Cheltenham & Doncaster - Saturday 24th October

I will not be on a racecourse for the first weekend in a while with Newbury abandoned to much shame but will be watching all the action at Cheltenham & Donny as plenty of punting action on show.

Cheltenham 13:10, William Hill Epic Boosts Novices' Limited Handicap Chase

Spectacularsunrise 4/1, 2pts win
Sogna In Grande 12/1, 1pt win

A fiercely competitive opener today with several of these open to any amount of improvement now chasing but the Twiston-Davies team are in fine fettle and they have already got a win into Spectacularsunrise curtesy of a tidy win at Perth last month. The 6 year old looked good that day and and it's worth remembering he was sent of 3/1 for the Morebattle last season. Lower down the handicap is Kim Bailey's Sogna In Grande. The 6 year old Dartmouth gelding was last seen finishing last at Perth in the spring but he can be forgiven that effort as he was taking on a classy winner and it was quick off the back of a good win at Wincanton. The stables horses often improve for a fence and their runner here is totally unexposed. 

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Doncaster 15:55, William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap

Have Secret 14/1, 1pt each-way (5 places)

An open race this and it's not advisable to get too involved at Doncaster given the atrocious ground but it was the same conditions last year and Richard Fahey's Have Secret finished 2nd off just a pound lower mark. He's been in and out this season like always but wins in turn and is due one.

Ascot - Saturday 17th October (Champions Day)

 I will be at Ascot today for the big finale of the flat season in Britain (although the season still runs for a few weeks yet). This is as good a card as you will see on these shores although be warned, it is notorious for punting. Not a day to get stuck into, but enjoy the top class racing on offer on this unseasonably dry ground. 

13:30, Qatar Racing British Champions Long Distance Cup

Daiquiri Bay 9/1, 1pt win
Opportunity 12/1, 1pt win

An open renewal of the Long Distance cup and it's a tricky one to weigh up. 3 year olds have a torrid record on this and the Leger form has yet to be properly tested so it's worth taking on Highwayman at the prices. Gregory is one who appeals more considering his back class and gently, gently approach in here but he's been well found in the market. Perhaps, in an open race, it's worth chancing that top quality handicappers Daiquiri Bay and Opportunity can bridge the gap. Both won at the Royal meeting and clearly go well at the track and both could well improve again now facing the longer trip. 

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14:05, Qatar Racing British Champions Sprint Stakes

Almeraq 11/8, 2pts win

The past few years, the Sprint division in Europe has been pretty poor but Almeraq has really stood out as a shining light this year by winning at the Royal meeting and then the Spring Cup so impressively last month. He would need to blow out for the others to have a chance on form and considering he's been kept pretty fresh throughout the summer it's hard to see that happening. 

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14:40, Qatar Racing British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes

Kalpana 11/10, 2pts win

Kalpana may have failed in her Arc attempt again but she sets a mighty standard now back against her own sex and really should be up to the task of winning this Group 1 for the 3rd season in a row.

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15:20, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

Rayif 6/1, 1pt win

The 2 Group 1s preceding this may have short priced favourites but the QE2 is wide open this year. Gstaad probably just about brings the best form from the summer here but he's had a hard old season and was disappointing the last day whilst Talk Of New York faces a much sterner test here than he did in the Group 2 at Newmarket last time out. Instead, preference is for the French 2000 Guineas winner Rayif who comes here fresher than most and bounced back to form to win a Group 1 last time out. 

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16:00, Qatar Racing Champion Stakes

Constitution River 11/2, 1pt win

A very strong Champion Stakes but it's anyone's guess who will come out on top. Calandagan loves Ascot and beaten Ombudsman last year but the suspicion is that the latter is better equipped a year on for this assignment and the smaller field may make this more tactical. However, Constitution River hasn't been at his best the last 2 days but it's not forgotten the impression he made in the Eclipse. If he's played later today and settles better he's worth chancing at the prices. 

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16:35, Balmoral Handicap

EBT's Guard 8/1, 1pt each-way (5 places)

As hard a handicap as you will find but last year's runner up EBT's Guard is back again at a track he always run well at and this doesn't look as hard a renewal as 12 months ago. He's drawn well and looks a sound selection. 

