Goodwood - Sunday 30th August

I will not be making the trip down to Goodwood today but despite the rain and many non-runners, it's still an interesting card with a few good betting heats. 

14:00, Virgin Bet Handicap

Principality 5/1, 1pt each-way (3 places)

A wide open affair, as the betting shows. Harry Eustace's Principality must have a big chance here in search of his 3rd win this summer. The 4 year old is already a winner over this track on heavy ground so the recent rain will be no bother at all to him. He's in good form after a win at Newmarket last time out and a mark of 91 is still fair. 

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16:20, City of Chichester Handicap

Personal Best 5/1, 1pt each-way (3 places)

Another open affair and plenty here have strong form on a softer surface. There doesn't appear to be much between them but slight preference is for Personal Best. The 4 year old filly is off a career high mark but she's earned that for her consistency and has been running well this season perhaps in races that haven't quite suited. She's a dual winner on very soft ground and stays well. The Portman stable is in good form and the daughter of Time Test is expected to go well again. 

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16:55, Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap

Due To Henry 12/1, 1pt each-way (3 places)

A decent little handicap to end the day and it could be that Eve Johnson-Houghton's Due To Henry is a bit overpriced here. The 5 year old gelding hasn't won for 2 years but he's steadily been working his way back to form and the soft surface will be a real help to him here. The son of Due Diligence is now 7 pounds below his last winning mark and the run last time was a big improvement. 

Sandown - Saturday 29th August

I will be at soggy Sandown today. It's a shame about the weather as it's a great card with two very interesting group races to unpick. 

13:40, Tattersalls 40,000 EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes

Tall Trees 9/4, 2pts win

A pretty decent maiden to start the card. Unraced Flower Show will be interesting for Godolphin but Tall Trees drops in grade dramatically and should be taking all the beating in this. 

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14:15, Zyn Frontrunner Finish Handicap

Cash 40/1, 1pt each-way (4 places)
Flying Frontier 40/1, 1pt each-way (4 places)

It's a tricky handicap to digest this with Kokbastau looking a group horse in the making at Kempton and is probably still a fair price. Still, conditions are an unknown and he's been hiked up a stone in the weights. While he rates the most likely winner, it may be a race to take a chance on a couple of outsiders. The rain has come for Cash and the admirable 7 year old has a decent record at this track all in all. He's off a decent mark and could pick these off late. Flying Frontier won this race 2 years ago and although he's been out of form this season, he's bounced back before and is a big price. 

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14:50, BetMGM Atalanta Stakes

Calendar Girl 3/1, 2pts win

The race of the day sees a classy bunch of fillies clash over the mile here. Moon Target must have a chance now dropping in grade after finishing 3rd at the top level in France last time out. She's a tricky ride though and perhaps could be picked off by an unexposed type. Secret of Life will prove popular as she's proven with ease in the ground but preference is for Owen Burrow's filly Calendar Girl. The daughter of Advertise ran a stormer on seasonal debut to win at Haydock last time out and should handle the ground. She's exciting. 

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15:30, BetMGM Solario Stakes

Breacher 3/1, 1pt win

A hard race to weigh up as the front 2 in the market could be anything. Godolphin's Rock Montreal could be another classy animal through the Roger Varian gates but the vibes have been strong about Breacher and the son of Cracksman is chanced to take this on his way to better things. 

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16:05, Download The BetMGM App Handicap

Storm Free 10/1, 1pt each-way (3 places)

James Tate's 4 year old Storm Free finally got his act together last time out and it could be that he starts to build on the promise he showed last year. It's a tricky race but he looks the value here. 

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16:35, BetMGM Real Deal Nursery

Sonny Parvenue 4/1, 1pt win

An open nursery but Richard Hannon's Sonny Parvenue looked good when winning at Salisbury on debut and was thought good enough to tackle the Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot last month. He can bounce back here.

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17:10, Gamble Responsibly At BetMGM Handicap

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

Tony Carroll's top weight Betsen ran ok from a poor draw in the Dash at Epsom last time and this is easier. He had previously won at Chepstow and will handle any ease here. 

