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With its new grandstand still being tweaked, the big weekend will be a serious test for it as well as the tests for the horses.

Saturday’s card starts with the G2 Greenlands Stakes over 1200m.  Richard Fahey’s Mr Lupton is on top here on 5/2 with Jamie Spencer on board.  Speak In Colours is on 4/1, Urban Boat on 11/2 and our roughie is the 11yo wonder horse Gordon Lord Byron on 14/1.  He should never be left out although he would probably prefer it a bit longer.

The 2000 Guineas G1 is over 1600m and has 14 starters, 5 of whom are saddled by Aidan O’Brien, with his Magna Grecia going for the Guineas double.  He’s favourite of course being on home territory and his biggest rival, Too Darn Hot, had a tough run in the Dante which was only 9 days ago. 5/4 and 6/4 are the current prices.  We are going to combine these with the unbeaten Dermot Weld-trained Shelir, owned by the Aga Khan and Chris Hayes has the ride.  Currently you can get 25/1.

The Lowndes Stud is G2 for f&m 4+ over 1600m with 7 to run.  I Can Fly is not the most consistent of runners but has talent and an Aidan O’Brien at home has certain advantages so he’s on 11/8.  The challenger here is One Master, trained by William Haggas with James Doyle on board and they care coming from a win in France in the Prix de la Foret so 7/2 looks value.

On Sunday we have the Irish Gold Cup over 2000m with only 5 runners.  Magical comes into this odds-on 4/6 with stablemate Flag Of Honour 7/2.

And then we have the 1000 Guineas with the lovely Hermosa going for the double here and comes into this still in the black on 5/2.  Qabala is on 11/4 for Roger Varian and David Egan.

Just Wonderful is on 5/1 and we were impressed with the run of East in the French Pouliches the other day – Kevin Ryan and Jamie Spencer.