Newmarket & Chepstow - Saturday 10th October

I will be at Newmarket today for a fantastic card displaying stars of the future as well as the Autumn's biggest handicap. Plenty of betting action at Chepstow too. 

Newmarket 15:40, Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap

Mountain Road 10/1, 2pts each-way (6 places)
Cock And Bull 14/1, 1pt win
Dream On Baby 14/1, 1pt win

A fiendish Ces once again at HQ. Plenty have big chances here but Mountain Road was a huge eyecatcher at York in August and has seemingly been kept away for this. Emmett Mullins is always feared in these sort of races and has won this before so it's worth keeping both his runners on side too. 

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Chepstow 14:10, Paul Ferguson's Jumpers To Follow 'Four Years Old' Hurdle

Flash Man 12/1, 1pt each-way (4 places)
Mojito Des Mottes 13/2, 2pts each-way (4 places)

This is always a hard race to unpick given these are second season hurdlers but Flash Man ran some good races in the spring against his elders and ran a cracker to finish 4th on the flat at Epsom 2 weeks back. He has a chance. Another who arrives fit is Ben Pauling's Mojito Des Mottes who has been running well on tracks that didn't suit. He'll appreciate the long straight here today and looks ahead of the handicapper. 

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Chepstow 16:02, Wasdell Group Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle

Masked Man 7/2, 2pts win

A good renewal of the Silver Trophy but the Twiston-Davies team have been in cracking form of late and this must have been the plan for Masked Man's seasonal debut all along. The strapping sort will make a chaser in time but he's a top prospect in the making and is surely up to exploiting this mark. 

Lonchamp - Sunday 4th October

I have been in Paris this week for a trip that culminates in the greatest all-aged race in the World today. At Lonchamp yesterday the ground was noticeably wetter than many expected after a warm and sunny few days, there's definitely been plenty of watering going on but it should dry out to something like good ground all round by Arc time. It was clover for British trainers on Saturday although a mixed afternoon for punters with a end of day hammer blow of Sunly, Scandinavia and Qudwah all beaten. A frustrating day punting wise was softened by Qirat going pillar to post in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein under a power packed Silvestre De Sousa. A lovely hot Autumnal day and it looks like we're in store for something similar today. It's fair to say this isn't the strongest undercard in recent years and the Arc itself is perhaps lacking in the usual depth but we have a truly great story about to be written if the Aga Khan's Daryz can become the first colt since 1978 to win back to back renewals of the great race. It's a big day in France and hopefully a few winners can be found. 

12:31, Prix Marcel Boussac

Green Empress 7/4, 2pts win

In a season where Sun Goddess has dominated the fillies' juvenile division it's now one who finished beaten behind her last time out who rocks up as a short priced favourite for the first race of the day. It's not the hottest Group 1 and although it's a big field, Joseph O'Brien's Green Empress brings by far the best form to the table here and should take all the beating. 

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13:09, Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere 

Avec Toi 7/2, 2pts win

Joseph O'Brien will fancy his chances of taking both the juvenile Group 1's and after his victory in the National Stakes last time out, Folsom Blues will be a short price again here. His form stacks up and is a colt with a serious turn of foot but he's had a hard season and this may not be run at the frantic pace of that race at the Curragh the last day. He's up against a serious opponent in the unbeaten Avec Toi today and it's the French colt who makes the most appeal at the prices. The son of No Nay Never looked imperious on his first 3 starts when dismissing his rivals with contempt before having to out-battle Imperial Strike in a Group 3 last month. That run maybe has a few thinking his limitations have been exposed but the runner up was also unbeaten going into that and the pair drew well clear of the 3rd. This bigger field will suit Christopher head's colt better as he'll be able to get some cover and could be better positioned than the favourite. 

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13:47, Prix de l'Abbaye

Time For Sandals 7/1, 2pts win

The Abbaye is normally an open affair and this year's renewal looks no different. Katie Scott's Naana's Shadow has been a revelation this year and some story but the filly has been done no favours by the draw and has lost favouritism because of it. Miss Yerchance has favoured better and could be hard to catch if she shoots out the stalls and bags the rail but with plenty of pace on up front it could be that a hold up performer comes through (given gaps appear). With that in mind maybe today is the day for Time For Sandals. Harry Eustace's filly has become a bit frustrating over the past few months but she's not had the rub of the green and is still holding her form well. She was an unlucky loser of the Nunthorpe and stall 10 isn't a hammer blow for her chances given the run-style. 