York - Saturday 22nd August

13:50, Sky Bet Strensall Stakes

Hankelow 11/2, 1pt each-way (4 places)

This is a pretty open renewal of Saturday's opener. Damysus has the best form but the ground could be a slight worry and he's been a little regressive of late. Instead preference is for Karl Burke's 3 year old Hankelow. The son of Night Of Thunder ran a cracker to finish 3rd in the French Guineas before flopping in their Derby. He's still full of promise though and after a break he comes here with big chances at the weights against some exposed older horses. 

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14:25, Sky Bet Melrose Handicap

Mythical Bay 6/1, 2pts each-way (5 places)
Sharkeyboy 17/2, 2pts each-way (5 places)

A really strong renewal of the Melrose sees any number of unexposed 3 year olds hold chances. Mythical Bay does look to have been plotted up for this though, having been absent since winning over this trip at Newmarket last month. He's really started to progress of late now he's getting to grips with his racing and still looks ahead of his mark. Conditions are not a worry for the son of New Bay and connections have an excellent record in this race. Willie Mullins has been farming the Ebor of late but he brings a maiden to this race with a big chance. Sharkeyboy finished 2nd in a big field handicap at Galway last time out but the run can be marked up as he raced on the outside for the whole race and was just gunned down in the last strides. He looks well in off a mark of 88 and Saffie Osbourne is a great booking in the saddle. 

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15:00, Sky Bet City Of York Stakes

Zavateri 15/2, 2pts each-way (4 places)

A classy edition of this Group 1 and multiple top level winner Notable Speech will take the world of beating if he runs his race but it's worth remembering he isn't always the most consistent and Rosallion was beaten at short odds in this race. Instead, preference is for the 3 year old Zavateri. The son of Without Parole ran well on seasonal comeback to finish 3rd in the Greenham when he should have gone closer. He didn't run again until the Sussex but put up a massive run to finish 5th and will be fitter for it. Conditions are no concern as the colt won a Group 1 in Ireland on easy ground last year from Gstaad and he's still unexposed. 

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15:35, Sky Bet Ebor Handicap

Daiquiri Bay 10/1, 1pt each-way (6 places)
Klassleader 7/1, 2pts win

Always a classic race this. The Ebor looks as classy a renewal as ever although Willie Mullin's mystery runner has been well supported down to clear favourite. Love Me Tender could be miles well in but he's short enough in the betting now and so preference is for William Haggas's Klassleader. The lightly raced 4 year old looked an Ebor winner in the making when winning at York in the spring and has only been seen the once since. He wasn't at his best the last day but this will have been the plan all along and is still unexposed. Daquiri Bay has been shooting up the handicap this season but justifiably so after wins at Newmarket and Ascot. He's been put away since for this but looks a much better horse than when 3rd in the Melrose last year and the ease in the ground won't be a worry. He could be working his way towards being a group horse. 

York - Friday 21st August

13:50, Sky Bet Mile Handicap

Storming Point 10/1, 1pt each-way (5 places)

A fiendish handicap to start the day and William Haggas's progressive Zennor Storm deserves to be favourite but Garry and Josh Moore's Storming Point wasn't far behind that one at Goodwood last time out and also holds big chances here. The son of Blue Point had good form in novices and on an easy surface. He had no luck the last day and this race promises to pan out better. He looks well handicapped off a mark of 85. 

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15:35, Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes

Mission Central 17/2, 1pt each-way (4 places)

The presence of American speedball Baccio makes this a hard race to weigh up but on a first go in group company and on an easy surface he can be taken on. Coolmore's No Nay Never gelding, Mission Central was a narrow winner of the King Charles III Stakes and this race always promised to suit better than the July Cup. A line can be put through that run and with Wesley Ward's 3 year old a sure thing to go bombing off in front, Aidan's horse could be well positioned to run him down from the back. 

