Red Explorer is one for the Ladies’ Day as Warwick hosts the best of the best

Although there are just 52 runners, it should still be a competitive afternoon of racing, with the highlights being the 500 Goes Large With New 500L Handicap over six furlongs and the Nick Bill Memorial Handicap, which is another qualifier for the Jockey Club Grassroots Sprint Series.

Foxtrot Jubilee heads the weights for the feature 500 Goes Large With New 500L Handicap, but Red Explorer, who has had just one run this season, should strip fitter here and can go close under apprentice Patrick Hills.

There will be a guest appearance by Claire King of Emmerdale and Loose Women fame who will be hosting a ‘Ladies Who Lunch’ marquee.

Tickets for the event, along with the tables in the 1707 Restaurant have sold out, but other packages are still available.

The going is good to firm and the first race due off at 2.10pm.

Winning Express was the star of the show at last Thursday’s meeting when taking the £40,000 EBF Stallions/Arkle Finance Eternal Stakes, one of the two Listed races run over the course during the summer.

Not seen out since finishing fourth to Grey Lantern in the QIPCO 1,000 Guineas, Winning Express looked a good thing on paper and, ridden by jockey of the moment James Doyle, she took command at the furlong pole and soon put the race to bed.

Highlights of the rest of the card were the two qualifiers for the Jockey Club Grassroots Series, for which the finals 
will be run at Warwick in October.

The sprint race, over six furlongs, went to Minalisa who was quickly out of the stalls and went the shortest way round under Steve Drowne to comfortably beat Picture Dealer and Ambitious Boy.

The middle distance heat over an extended mile-and-a-quarter was won by Al Thumama, given a fine front-running ride by Neil Callan to hold off the persistent challenge of Whitefall by a short head.

The two had come close together inside the last furlong, prompting a stewards’ enquiry but the result was allowed to stand.

Champion jockey Richard Hughes had got his afternoon off to a good start when making all the running aboard Ziekhani in the opener.

The following AFL Prime Handicap had only three runners.

However, there was an exciting finish with less than a length covering the field as Buy Art beat favourite Silca’s Dream by a neck, with outsider Winnie Perry just three-quarters of a length away.

In-form apprentice Oisin Murphy made it three wins in a week when taking the concluding Barbara Carrington Memorial Handicap on 5-4 favourite Dutch Mistress.