Newmarket - Saturday 27th September

I will be at Newmarket on Saturday for what is a cracking day's racing full of top class, competitive action. 

13:50, Tattersalls Online Royal Lodge Stakes

Bow Echo 15/8, 2pts win

This looks like a pretty decent renewal of the Royal Lodge. It's fair to say it hasn't thrown up many stars since it's switch from Ascot, although Roaring Lion was successful in 2017. Chesham Stakes winner, Humidity will have a chance, especially upped in trip and on a bigger track but he's not as progressive as some in this. Pacific Avenue finished behind Humidity last time out in the Solario at Sandown but he could well reverse that form and looks a nice type. Daytona brings decent form to the table already but needs to pull out extra here whilst Action looks the Ballydoyle first string as it a big framed son of Frankel who will make a lovely 3 year old. I think these all have a lot on their plate to down Bow Echo though. Karl Burke's Night Of Thunder colt looked one to follow on debut, hacking up at Newbury but showed real grit to out battle a well thought of type at Haydock last time. He was strong at the line there and I think he has a big future. 

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14:25, Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Cheveley Park Stakes

Beautify 4/1, 1pt win

This is a fascinating edition of the Cheveley Park Stakes. True Love looked set to dominate this division after winning the Queen Mary well back in June. She followed that up by demolishing the competition in the Railway Stakes before disappointing last time out when beaten into second but reportedly lame that day. She will of course have her supporters here in a bid to redeem her reputation but the lack of recent race fitness is a worry, as is the fact this will be her 6th run of the season. Royal Fixation looked the new star on the block last time out when winning the Lowther in decent style and must have a big chance here but perhaps Beautify makes the most appeal. The classy daughter of Wootton Bassett made a big step up from her debut 3rd to down Lady Imam in a Group 2 earlier in the season before bouncing back from a break to finish 2nd in the Moyglare to Precise. She travelled like the best horse that day and both the drop in trip and return to better ground should see her go close here. She looks like a classy filly and St Leger winner Tom Marquand rides. 

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15:00, Tattersalls Middle Park Stakes

Wise Approach 11/10, 3pts win

3 subsequent July Cup winners have won this since 2010 (Dream Ahead, U S Navy Flag, Ten Sovereigns) but it's fair to say that recent winners haven't really gone on as 3 year olds - see Shadow Of Light. It may be the same this year as plenty in this have had quite a few runs and are speedily bred juveniles. It's not the classiest Middle Park ever run and so it could be that it's prime for the picking by the Godolphin team. Wise Approach has only won 2 of his 5 runs to date but he ran well to finish 2nd in the Norfolk and looked classy when bolting up in the Rose Bowl Stakes. He was far from disgraced when 3rd in the Morny last time out and that's the best form brought to this table. He'll take plenty of beating I'm sure. 

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15:40, bet365 Cambridgeshire

Fifth Column 7/1, 2pts win
Mister Winston 20/1, 1pt each-way (6 places)

I have seen my fair share of Cambridgeshire's but it's fair to say this isn't the hottest renewal, with only 24 runners lining up. Perhaps fast ground for the time of year is to blame or the fact that if many more ran, they may be out of the handicap. Treble Tee has been popular for this ever since winning well at Doncaster a couple of weeks ago and will I'm sure, run a big race. I don't think he's been done many favours by the draw though (stall 7) given it's looking as though you'll want to be up against the stands rail. Marhaba Ghaiyyath has looked like a prime candidate for this all season and must hold a chance but he has been dealt a draw in stall 4 and that could be hard to overcome. Cash finished behind Treble Tee last time but this step up in trip and bigger field will really suit him. I feel as though the ground may be lively enough for him though and isn't as well handicapped as some in this. Ebt's Guard finished 6th in this race last year and connections are back again to improve on that. The draw in 15 is fair but he hasn't convinced he'll find any improvement for the step back up in trip yet and a mark of 100 doesn't look readily exploitable. Greek Order has been on my radar for this all year and although the draw isn't terrible (13), the ground being quick hasn't done him any favours and he will have to bounce back from a poor show last time out. He should still be kept in calculations though, especially as Rossa Ryan has been booked for the ride. Oisin Murphy could have probably ridden a few in this but has chosen Fort George which would be telling. He's a progressive 3 year old and stall 10 isn't the end of the world but it isn't a favour either. A 9 pound hike for winning last time out also looks a bit harsh. Instead, perhaps Godolphin's Fifth Column could take another step up the ladder here. The Kingman gelding has really got his act together of late and showed a gutsy attitude to win a tough handicap at York last time out despite being short of room. A 3 pound rise is fair and the stable has really hit form of late. He's been drawn well in stall 18 and looks the type to make up into a group performer soon. He'll enjoy the ground and the trip looks ideal. Huge chance. At bigger odds, it may be worth chancing Andrew Balding's 3 year old Mister Winston. The Churchill colt has been free going off late but may appreciate this bigger field and is also drawn well in stall 17. He's been steadily progressive all season and won well on the July course back in August. He has form with Fifth Column from earlier on but seems a better horse now. Nicola Currie's mount finished behind Treble Tee at Goodwood last time out but is now 5 pounds better off and arrives a slightly fresher horse. It's also worth noting that he was carrying 9 stone 9 that day but will race here off just 8 stone 6 and that could make the speedy type hard for catching (low weighted 3 year olds have won this before). 