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16:10, Assured Data Protection Handicap

Master Builder 6/1, 2pts win

David Menusier's 5 year old Master Builder has had a decent career to date already and duly justified strong market support on season debut here 100 days ago. He's been put away again since and he's bound to have been trained to the minute for this second foray to the Knavesmire. The recent rain is a help and Tom Marquand rides. 

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17:20, Sky Bet EBF Fillies' Handicap

Janey Mackers 10/1, 1pt each-way (5 places)
Electricfarhh 12/1, 1pt each-way (5 places)

Plenty of unexposed types to the fore of the market here but perhaps a couple of more experienced fillies could play a part in this. Janey Mackers and Electricfarhh have been holding their form well, the ground has come in favour of the former and the latter is unexposed at the trip. 

York - Thursday 20th August

Work on York's Thursday card is a bit thin on the ground after not returning from yesterday's attendance until midnight. Still, there are a few fancies today. 

14:25, Harry's Half Million By Goffs

Tokaido 5/1, 1pt each-way (4 places)

Sun Goddess is undoubtably the horse to beat in this on all known form but she's had a pretty hard time of things lately and easy ground poses a question. Amy Murphy's star juvenile Tokaido is a worthy adversary and conditions will pose no problem to the classy colt. He must shoulder a heavy penalty but the son of Ubetterbelieveit was a ready winner of a Group 2 last time out and holds big chances despite the weight. 

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15:00, Sir Kevin Sinfield 7 In 7 Grand Finale Handicap

Cerulean Bay 12/1, 1pt each-way (4 places)
Yorkshire 20/1, 1pt each-way (4 places)

Centigate holds obvious chances here and so does last year's winner Bullet Point. It's an open affair though and perhaps it's worth chancing a couple at bigger odds. Cerulean Bay has been knocking on the door all season long and was 2nd in this race last year. Ease in the ground won't hold any fears and this looks a slightly more winnable race than some he's been contesting of late even tough he's off a career high mark. Yorkshire on the other hand has been tumbling down the weights but showed better form when finishing 2nd and 3rd on his last 2 runs. Now Ed Bethell's gelding is returning to form, now might be the time to strike. Odds of 20/1 are appealing. 

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15:35, Legends Global Yorkshire Oaks

Minnie Hauk 9/2, 1.5pts each-way (3 places)

Not many King George winners end up in the Yorkshire Oaks but we have that here in the shape of Andrew Balding's star mare Kalpana. The consistent 5 year old is the one to beat but she has been fallible in her career and it was a hard race she had last time out. Perhaps it's worth chancing Minnie Hauk to bounce back to form. The classy 4 year old filly was the star of last year's division, winning this race by a wide margin before going agonisingly close in the Arc. She didn't run her race in the King George but has otherwise run well this season, as shown when finishing 2nd in the Prince of Wales's Stakes. Easy ground will help her let herself down more and she's shown she handles the track. It's may be that she's starting to regress but at the likely odds, she's the preferred play here. 

York - Wednesday 19th August

I was merely a spotty 17 year old when I last set foot on the Knavesmire. 2 days after watching Frankel majestically sweep aside his opponents in the Juddmonte International, I was stood in one of York's magnificent stands awaiting the running of the Nunthorpe (won the Aussie sprinter Ortensia). I didn't manage to find the Antipodean filly but would back Willing Foe who claimed the Ebor for Saeed Bin Surror and Frankie Dettori on the Saturday. 14 years on I will be making the 4 hour long journey up from sunny Hampshire to see the biggest race in York's calendar, the Juddmonte International. Work commitments mean I will be unable to complete the clean sweep and will leave this year with just the Thursday to complete but I have no doubt that will come in the next few years. For now though it's the mouth watering concept of generational talent Ombudsman facing Europe's most exciting 3 colt, Constitution River that draws me up the country like a leaf caught in the entrails of a ferrari. There's quality undercard too, with one of the best renewals of the Great Voltigeur in recent years and a host of monstrously fiendish handicaps to pick through. Whatever happens, history will be made on Wednesday and purely as a fan of the sport, I cannot wait. 