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15:05, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

Thundering On 8/1, 2pts win
Maltese Cross 8/1, 2pts win

The biggest race in the European calendar is here and it's a tricky betting heat. In a race where there's not masses of pace on, perhaps Friendly Soul will make the running and she should run well for all the this is a hard task on a first go against the colts. Bay City Roller could be one to make an early move but the draw has been unkind and the ground has gone against George Scott's stable star. Minnie Hauk is another who would be a surprise winner having not held her form this year and Diamond Necklace's supporters were left in tears after seeing the coffin draw come out, she now has a mountain the climb. Benvenuto Cellini has faired much better but there's still a worry about the stable and he's probably just lacking a few gears to win a race like this. Varandir is respected after winning his trial for all he has another step up to make and both the Japanese Horses will have to run career bests to be in the shake up. Kalpana has been steadily backed in the week, especially after the draw and she's now the shortest priced raider. Nothing went right for her in last year's race but she's now a King George winner with a good draw. She's one of the best in Europe and must have a great chance for all the query is that she's had a hard season and was the benefit of how the race panned out at Ascot. It will be hard to time the run here and she's now short enough. Last year's winner Daryz will take a lot of beating and he looked like a horse ready to explode when toying with Bay City Roller in his trial last time out. He clearly doesn't travel well so lines can be drawn on his runs in the UK. The son of Sea The Stars has a great draw and ground which should be ideal. It's a huge task to win back to back renewals of the Arc though and perhaps he's worth opposing at the prices. Maltese Cross has been done no favours by the draw but it's not the end of the world and William Haggas' Sea The Stars colt has shown he can win round this track and was in imperious form at York last time out. The 3 year old has apparently been going great guns on the gallops of late and is tactically versatile. The form has taken some knocks but the course suits his style and won't be as far back as others. He must have a great chance of delivering his trainer a first Arc, 8 years after Sea Of Class's 2nd place finish. The other who is worth siding with is another who ran at Epsom in June, Thundering On. Joseph O'Brien's filly looked a proper Arc prospect when bolting up in the Oaks before losing her form in the Pretty Polly. After an easy time since, she bounced back to form to hack up in a Group 2 last time out and now looks to be coming right again for her biggest assignment. She's had an easier 2nd half of the season than others and has been given the plum draw in stall 3. The trainer couldn't be in much better form and he's enlisted the services of Pierre Charles-Boudot for the biggest occasion which looks a shrewd move. It's a big day, a big race and hopefully we're in store for a big finish. 

Newmarket - Saturday 26th September

After a pretty disappointing day last Saturday it's on to one of the hardest punting days of the Autumn now. Newmarket's Cambridgeshire day is always one of my favourites and this year we have not only a cracking renewal of the great handicap but also the best 2 year old Group 1 of the year. The Cheveley Park and Middle Park are mouthwatering but are perhaps best watched as neither makes much appeal from a betting perspective but the Royal Lodge is more open and obviously the Cambridgeshire is where we're focusing. 

13:55, Royal Lodge

First Law 10/3, 3pts win
Burning Up 3/1, 1pt saver

A proper renewal of the Group 2 taken from Ascot back in the day. Haffer brings in group winning form from York while Quest For Stars ran a cracker at the highest level in Ireland last time out. But it is the unbeaten pair of First Law and Burning Up who head the market and with good reason. Both have looked like 2 year olds going places in their 2 runs each to date but slight preference is for First Law. The Godolphin colt looked a tough one in bad ground at Haydock the last day and will appreciate this better surface today. He's an imposing son of Too Darn Hot who will only improve for time but the stable is in great form and the mount of William Buick is expected to run well. 

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15:40, Cambridgeshire Handicap

Hand Of God 10/1, 2pts win
Erzindjan 17/2, 2pts win

One of the hottest runnings in the last few years with any number of quality handicappers with claims. The hot favourite, Gavriel, must hold a big chance and could be well drawn under the stand fence but he's mightily inexperienced for a race like this and is worth taking on. Hand Of God has really bounced back to form this year, as shown when winning at Newbury in the Spring and then finishing 2nd at York. He's perhaps not up to graded level but he's respected back in a handicap here and could still be on a fair mark. This race has long looked to suit for the Harry Charlton gelding. Last year's 4th Erzindjan finished clear of his group and with better luck 12 months on Terry Kent's likeable 8 year old must be up to going close off just a 2 pound higher mark. The booking of Billy Loughnane is eye-catching. 