Newmarket & Haydock - Friday 26th September

Newmarket 16:45, Boyle Sports Handicap

Mezcala 9/2, 1pt win

Jack Channon's lightly raced 3 year old looks ahead of the handicapper, finding himself at the bottom of the weights here. 

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Haydock 17:40, 100% RacingTV Profits Back To Racing Handicap

Roland Garros 5/2, 2pts win

Hayley Burton's Godolphin cast off looks well handicapped now he's showing signs of coming into form. Narrowly denied in an amateur event last time, the jockey booking of Cieren Fallon catches the eye. 

Newmarket - Thursday 25th September

15:00, British Stallion Studs EBF Premier Fillies' Handicap

Lady Roxby 9/2, 2pts win

This 3 year old daughter of King Of Change looks better than her mark of 82 and could well exploit it here. 

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15:35, Tattersalls Stakes

Catullus 6/1, 1pt win

William Buick may have chosen Distant Storm but Billy Loughnane's mount Catullus must have a big chance. A non-runner at Doncaster earlier in the month, he'll enjoy the better ground here and has looked a colt to follow. 

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17:18, Rogues Gallery Racing Syndicate Handicap

Moon Sniper 14/1, 1pt each-way (4 places)

The Sea The Moon gelding represents and in-form yard and has been returning to form of late. A mark of 71 looks fair and this ground/course combo could be the making of him. A big run expected at decent odds. 

Wednesday 24th September

Listowel 16:23, Guinness Kerry National Handicap Chase

You Outta Know 5/1, 1pt win

The Willie Mullins trained 7 year old looked a type to follow in his younger days but went missing for a period over hurdles. He's been steadily progressive over fences lately culminating in a wide margin win last time out. This further step up in trip promises to suit and a mark of 137 looks exploitable. Should go well in search of providing the master trainer a first win in this event for 5 years. 

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Kempton 20:10, Industry Leading In-Play Markets At Unibet Handicap

Alashos 14/1, 0.5pts win

Chris Gordon isn't renowned for his sprinters and his runner here is almost the outsider of the field having not won for some time but there is reason to be hopeful. The 3 year old's only win to date has come on the all-weather (at Lingfield) and he actually finds himself 7 pounds lower than when 2nd at Chelmsford back in March on his last start over a synthetic surface for James Horton. The stable debut on the turf at Lingfield in August was promising and perhaps it's best to forgive him his poor run last time out as he was in rear in a race dominated by those up front (Oisin Murphy rode). 

Newbury & Ayr - Saturday 20th September

I will be at Newbury on Saturday but it's a day of top of the bill punting action at Ayr too!

Newbury 13:30, Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes

Rage Of Bamby 6/1, 1pt win

This doesn't look as hot a race as the Hackwood Stakes that Eve Johnson-Houghton's Rage Of Bamby won at this track earlier in the season. The daughter of Saxon Warrior seems to go on any ground and although the drop in trick asks questions of her, she's mightily pacy and was second over this trip at Ayr last September. Only last year's Sprint Cup hero Montassib comes out better at the weights and for me Rage Of Bamby looks the value here.

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Newbury 14:40, Dubai Duty Free Handicap

Almosh'her 5/1, 1pt win

Karl Burke's string is in mighty form and his runner here Almosh'her bids to bounce back here after a couple of poor placings. The son of Sea The Stars looked to have the world at his feat after winning on seasonal debut over 12 furlongs at York but disappointed badly at Royal Ascot and was subsequently gelded. He didn't run badly in the Ebor on his first run in 64 days and now drops back in trip which looks the right move considering his free going tendencies. I like the jockey booking of Jamie Spencer who should have a decent chance of settling the 4 year old on his first go at this 10 furlong trip. The slightly easier going may well also help a bit, especially over the trip for this strong stayer and he's not terribly handicapped considering he looked Group class earlier in his career. 