13:50, Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Handicap

Air Force One 15/2, 1pt each-way (6 places with Bet365)

It's not exactly the easiest race in which to start a long, tricky week but here we are with a 22 runner cavalry charge over York's straight track to tackle. Sprint handicaps at York are notoriously difficult to find the winner of and this year's renewal of the festival opener looks no different. There's any number of course specialists and in form horses, without many looking well in. It could be that Air Force One finally lands his pot this year. 3rd in this race last year, the consistent 5 year old continues to hold his form well and is now better off with Statusnine for his defeat here last time out. Geoff Oldroyd's gelding will have no doubt been primed for this given connections and stall 5 looks a nice berth. 

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14:25, Tattersalls Acomb Stakes

Haffner 7/4, 2pts win

Perhaps not the strongest renewal of the Acomb and it seems unlikely we will see a classic winner here as we did 2 years ago when Ruling Court was 3rd to The Lion In Winter. Many are unexposed but the Coolmore colt, Haffner sets a pretty high standard after his narrow defeat in the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood 22 days ago. This track promises to suit better and the son of Justify must hold huge chances of going one better on the Knavesmire. 

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15:00, Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes

Maltese Cross 2/1, 2pts win

2 years on the trot the Voltigeur has attracted the Derby winner and again it looks set to be a prep for the bigger prize of the St Leger next month at Doncaster. Nonetheless, Epsom hero Christmas Day must have a big chance here despite the 5 pound penalty. He's classy but has plenty of stamina and will be a tough nut to crack. The recent rain will be a welcome sight for backers but there is a suspicion that the son of Camelot won't be at fever pitch for this, neither would Pierre Bonard who also holds Leger aspirations. He is closely matched with Christmas Day from the Irish Derby and the 5 pounds he receives could be pivotal but he's proving frustrating and this race may not pan out to suit Wayne Lordan's mount. The smallish field will probably suit William Haggas's star 3 year old Maltese Cross more. A game winner of the Lingfield Derby trial, the son of Sea The Stars showed a great attitude to finish 2nd in the Derby on desperate ground before going one better in the Grand Prix de Paris. He showed a great turn of foot that day and tactical speed may be crucial here. 

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15:35, Juddmonte International Stakes

Constitution River 6/4, 2pts win

Undoubtably the most hotly anticipated race of the season so far, and by some way. The world's joint-highest rated racehorse and reigning champion Ombudsman is sitting comfortably on his throne after a spellbinding performance in the Prince of Wales's Stakes and goes in search of an amazing double-double. The son of Night Of Thunder is almost bulletproof and is a star attraction on any card in the world. Can he give 7 pounds to French Derby and Eclipse winner Constitution River though? That is the question we are all waiting to be answered. The course suits, as shown last year and with a host of pacemakers this race is bound to be run to suit but he is fallible as shown when finishing 2nd in both the Eclipse and Champion Stakes last year. He had excuses in the Eclipse to be fair and he bumped into an on-form Calandagan in the Autumn who to was also the best horse in the world last year. Constitution River hasn't achieved as much as that French gelding yet but he is building some profile in his short career. The Wootton Bassett colt was eye catching in the Dee Stakes before putting on a gutsy display to defy a wide draw in the French Derby and then winning well in the Eclipse. He's not looked flashy the past 2 days but he seems to find plenty for pressure and he settled it a long way out at Sandown. If this proves into a protracted dual, it could be that the weight allowance and the stamina sapping final furlong sways it for the younger horse. Item, Almaqam and Zaydann must all be respected and have claims in their own right for all they must find extra here on the biggest of occasions against the best of opposition. It's almost a flip of a coin but you have to get off the fence at some point and mild preference is the the Coolmore colt. 

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16:10, Sky Bet Stayers Handicap

Kircher 9/2, 2pts win

James Owen's stable continues in good form this summer and his recent Ascot winner is fancied to defy a 6 pound hike under Ryan Moore. It's an eye catching jockey booking and the son of Pinatubo is pushing a mark of 100 but he's been upwardly mobile since tried over these longer trips and there's no signs his limits have been reached yet. 

