BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY RACING -- 31st MAY 2021

Should have been a very busy time for horse-racing for me over the past month but as Covid continues to affect many of us I've not been out to enjoy my 52nd Birthday as that would  usually have been at Ascot for their Sagaro Stakes meeting but also missed the Sandown event last week. However another round of Bank Holiday fixtures to enjoy instead, many tracks beginning to open up to a small amount of racegoers. Might have gone out to Windsor, although it's not one of my favourite tracks it is fairly local and sure to be extremely busy. Maybe it is just that I am getting older now but I do recall that Bank Holidays used to be a feast of racing, about ten meetings and now we've only six in UK (plus an evening meeting in Ireland) which is not much different from a regular Saturday? Probably just my imagination or memory playing tricks on me now that I am older ... still a good day to be enjoyed out there.

CARTMEL BANK HOLIDAY FIXTURES ALWAYS POPULAR

National Hunt fixtures;
Cartmel (above) - The long tradition of racing at Cartmel was started by the monks from Cartmel Priory in the 12th Century. The Whit Holiday Races have been a feature of the Racing Calendar since 1856 set against the backdrop of the beautiful Lakeland fells. Their seven race card begins at 13:20 with a mares novice hurdle in which I expect Somewhat Cloudy to be hard to beat, while the feature race on Monday being the Veterans Handicap Chase due off at 15:00 for which we think William of Orange could be the one to follow up his recent win at Southwell.

Huntingdon - The other NH meeting this Bank Holiday afternoon begins at 12:30 unfortunately, due to flood damage, this fixture will not be able to have spectators. An eight race card on offer with their most valuable race is surprisingly to me the 2m Maiden Hurdle contest, the only class 4 event on the card this afternoon, which is off at 13:00 and Astroman might be the one trained by Harry Eustace to foil the pair of Gary Moore runners.

Flat fixtures;
CHELMSFORD CITY (All weather) - The Essex course hosts their Bank Holiday meeting behind closed doors on Monday. "be advised that there will be no admittance to the general public permitted and no tickets available to attend this fixture" it would seem that they won't begin to have attendances for another month yet. First race is at 13:25 with their feature event is the 7f handicap off at 16:15 top weight Shimmering Dawn is expected to go well despite the burden and won here off a 5lb higher mark in February and is one of several course and distance winners.

REDCAR - Probably the feature race meeting of the day with the renewal of the Zetland Gold Cup worth more than £16,000 to the winner, prize money being down during Covid. Racing here gets underway at 13:45 with a 7f selling event that can go to Willing to Please here the Zetland Gold Cup is off at 16:40 very competitive as always and a field of fifteen so I've have a look at both Hartswood and Highwaygrey against the field.

LEICESTER - Racing due to get underway at 13:10 with a fillies handicap for three year olds that can go to Moonlit Night. Their feature race is the Welcomm Communications Handicap another race for three year olds over 6f due off at 15:25 which can go to Twilight Calls only 2lb higher than his latest win at Doncaster for which he was sent off the 1/4f winning comfortably, could be well in here.

WINDSOR - hopefully goes ahead this week as they lost last Monday's meeting due to a waterlogged course. Racing here should commence at 13:35 while their big race of the day goes off at 15:55 and is the 1m 2f handicap. A race now dedicated to the late Barney Curley and should be a win for Faisal with Hollie Doyle riding for trainer John Gosden.

IRELAND;
PUNCHESTOWN - The first of two Irish meeting today is an additional Irish meeting this bank holiday at Punchestown, it's an eight race card and the most valuable race is the 17:30 Mares Novice Hurdle which could go to Lunar Display trained by Joseph O'Brien.

BALLINROBE - The other Irish meeting today is also an evening fixture on the flat beginning at 16:35. They have a couple of nice races but the biggest prize on offer tonight is in the 19:45 Fillies Handicap with Maud Gonne Spirit an each way selection for trainer Jessica Harrington.

Whatever you doing this Bank Holiday I hope it's sunshine and fun for you. 

Enjoy your day and back to work tomorrow.