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Newbury racecourse hosts it's first flat meeting of the 2008 season with an action packed two day fixture on Friday and Saturday.

The corresponding meeting last year proved to be very fruitful for followers of form with a great many future big race winners making their debut at the Berkshire venue.

Winker Watson and Light Shift winners on the first day went on to greater things, trainer Peter Chapple Hyams charge winning the Norfolk and July Stakes and was favourite for this years 2,000 Guineas before his recent defection.

Light Shift, trained by Henry Cecil won a competitive mile and a quarter race at the course before chalking up a victory in the Oaks at Epsom to give his trainer his 22nd Classic victory.

Hot favourite for the Greenham Dutch Art was just touched off by Major Cadeaux but went on to run into a place in the 2.000 Guineas and July Cup.

Stablemate Tariq, who ran behind Dutch Art went on to chalk up victories at Royal Ascot and Goodwood.

The Dubai Duty Free Stakes was fought out between Majestic Roi and Indian Ink both going on to register successes in Group 1 events.

This columns selections last week included Medicine Path 9/2. who won the Listed Mile Stakes at Doncaster, Heaven Sent who won the Snowdrop Fillies Stakes for trainer Sir Michael Stoute and Tasdeer a winner later in the sfternoon.

Hoping to continue the purple patch, Saturdays card gets underway at 1.40 with the Dubai International Airport Maiden Stakes for three year olds.

Wiltshire trainer Richard Hannon has started the season well and it could pay to go along with his entry Forget It.

The Group 3 John Porter Stakes is the first of four races televised by Channel 4 and could see the re-appearance of Rod Millman's great battler Sergeant Cecil, top performer from the Brian Meehan yard Red Rocks is also entered as well as Ivy Creek, the mount of Steve Drowne. However the columns selection is for top weight Hattan, the mount of Seb Sanders .

The Spring Cup, run over a mile generally features several horses that ran in the Lincoln but the one that takes the eye is Zaahid, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by son Richard.

The Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes for three year old fillies could go to the Mick Channon trained Nahoodh and in the following event the Bathwick Tyres Greenham stakes, another Group 3 race Confront, trained by Sir Michael Stoute and ridden by Ryan Moore could be worth an interest.

Other meetings are scheduled for Thirsk, where Lovelace could be worth a bet, Nottingham where their first race is scheduled for 5.30 and at Wolverhampton who get underway at 6.45.

The Scottish National takes centre stage at Ayr where the locally trained Halcon Genelardais would look to have a great chance ridden by stable jockey Robert Thornton. Also on the card is the Scottish Champion Hurdle where a tentative Each way selection is Penzance.

Bangor -on- Dee provides the other jumping venue.

Racegoers will have a chance to get a close up of Grand National winner Comply Or Die at Wincanton's Countryside Day meeting on Sunday.

The nine year old , trained by David Pipe will be parading at 3pm alongside Minnehoma, winner of the National in 1994 for Martin Pipe. Martin and David Pipe are the first father and son combination to have both won the race.

The feature race of the day is the Bathwick Tyres Taunton Handicap Chase with a £10,000 prize fund.

The first race starts at 2.20 and gates are open at 11.30.

Under 16 are free and there is plenty of free parking in the grounds.

10:21am Thursday 17th April 2008

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