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16:45, Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap

Schrodinger's Cat 7/1, 1pt each-way (6 places)

It's almost as hard as it gets with another sprint handicap put in front of us already this week. It's as open as a barn door and so perhaps it's worth siding with Grant Tuer's consistent Schrodinger's Cat. The 3 year old gelding has finished 3rd and 2nd on his last 2 starts at the Knavesmire and is much better off at the weights with Naana's Shadow this time around. He's a little speedball and a battler and will no doubt be primed for another big run. 

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17:20, Sky Bet Nursery

Dubai Champion 9/2, 2pts each-way (6 places with Bet365)

Nursery's at festivals are usually tricky but it may be worth keeping this simple. Ben Haslam's speedy juvenile Dubai Champion was unlucky to be touched off at Glorious Goodwood and must have a big chance of making amends here under a loyal Ryan Moore. 

Newbury & Ripon - Saturday 16th August

I will be at Newbury for one of their summer highlight's, the Hungerford. It's a decent undercard too considering we have York around the corner. 

13:25, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Geoffrey Freer Stakes

Tabletalk 10/3, 1pt win

It's a fair renewal of the Geoffrey Freer that kicks things off and William Haggas's veteran Dubai Honour sets a high standard. A lengthy absence, quick ground conditions and a step up in trip are enough negatives around the favourite however and so it may pay to side with Tabletalk to end his run of narrow defeats here. He has run well at the Berkshir track before and Tom Clover's 5 year old receives a 3 pound pull at the weights with Mount Athos for his nose defeat at York last time. This trip will probably suit a little better too. 

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14:35, TPT Fire Handicap

Addison Grey 13/2, 1pt each-way (3 places)

The dead 8 go to post for this 7 furlong handicap and Scoville has been well supported here to finally build on the promise of last year. He's not really achieved anything this season though and can be opposed at the prices. Clive Cox's is only 1 pound higher in the handicap than when 2nd over 6 furlongs here in the Spring and when 2nd to Wokingham winner Double Rush at Newmarket. He's been a little below form since then but this step up in trip looks like a good move and Hector Crouch has a great record for the stable. 

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15:10, Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes

Extremely Zain 11/2, 1.5pts each-way (3 places)

It's an interesting renewal of the Hungerford this year. Yes, the City of York Stakes next week has had a detrimental impact on Newbury's Group 2 but it still attracts a decent sort in search of nearly 100 grand. Symbol Of Honour was a ready winner here last time over a shorter trip and brings the best recent form into the race. The distance is a little bit of a worry still though considering he hasn't tackled it since well beaten at the start of last year. Never So Brave won the City of York Stakes last year and if he reproduces that form he will win this well but he's been miles off that standard so far this year and is very much on a retrieval mission. Coppul ran a cracker in the July Cup and comes into this with solid claims but needs to prove himself over the trip. With so many question marks surrounding the leading contenders here, it may be that William Haggas's improving 3 year old Extremely Zain can take this step up in class in his stride. He's a proven 7 furlong specialist and will enjoy this fast surface. The well bred colt looked a group horse when winning a big field handicap at York before being too keen and too forward in another one at Ascot. He will have learned plenty for that last experience and connections wouldn't be throwing him in here if they didn't think he was up to it. 

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Ripon

15:25, William Hill/MND Association Great St Wilfrid Handicap

Aramram 10/1, 1pt each-way (4 places)

I have never been expect on Yorkshire racing but surely Richard Hannon wouldn't be sending his classy sprinter Aramram up north if he didn't think this was a winnable opportunity. The consistent son of Blue Point is 10 pound higher in the handicap than his last victory but he's since proved himself an improved horse in graded races this year and although he has a lumpy weight to defy, this isn't the hottest renewal of Ripon's summer feature and the draw in stall 3 is no negative.