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Newbury 16:25, Conundrum Consulting Handicap

Arctic Thunder 6/1, 1pt win

William Buick takes the ride on Ed Walker's runner Arctic Thunder in a bid to provide another weekend winner for the stable who sent out 2 winners at Doncaster on Sunday. The 4 year old son of Night Of Thunder hasn't managed to win yet for current connections but he's now just a pound above his last winning mark and showed enough at Haydock last time out to suggest he's capable of returning to the winner's circle. He's 2 pounds below the mark off which he finished 2nd at Haydock over 6 furlongs on seasonal debut and nothing much has gone right for him since as he keeps meeting trouble in running (badly last time out). The jockey booking is a real positive and he should be more at home on the wide expanses of Newbury's straight track. 

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Ayr 13:15, Ladbrokes 'Free Bet At Ayr' Handicap

Mr King 8/1, 1pt win

Ian Jardine's Mr King has turned into a perplexing 5 year old and it's been a while since his last win. The son of Kingman is now 9 pounds lower than when 3rd in this race last year and is back on an easy surface. He ran into all sorts of trouble last time out and has just started hinting signs of a revival. He's at the right end of the handicap and goes well at the track. 

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Ayr 14:25, Ladbrokes Ayr Silver Cup Handicap

Nariko 11/2, 1pt win

This is a strong renewal of the Silver Cup and there are plenty with chances but Hugo Palmer's 4 year old filly Nariko could be an unstoppable force here. The daughter of Night Of Thunder is unbeaten this year and has won 4 of her last 5 starts. A soft ground sprinting specialist, she's formed a good relationship with champion jockey Oisin Murphy who rides again. She's drawn well in stall 18 and could still have room to manoeuvre off her mark. 

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Ayr 15:35, Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup Handicap

Twilight Calls 16/1, 1pt each-way (6 places)
Milford 28/1, 1pt each-way (6 places)

One of the big betting handicaps of the season, the Ayr Gold Cup is always a tricky race. Two Tribes must have a big chance again given his form on the big stage this year but top weight here is a tough burden. Northern Ticker will likely go off favourite but the revised mark and soft ground could be his undoing. Flash Harry is respected also, as is Strike Red who has been threatening to win one of these for a while. At bigger prices however, Twilight Calls makes some appeal. He ran a cracker to finish 4th in the Steward's Cup from a bad draw and can be forgiven a poor showing last time. The 7 year old son of Twilight Son will appreciate this easier surface and he's well weighted with Warren Fentiman claiming 5 pounds. At even bigger odds, Julie Camacho's Milford could go well. The 3 year old gelding finished 2nd in decent races at Ascot and Chester in the summer, shaping as though a fast run big field is what he needs to be seen to best effect. It's worth noting he was only headed late on when finishing 3rd of 17 at York in the Spring over 7 furlongs. This will also be the first time he's encountered soft ground this season. He won on soft ground on debut last year and ended his juvenile campaign by finishing 3rd at Listed level at York on an easy surface. Forgive him his run last time out as he was badly hampered early. The stable's in form and he's nicely drawn in stall 12. 

Newbury - Friday 19th September

14:55, Dubai Duty Free Nursery

Amazing Journey 10/1, 1pt win

Talk about nothing going your way; after back to back wins in the Summer Jamie Osbourne's 2 year old Amazing Journey has had little to no luck on her subsequent 2 outings at Goodwood and York. Back in calmer waters now on a straight track, I can see the colt bouncing back to form. 

Doncaster - Friday 12th September

I will be leaving sunny Hampshire at the crack of dawn on Friday to start my quest to Town Moor. It will be my maiden voyage to Doncaster racecourse and on Saturday I will have completed the full set of British Classics and will have seen all those run in 2025. Friday's card is as good an appetiser as you will see and I'd like to think there are winners to be found. 

13:15, Betfred Mallard Handicap

Shadow Dance 4/1, 1pt win

I quite fancied Roger Varian's grey for the Ebor but things didn't fall right for him that day for all he shaped well. The 5 year old son of Almanzor was 3rd in this last year off a pound higher mark and I think he'll make amends 12 months on. 

