What's On This Week In Racing - 28/01/2019

Tuesday's afternoon action takes place at Lingfield and Newcastle - both tracks with All-weather facilities, but it is the jumping on the turf that takes centre stage.

Clayton - who has finished a course and distance runner-up just two weeks ago has a chance to make amends, and with 10lb claimer Niall Houlihan aboard this time, he should be firmly in the frame.

Newcastle meanwhile has a few interesting novice contests - including the finale where Rouge Vif - second to Mister Fisher at Kempton over Christmas; who has since gone onto win at Haydock, will look to go one better himself.

Jumping action in Ireland commences from 1:10 at Down Royal, with a twilight card at Wolverhampton closing proceedings, which kicks off just after half past four.

Plumpton and Leicester continue the rapid build-up to the Cheltenham Festival with two jumping fixtures on Wednesday.

The East Sussex track hosts a Class Three Qualifier for the Staying Hurdle Series Final, which includes Tom Symonds' Royal Claret in the field, a cosy course and distance winner almost two months ago.

Townshend - formally with Willie Mullins, makes his third start for Nigel Twiston-Davies at Leicester in a Class Three Handicap, whilst his stable companion Larch Hill can follow up his recent Warwick success in the curtain closer.

All-weather action kicks off at Lingfield in the afternoon at 1:50, whilst we head to Wolverhampton for the second time in three days for an eight-race Betway sponsored card.

Two jumps, two flat once again on Thursday, with the jumping taking place at Fakenham and Wincanton.

Brandon Castle remains unbeaten for Neil King, since making the transition from the flat and from Archie Watson's yard. He will put that record on the line against the likes of Potters Midnight, who scored smartly at Lingfield two weeks ago.

Wincanton has a classy field currently heading for the Dick Hunt Trophy, the feature contest of the day.

Bigmarte and Highway One O One look like the two who will be heavily in contention.

Southwell has six races on the fibresand commencing at 1:35, whilst Newcastle completes the day under lights at just after four o'clock.

We head North for the jumping card in England on Flutter Friday.

Catterick has several stepping stones for different series finals - including qualifiers for the Challenger Stayers, the Challenger Mares' Staying Chase and the Northern Lights Middle Distance Chase.

The opener does not look that bad either, with Katpoli and Liva both looking to correct recent mishaps against low experienced opposition.

We head to Chepstow in Wales for seven races over obstacles, before a night under lights at both Dundalk and Newcastle in the evening.

Lingfield also has six races on the flat kicking off at 1:45.

Another big Saturday features some top class action at Sandown, and over the pond ahead of Day One of the Irish Gold Cup Festival.

There are seven races from the Esher venue, featuring the Grade One Scilly Isles Novices Chase - with Defi Du Seuil, La Bague Au Roi and the unbeaten Vinndication all currently in line to head to post.

Buveur D'Air will look to get back to winning ways in the Listed Contenders Hurdle - his usual prep run ahead of his pursuit of a third Champion Hurdle.

Jumps action also takes place at Wetherby and Musselburgh - where the Scottish Champion Chase and the Edinburgh National are the headline acts, whilst Lingfield and Kempton both have All-weather cards.

In Ireland, the likes of Samcro, Apples Jade, Melon, Faugheen, Laurina, Footpad, Min, Un De Sceaux and Waiting Patiently could ALL be involved in the Irish Champion Hurdle and Dublin Chase respectively.

The action does not slow down in Ireland ahead of Unibet Irish Gold Cup day.

There are three other Grade One's - the Flogas Novice Chase, the Spring Juvenile, as well as the Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle.

The big race is at 3:35, where Road To Respect, Al Boum Photo, Kemboy and Presenting Percy all could look to booster their claims for the English equivalent at the English Cheltenham Festival.

Musselburgh continue their busy weekend with Supreme, Triumph and Albert Bartlett hurdle trials, with also six races sponsored by Betway coming from Southwell on the fibresand.