For exclusive stories and all the detailed Racing news you need, subscribe to the Racing Ahead website, digital edition, or magazine from as little as 8p a day.
Saturday
Musselburgh 3.35 – Stars can shine bright at Musselburgh
The Queens Cup at Musselburgh is always a competitive event early on in the season and this year looks no exception.
It will be a tough race for punters to get a proper hold on as so many are returning off a break but one horse who is fit and ready to go is ALIGN THE STARS for the Charlie Johnston team.
A recent outing at Nottingham in a tactical race should have blown away the cobwebs and put him spot on for this assignment where his fitness advantage could be key.
He was an improving three year old last year and I expect him to improve again this year where he could potentially end up on the top table in the staying division.
Fairyhouse 5.05 – A speculative punt here but I think the better ground should see RELIEVED OF DUTIES in a much better light and I think he can outrun his juicy odds.
Gordon Elliott‘s novice has some good form from earlier in the season where he encountered better ground but his last three runs have been sub standard and I don’t think it is any coincidence that they have been run on softer ground.
This looks a hot race but I am quietly confident the selection can be in the shake up providing no more rain at Fairyhouse.
Monday
Fairyhouse 5.00 – Curtis hoping to add a splash of Couleur to Easter Monday
The Irish Grand National is always a highlight of Easter weekend for me and this year I probably have my strongest fancy in the race.
British raider, HAITI COULEURS, is the current favourite for the race and looking at his overall profile for the race you can see why.
An old school staying chaser, he just jumps and gallops but he does possess that touch of class which everyone saw at Cheltenham when he took the National Hunt Chase.
Connections pointed him towards this race since then and I think he has a fantastic chance of going well here providing Sean Bowen can keep him out of trouble.
I’m sure if he was trained by Mullins or Elliott he would be half the price so 6/1 is still very fair.