WOW! What a Wednesday on day two of the Punchestown Festival featuring three Grade 1s,  including a fascinating Gold Cup Chase with Al Boum Photo Cheltenham Gold Cup taking on the first fence faller and Aintree winner Kemboy 

At Ascot there is a tremendous card too, including the Sagaro Stakes, which sees the seasonal debuts of Weekender, Dee Ex Bee and Danehill Kodiac, whilst Royal Ascot winners Calyx and Signora Cabello feature in a mouth-watering Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes and last but not least is Barney Roy, who returns to racing after fertility issues at stud in A Queen Anne Stakes Trial.

Away from the principal meetings there is racing at Southwell, Pontefract, Brighton and Bath.  Go racing!

The top racing continues with the Punchestown Festival finishing on Saturday and at Newmarket, the home of flat racing, with the Qipco Guineas Festival, featuring the first two classics of the season with the 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas.

I’ll be marking the card, as well as talking food and wine in Chez Roux at The Champions Gallery Restaurant, which has a fantastic view of the Rowley Mile. I love this meeting and it is privilege to be working with Albert Roux OBE, Michel Roux Jr and Emily Roux, as well as seeing frequent guests at this fabulous meeting and greeting visitors to the Chez Roux at The Champions Gallery Restaurant experience for the first time.

Albert Roux is always keen to run through the card and Saturday’s 2,000 Guineas can give Aidan O’Brien another success with Magna Crecia, with the supplemented Al Hilalee the each way selection. On Sunday Qabala has a great chance of following up her impressive success at the Craven Meeting in the 1,000 Guineas, with Iridessa, who has a terrific chance, the each-way pick.

3.35 Pontefract 1m 2f Handicap

Ideal Candy the only frontrunner in the contest has pulled the plum draw in stall 1 and that swings the vote his way here. Had no chance against a well-treated rival Kylie Rules (won next time out) at Beverley last time but continues in good form, has no problem with an uphill finish and the step back up to 10f will suit. Looks sure to run a big race.

Unibet 4/1 win

5.35 Ascot – 1m Handicap

Juanito Chico (nap) for inform Stuart Williams won as easy as you like at Nottingham last time and although the handicapper has had his say, he was capable of good form off higher marks than this a couple of seasons ago, and he may be coming back to his best. Has twice been beaten under half a length at Ascot, so handles the track well, and has an awful lot going for him here.

Unibet 5/1 win

5.45 Brighton 1m 4f Handicap

Tigerfish has had a little break since last seen at Wolverhampton, which is no bad thing, and the return to Brighton, where she’s won twice and been placed twice in six starts, only increases confidence. Hollie Doyle gets on very well with this mare and she can’t have the ground quick enough.

Unibet 11/2 each way

6.05 Punchestown Gold Cup

Definitly Red was predictably pulled out at Sandown at the weekend and with yesterday’s rain the soft going at Punchestown will be much more to his liking. On the ratings Definitly Red has it to find with Kemboy and Al Boum Photo, yet if any of the protagonists fail to reproduce their form Brian Ellison’s charge, who will run a big race, can reward each-way players.

Unibet 33/1 each way

7.25 Brighton 7f Handicap

Blessed To Impress for inform Amy Murphy is yet to win over 7f but he gets the trip fine, and given she’s already shown that she handles Brighton well (win and a place from three starts here) and now has the services of Silvestre De Sousa to do the steering. Will get a good pace to aim at and looks the one to be with.

Unibet 5/2 win