TONY CALVIN: The three-day Newmarket Guineas meeting and next week’s ITV course details

SUNDAY SCENE-SETTER AHEAD OF NEXT WEEK (however brief…)

I’ll do a column if I see anything of note at Punchestown next week, but I imagine that is unlikely.

I wouldn’t pretend to follow Irish racing that closely beyond the top tier.

I think Newmarket are pushing it with a three-day meeting, as we just don’t have the horse population to adequately service multiple-day fixtures these days, but I hope the numbers hold up (Friday at Newmarket already looks light at the five-day stage).

I have had small each-way bets in the 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas but I will wait to see what Monday’s confirmation stages bring.

Sometimes you can get some nasty surprises, as Zavateri backers can testify to.

There are currently 19 in the 2,000 Guineas, and 24 in the 1,000.

There are also two early-closing handicaps on Saturday’s card at Newmarket; the 6f handicap currently has 52 entries (Double Rush will win that…) and the 1m1f handicap has 57.

Both have maximum fields of 25.

NEXT WEEK’S COURSE DETAILS

PUNCHESTOWN (no watering amounts given)

26 April 8.15am – Punchestown is yielding (Hurdle/Chase) & yielding, good to yielding in places (Cross Country).

Watering ongoing.

Dry with temperatures mid to late teens through to Wednesday.

NEWMARKET (three day meeting – Friday to Sunday)

GOING: Good, good to firm in places

GOING STICK: 7.2, Sunday 11am

Rails: Stands Side Course in Use

Stalls: Centre 

Sunday course update: Dry forecast with daytime highs of 15 – 20c and long sunny spells.

Watering: 15mm applied on Thursday / Friday. Further irrigation likely on Monday.

Yr.no latest (8.16am Sunday): Largely dry apart from 6.2mm Monday

ASCOT (Friday meeting)

GOING: Good to firm, good in places

GOING STICK – Straight: 8.4, Round: 6.9.

Soil Moisture: 36% readings taken on Friday 24th April

Sunday course update: Only 6mm rain recorded through April. Possible showers on Monday night and then occasional showers from Thursday otherwise a generally dry, sometimes breezy and sunny forecast. For access to our live weather station and for the latest Going info please go to www.ascot.com/thegoing

Watering: Watered 3mm overnight to Saturday morning. Irrigated 20mm through the past week. Will continue to water to maintain current conditions through the next week.

Yr.no latest (8.16am Sunday): Largely dry and warm, occasional showers

GOODWOOD (two day meeting – Friday and Saturday)

GOING: Good

GOING STICK: 7.1, Sunday 9.45am

Rails: All races to be run on inner lines

Stalls: 5f & 6f Centre 1m4f Outside Rest Inside

Sunday course update: Looking dry and sunny through to racing.

Watering: Applied 8mm irrigation this week. Saturday applied 5mm to the Straight & Field Side

Yr.no latest (8.16am Sunday): Dry and warm

THIRSK (Saturday)

GOING: Good, good to firm in places

Rails: Home bend dolled out by approximately 3 metres to provide fresh ground.

Stalls: Straight Course: Centre Round Course: Inside 1M6F Start: Centre

Sunday course update: Cloudy.Possible showers on Monday, otherwise a reasonably fair outlook for the week at present.

Watering: None specified (but they surely will/will have been)

Yr.no latest (8.16am Sunday): Largely dry, light showers possible,  until 3.5mm Friday

SALISBURY (Sunday)

GOING: Good to firm, good in places

Sunday course update: Winter / Spring weather summary: November to February: 598mm rain (24 inches). March: 24mm rain (1 inch) April (so far): 9mm which mainly fell on 14th – 16th April. Forecast: Another dry and mainly sunny week with temperatures up into the late-teens. Prospect of some showery rain next weekend.

Watering: 28mm was applied last week, and watering will continue throughout this week leading up to racing starting with 10mm on Monday.

Yr.no latest (8.16am Sunday): light showers, if anything (1.6mm Monday)

HAMILTON (Sunday)

GOING: Good, good to soft in places

Rails: Distances as advertised (Line 1)

Stalls: 1m5f, 1m4f, 1m3f, 6f, 5f stands side. 1m1f & 1m inside

Sunday course update: 0.2mm last 24 hours Sun – Light cloud. 6c – 17c. Mon – Cloudy, could catch a light shower. 6c – 17c. Tue – Light cloud. 4c – 16c. Wed – Sunny. 5c -17c. Thu – Sunny intervals. 7c – 18c. Fri – Light cloud. 9c – 16c. Sat – Overcast. 6c – 14c. Sun – Sunny intervals. 6c – 14c.

Yr.no latest (8.16am Sunday): Largely dry until 6.3mm Thursday, 3.9mm Friday, 1.2mm Saturday, 1.9mm Sunday