Charlie McCann

WE have a wonderful weekend of racing to look forward to with the highlight the first British classics of the season.

Today’s Coronation Cup – transferred from its traditional home of Epsom - is the first Group 1 contest of the year in Britain and seven will go to post at Newmarket for a fascinating renewal of this historic and prestigious 12f race for four-year-olds and older.

The ground was described as good to firm at ahead of today’s Newmarket card.

Turf racing returns at Yarmouth this afternoon, but we begin today’s preview at Kempton whose highlight is the 10f Group 3 Classic Trial Stakes which features at least a couple of exciting unbeaten prospects.

We have two bumper cards on the all-weather today and back at Newcastle there is a fascinating Mile Handicap featuring a number of horses who will be hoping to get a run at Royal Ascot in a fortnight’s time in either the Royal Hunt Cup or, more likely, the Silver Hunt Cup one of six extra races added to the meeting this year.

British racing returns after a ten-week absence on Monday with a 10-race card at Gosforth Park, Newcastle. The meeting will be staged behind closed doors with strict government guidelines in operation. All staff on the racecourse will be provided with personal protective equipment and all jockeys will wear facemasks, as is currently the case in France who have been racing successfully for three weeks since their own break.

Pao Alto did us a huge favour at Longchamp on Thursday in the Group 3 Prix la Force in the best time of the day and, as a result, I am not surprised to see him now vying for favouritism for the Prix du Jockey Club which will be held at Chantilly on Sunday, July 5. Indeed 8/1 still seems a fair price although we did flag him up at 16s before his trial.

It was magnifique to have some quality racing from Longchamp on Monday where Shaman did us a huge favour at 6/1 in the feature race the Group 2 Prix D’Harcourt. Shaman has now won first time out in all three seasons, but I would be surprised if he confirmed the form with disappointing market leader Sottass in the Group 1 Prix Ganay on better ground back in Paris next month.

There is still no date set for a return to racing in Britain, although the British Horseracing Authority remain optimistic they will get the green light from government for a resumption later in the month.

The Grand National has been cancelled as the world comes to terms with the Covid-19 pandemic, but ITV are screening the virtual race at 5pm today.