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13:50, Betfred Flying Scotsman Stakes

Catullus 3/1, 1pt win

This looks a fair renewal of the Listed 2 year old race without being a great one. It's virtually all maiden form apart from Do Or Do Not who has been placed in lots of the summer's big events but now looks a bit exposed and needs to bounce back from a below par effort at York. Hankelow is of interest after winning well at the same track 76 days ago but the absence is a worry and it may be that Godolphin's Catullus can use his experience to good effect here. He won at cramped odds last time out but has been showing a decent level of form throughout his career to date and strikes as a type who will keep improving. He's a lovely moving colt. 

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14:25, Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes

Lady Imam 4/1, 1pt win

Havana Hurricane will surely run well here but he's looking like a tricky horse to place and I'm not sure Doncaster will see him to best effect. Mission Central has looked good on his last 2 runs but I think they will all have it to do to beat Lady Imam. Ger Lyon's speedy filly looked very good at Goodwood before finding the Nunthorpe a step too far. She's back against her own sex here and should continue to do well. 

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15:00, Betfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup Stakes

Sweet William 6/4, 1pt win

The Gosden's Sweet William doesn't win very often but he's a popular stayer and won this race last year. He's the best horse in the race and clearly enjoys this test. Looks hard to beat.

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15:40, British Stallion Studs EBF Premier Fillies' Handicap

Perfect Your Craft 7/2, 1pt win

Ralph Beckett's 3 year old Mastercraftsman filly went into a few notebooks after winning her sole 2 year old outing last year but didn't run with much enthusiasm on her first run as a 3 year old. Given time since, she bounced back to winning ways at this course last time out in a race that wasn't run to suit. This trip should bring about more improvement and she's hugely unexposed. 

Doncaster - Friday 11th September

15:00, Betfred Park Hill Fillies' Stakes

Consent 5/1, 2pts win

Sir Mark Prescott's 3 year old Lope de Vega filly looked like one to note when winning well on seasonal debut at Newbury over 10 furlongs. She built on that to finish second at Group level in France last time out over 12 furlongs, shaping as though she'll improve for the experience and a step up in trip. Now over 14 furlongs and on a nice open track, this looks ideal for her and after just 4 runs she's still open to any amount of improvement. Bet of the day. 

Ascot, Kempton & Haydock - Saturday 6th September

What a great day of racing we have around the country, I have a few in mind everywhere, 

Haydock

13:15, Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Superior Mile Stakes

Prague 11/2, 1pt win

Dylan Cunha's 4 year old son of Galileo was unlucky when finishing 2nd in this race last year. It's fair to say things haven't gone to plan since but he's been running well this summer without getting the rub of the green. He made the running last time out and that didn't suit but in a bigger field here he should get a nice run through and he looks the value in the race. 

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15:35, Betfair Sprint Cup Stakes

Time For Sandals 17/2, 1pt each-way (4 places)

French star Lazzat brings the best form to the table and is an international performer but Commonwealth Cup hero Time For Sandals comes in with a big chance too for trainer Harry Eustace. She's done little wrong in her career and put up a big effort to finish 3rd over 5 furlongs last time out, shaping as though this trip is her optimum. Still lightly raced and unexposed, must have a big chance at the weights. 

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Ascot

15:15, Silent Pool Gin Handicap

Daiquiri Bay 11/2, 2.4pts win

Push The Limit 6/5, 2pts win (saver)

Alan King's Daiquiri Bay has been a colt I've followed through the summer and he's performed well at all the big meetings without winning. He comes into this after finishing 3rd at York and this drop back in trip looks a good move. The son of New Bay has looked as though he'll appreciate some give in the ground and he finally gets that here. Push The Limit is the deserved favourite and saver material. 

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Kempton

14:05, Unibet London Mile Series Final Handicap

Sky Safari 7/2, 2pts win

James Fanshawe's 4 year old filly has looked progressive all year and has already won at the track. I suspect she'll take a lot of beating in this. 

Ascot - Friday 5th September

13:45, LK Bennett Lady Amateur Jockeys Handicap

Look Back Smiling 7/1, 1pt win

Gemma Tutty could hardly have her string in better form and amateur jockey Amy Collier has already struck up a decent strike rate for the stable. The duo combine with Look Back Smiling in the opener here and the recent rain will be welcome for the 5 year old gelding. Big chance. 

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16:40, Ascot Iron Stand Membership Handicap

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

Simon & Ed Crisford's 3 year old gelding has been unlucky so far this year not to have won. He's shaped well on a few occasions and looked as though a mile on easy ground is what he wants. He has that here together with the services of Oisin Murphy. At the right end of the handicap here and must have a big run in him.