/ Timeform / 26 March 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Although there is racing at Catterick on Wednesday, Doncaster on Saturday is the start of the Flat season proper
"The fixture that for many signals the true start of the Flat season takes place on Saturday as Doncaster plays host to the Lincoln meeting."
Timeform preview next week's racing, which includes the official start of the British Flat season...
Sunday March 27
Wincanton and Hexham are the scenes for NH racing in Britain on Sunday, while over in Ireland they go over jumps at Downpatrick and on the level at Leopardstown. It is the latter of those Irish venues that hosts the day's most interesting fare with both the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas Trials set to take place. Both races have been known to influence the classics themselves, Virginia Waters being the last filly to follow at win at Leopardstown with one at Newmarket, while Refuse To Bend did the same double for colts in 2003.
Monday March 28
Two of the three meetings in Britain on Monday take place over jumps (Plumpton, Towcester) while the other is on the all-weather (Wolverhampton).
Tuesday March 29
Taunton is the sole NH fixture scheduled for Tuesday, when all-weather action dominates with cards at Lingfield and Southwell.
Wednesday March 30
The new British Flat season kicks off on Wednesday with seven rather low-key races at Catterick. The day's remaining action takes place over jumps at Hereford and on the all-weather at Lingfield in the afternoon and Wolverhampton in the evening.
Thursday March 31
The second turf meeting of the Flat season takes place at Leicester on Tuesday, where the highlight is often the Kibworth Handicap, a mile-and-a-half event for three-year-olds that often works out well. The day's sole jumps card in Britain takes place at Ludlow, while in the evening there are seven races on the all-weather at Wolverhampton. Racing also returns to Ireland with an early-evening jumps meeting at Cork.
Friday April 1
Four meetings in total on Friday; on the Flat turf at Musselburgh, on the all-weather at Wolverhampton and over jumps at Newcastle and Stratford.
Saturday April 2
The fixture that for many signals the true start of the Flat season takes place on Saturday as Doncaster plays host to the Lincoln meeting. The Lincoln itself, run over Doncaster's straight mile, is the main event, but there is a strong supporting card including the listed Cammidge Trophy over six furlongs, while there is also the prospect of seeing some speedy two-year-olds out in the Brocklesby.
Kempton also stages good-quality Flat racing on Saturday with two listed races - namely the ten-furlong Magnolia Stakes and the Snowdrop Fillies' Stakes over a mile - along with a pair of historic handicaps in the shape of the Rosebery and the Queen's Prize.
The day's two remaining fixtures both take place over jumps, at Chepstow and Uttoxeter respectively.
Timeform look ahead to next week's racing, with the Dubai World Cup meeting and the Winter Derby at Lingfield the big highlights......
Timeform look ahead to next week's racing, which very much has the feel of the calm before the storm, though on Saturday there is at least the Imperial Cup to look forward to......
The calm before the Cheltenham storm somewhat, but this week's action is set to feature some good horses and lots of opportunities to bolster you betting kitty for the Festival......
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