Newbury & Ayr - Saturday 19th September

I will be at Newbury today for some decent flat action but the main show is obviously at Ayr with the Silver and Gold Cups on show. 

Ayr 13:20, Ladbrokes 'Bet 5 Get 30 New Customer Offer' Handicap

Theoryofeverything 7/1, 1pt win
Thunder Roar 7/1, 1pt win

A good race to get us under way here and it may be that with conditions to suit that last year's 1 and 2 are to the fore again. Both Theoryofeverything and Thunder Roar are back in their lane here and must hold strong chances. 

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Ayr 13:55, Ladbrokes 'Get Racing Bet Builder Winnings Boosts' Doonside Cup Stakes

Sea Scout 7/1, 1.5pts each-way (3 places with Coral)

A fair renewal of the Doonside Cup but without a clear standout it may be worth siding with the Crisford's Sea Scout. Last year's Epsom Derby Trial winner hasn't been a winning machine since but did run some crackers on soft ground in a couple of French Listed races this time last year and his 2nd to a good horse on seasonal debut last month is good form. He ran OK in an above average renewal of a Listed race at Windsor last time and this drop in trip should suit. 

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Ayr 14:30, Ladbrokes Ayr Silver Cup Handicap

Desert Falcon 5/1, 2pts each-way (6 places)

Julie Camacho's Desert Falcon was 2nd in the Gold Cup last year and now heads the weights for the Silver Cup 12 months on. It hasn't been plain sailing since then but he showed at Doncaster last week that he's on the way back to form and now has his sights set on the big prize here. He's seemingly well drawn in stall 2 and should have a great chance of going better than last year. 

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Ayr 15:40, Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup

Binhareer 4/1, 2pts each-way (6 places)

In a red hot renewal of an Ayr Gold Cup many people won't like the idea of a Haggas plot job but it does seem as though this has been a long term plan for the 4 year old Binhareer. The grey looks a better horse than when 6th in the Silver Cup last year and returned to soft ground, it could be that he finally achieves his potential. 

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Newbury 13:37, Dubai Duty Free Autumn Cup Handicap

Insanity 7/1, 1pt each-way (3 places)

An interesting Autumn Cup but Alan King's Insanity has been lightly raced of late and could be ready to peak. 

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Newbury 14:47, Dubai Duty Free Handicap

Stem 15/2, 1pt each-way (3 places)

Richard Hannon's Stem has shown good form at Newbury in the past and seems to be in career best form winning at Sandown in the summer and then running a cracker there last time out behind a handicap blot.

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Newbury 15:55, Conundrum Consulting Handicap

Witch Hunter 16/1, 1pt each-way (4 places)
Betty Clover 22/1, 1pt each-way (4 places)

An open race so probably worth chancing a couple at big prices who are well weighted if returning to form. 

Doncaster - Saturday 12th September

14:20, Portland

Getreadytorumble 8/1, 1pt each-way (5 places)

A really good renewal of the Portland this with plenty holding chances but preference is for Jack Channon's previous course winner, Getreadytorumble. A highly progressive 3 year old last year, he's struggled to find his feet in stronger company so far this season but put in a great run at Ascot last time out and has been kept fresh for this. High drawn horses usually do well here so there's nothing to worry about the draw in stall 20. 

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15:35, St Leger

Pierre Bonard 4/1, 1pt each-way (3 places)

An interesting 250th St Leger. Lambourn couldn't land the Derby-Leger double last year but the suspicion is that Christmas Day is better equipped for the Doncaster test. There's not a lot between the front 3 here and Eceladus is respected but perhaps this could be the day for Pierre Bonard to finally shine. The winter's Derby favourite hasn't managed to get his head in front this year but was closing down Christmas Day on the line in the Irish Derby and ran a cracking trial at York the last day. He's perhaps going to enjoy this step up in trip the most and no other horse looks set to enjoy Doncaster's lengthy straight more.