prix la Force: an unexposed Aga Khan colt trained by Francis Graffard tops this field.
3.25 ParisLongchamp – Group 3 Prix Vanteaux: well-bred Zayida begins her three-year-old campaign.
3.41 Southwell – Pendella and City Queen renew rivalry.
3.30 Plumpton – Sea Thrift attempts to overcome a 6lb rise in the weights.
4.20 Bath – Baltic Fleet, rated 80, makes just his third career start and is of interest.
4.35 ParisLongchamp – Listed Prix Zarkava sees 12 declared for the contest.
5.20 Southwell – Lednikov looks to follow up on a brilliant recent victory.
Keep an eye on the later markets for any late withdrawals or jockey changes, but the card promises competitive races across both hurdles and the flat, with several staying and middle-distance contests of interest at Longchamp.