Spring has officially sprung as we move deeper into April. The flat season has begun, whilst the latest National Hunt campaign is deep inside the final furlong. All of this is excellent news for racing fans, with next week providing a quality overlap of action from both codes.
For flat fans, Newmarket limbers up for another season with the three-day Craven Meeting – a sure sign that the opening Classics will soon be upon us. In a cracking week for midweek punters, Cheltenham chips in with a two-day fixture, whilst Newcastle lights up Good Friday with the biggest meeting of the all-weather season. At the weekend, we see the Scottish track of Musselburgh take its turn in the spotlight, and the 2025 edition of the Irish Grand National Meeting gets underway at Fairyhouse.
Tuesday 15th – Thursday 17th April: Newmarket Craven Meeting
Tuesday is traditionally one of the quieter days on the racing front. However, that isn’t the case next week as the much-anticipated Newmarket Craven Meeting goes under starter’s orders.
What a view!
Preparations are in full swing ahead of the @bet365 Craven Meeting
As always, our grounds team are working hard behind the scenes to keep the track in tip top condition pic.twitter.com/4K3J9JSqeA
— Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) March 19, 2025
Tuesday sees the first pattern class event of the season at HQ in the Listed Feilden Stakes. Held over 1m1f of the Rowley Mile, the event counts Epsom Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe hero Golden Horn on its recent roll of honour.
Following the Feilden Stakes, the track lays on a quickfire double of Group 3 action. The Earl Of Sefton Stakes gives the older horses a chance to shine, with the current list of entries including 2023 and 2024 winner Ottoman Fleet and 2024 Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly. The Nell Gwynn Stakes comes next; restricted to three-year-old fillies, Cachet claimed this prize before her 1000 Guineas success in 2022. Hailing from the all-conquering yard of Aidan O’Brien, Bedtime Story and Heavens Gate catch the eye among the entries for 2025.
The 6f Abernant Stakes kicks off the Group class action on Wednesday afternoon and sees a field of the more talented speedballs get their campaigns underway. Following that fast and furious event, we arrive at the centrepiece of the meeting – the Craven Stakes itself.
Named in honour of an 18th-century member of the Jockey Club and first run way back in 1771, this historic affair features Derby, 2000 Guineas, and Arc winners amongst the list of former heroes. Charlie Appleby and Richard Hannon have claimed six of the past 10 editions between them, and both look set to be represented in 2025.
Appleby includes the unbeaten Opera Ballo amongst his four entries, whilst Hannon relies on the once-raced Al Arbeed. With Aidan O’Brien, Andrew Balding, and John & Thady Gosden also boasting entries, the 2025 Craven falls into must-watch territory.
Wednesday 16th – Thursday 17th April: Cheltenham April Meeting
Not to be outdone by Newmarket, the home of the jumping game does its bit to light up the midweek fare with this competitive two-day fixture. Whilst a far cry from the hype of March, this meeting raises the bar compared to your standard midweek offering. Offering £70,000 in prize money, the Grade 2 Matt Hampson Foundation Silver Trophy is the pick of the contests on offer.
Friday 18th April: All-Weather Championships Finals Day
There was a time when Good Friday was one of only very few blank days on the British racing calendar. That all changed in 2013 with the introduction of All-Weather Championships Finals Day. Still going strong, the 2025 edition takes place on the Tapeta track at Newcastle. Featuring championship events for the sprinters, milers, middle-distance stars, and stayers, the meeting offers over £1 million in prize money.
Musselburgh and Fairyhouse Provide the Weekend Highlights
On Saturday, the ITV crew travel north of the border for the highlight of the year at the East Lothian venue of Musselburgh. The Scottish Sprint Cup provides a valuable early season target for the sprint handicappers before the stayers grab the spotlight in the Queen’s Cup.
Meanwhile, over in Ireland, the three-day Irish Grand National meeting begins on Saturday afternoon. A trio of Listed contests top the bill on Saturday, whilst Sunday provides a Grade 1 double in the shape of the Irish EBF Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle and WillowWarm Gold Cup. Enjoy your week!
