TONY CALVIN: NEXT SATURDAY’s ITV details

SUNDAY MORNING (9.21am)

A quieter racing week ahead thankfully, and watering cans do not need to apply at the three ITV courses next Saturday, as Haydock, Goodwood and York are set for a wet time of it next week (see below), as the current forecasts stand.

Certainly in the first half of the week, anyway.

I’ll update the forecasts on Monday, as they tend to be very changeable from a long way out.

There is only one early-closer in the UK, and that is the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Haydock.

There are currently 24 in that race , and four of those have been in action this week, including the impressive York handicap scorer Jakajaro.

Only two firms have an ante-post market on the race (I am surprised any have bothered, as interest will have been minimal), and 4s poke Night Raider is marginal favourite ahead of Asfoora and Mission Central.

Four to be wary of at this stage

I wouldn’t back Mission Central myself, as that one won at Naas today. He could back up, I guess.

In addition, Celandine, Rosy Affair and Sky Majesty are in at Haydock on Friday.

We also have the Irish 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas next weekend, with Aidan O’Brien holding all the aces (well three of them anyway) in the former with True Love and Precise and Gstaad in the latter.

ITV COURSE DETAILS FOR SATURDAY 23rd May

GOODWOOD (two-day meeting starting on Friday)

GOING: Good

Going Stick: 6.8, Sunday 9.20am

Soil Moisture 45.6% on Friday 15th next soil moisture reading on Monday.

Rails: Top and Bottom Bends and the Straight to the 2f marker are dolled out by 3 yards

Stalls: Straight – Stands Side 7f & 1m – Centre 1m3f & 1m4f – Outside Rest – Inside

Sunday course update: 0.8mm rain in a shower Friday. 1.8mm rain Saturday. Chance of showers for today and Monday (0-3mm daily). Some more significant rain Monday night into Tuesday. Thereafter becoming dry, sunny and warm.

Watering: 8mm on the Straight on Friday

Yr.no latest (8.51am Sunday): 0.5mm Sunday, 2mm Monday, 10mm Tuesday, 3.6mm Wednesday, then dry and warm

HAYDOCK (three-day meeting starting on Thursday)

GOING: Good to soft

Going Stick: 4.8, Sunday 11am

Rails: Rails: All races will be run on the Outside course

Sunday course update: 9mm last 24 hours. Outlook mostly sunny spells and breezy conditions between showers. Chance of 5mm+ rain Tuesday. Dry and warm from Wednesday to racing. Max temp 15°C rising to 21°C on Thursday.

Watering: None specified (or needed looking at forecast)

Yr.no latest (8.51am Sunday): 7.4mm Sunday, 1.8mm Monday, 7.3mm Tuesday, 4.8mm Wednesday, 1mm Thursday, 2.5mm Friday, 1.2mm Saturday

YORK

GOING: Good

Whole course verti drained

Going Stick: 5.9, 9.45am

Moisture Meter reading 38%

Sunday course update: Recent rainfall of 1.4mm Saturday night making 24.6mm rain in May. Met Office Outlook for the week ahead. Sunday and Monday – sunshine and isolated showers. Tuesday and Wednesday – breezy with frequent heavy showers. Dry and becoming warmer from Thursday. Live links to the Met Office and our Weather Station are available at www.yorkracecourse.co.uk Home Page, click through for full Going report.

Watering: None specified (or needed looking at forecast)

Yr.no latest (8.51am Sunday): 1mm Sunday, 2,7mm Monday, 9mm Tuesday, o.8mm Wednesday, 1.8mm Thursday, then dry and bright