Nail your Couleurs to the mast at Haydock November 18, 2025 SATURDAY brings the first Grade One of the season in Haydock’s Betfair Chase (3.00pm), which offers a first clue to this campaign’s Cheltenham Gold Cup hopefuls. Grey Dawning was second in this race last season, when run down at the finish by the ever-game Royale Pagaille in typically testing Haydock conditions. While the ground shouldn’t [...]
Il Est Francais to fly the flag in Ascot’s 1965 Chase November 18, 2025 THERE is high class action over the sticks at Ascot, with a pair of Grade Two contests in the form of the Ascot Hurdle and the 1965 Chase (1.30pm), and it’s the latter I’m taking a closer look at here. IL EST FRANCAIS heads the ante-post betting for the two-mile-five-furlong contest currently and I think [...]
Hunter and Infantry to Smoke their opposition November 11, 2025 CHELTENHAM’s November Meeting across Friday, Saturday and Sunday this week offers a chance to see some of the stars of the jumps scene. Perhaps the biggest is Jonbon, who is set to make his reappearance in Friday’s Grade Two Shloer Chase (2.55pm) as he bids to win the race for a third successive year. Nicky [...]
Serious Challenge ready to Rock in the Greatwood November 11, 2025 ACTION from Prestbury Park continues on Sunday for the third and final day of the November Meeting. The feature race on the card is the Greatwood Hurdle (3.30pm), where I’m keen to take a flier on SERIOUS CHALLENGE, who’s currently quoted at 16/1. He came onto my radar when running a good fourth in the [...]
Vintner can be November Master for team Beckett November 4, 2025 DONCASTER’s November Handicap (3.45pm) on Saturday is the traditional end to the UK Flat season and is a race that is often run in attritional conditions. This year may be different though with the unusually dry weather for the time of year meaning the ground is unlikely to be really testing on Town Moor. With [...]
Take Frero and Harry against the field in the Sefton November 4, 2025 WITH the Flat action drawing to a close at Doncaster, National Hunt racing really kicks into gear with quality cards from Aintree and Wincanton this Saturday. For the first time this season, the Grand National fences will be in use in the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase (2.40pm), the feature at Aintree. Frero Banbou goes well [...]
Real to give bookies another Whacking in Charlie Hall October 28, 2025 BEFORE eyes turn to the Breeders’ Cup across the pond, there’s some top-class action from Wetherby and Ascot this Saturday. A field of 10 horses are currently declared for the Group Two Charlie Hall Chase (2.57pm), but many also have the option of the Down Royal Champion Chase with the likes of Pic D’Orhy, Hewick [...]
Speed and Romance can write Notable Del Mar Story October 28, 2025 JUMPS racing in the UK is the appetiser this Saturday as the Breeders’ Cup from Del Mar provides an evening of blockbuster action on the Flat. As usual there’s a real international flavour to the races with plenty of European contenders travelling over to take on the best of America on the Californian coast. The [...]
Bro and Grey’s can have final Say in Doncaster mud October 21, 2025 WHILE Jumps fans will be treated to their first taste of Cheltenham action this season on Friday, there’s still one top-drawer Flat meeting to enjoy from Doncaster. Saturday’s William Hill Futurity Trophy is the final Group One of the Flat campaign, with potential stars like Ballydoyle’s Derby favourite Benvenuto Cellini entered. However, extremely inclement weather [...]
Jasko to give Cheltenham backers good opening Rodeo October 21, 2025 THINGS move up a notch over jumps this week with the return of racing to HQ at Cheltenham. The opening Showcase Meeting from Prestbury Park provides two days of competitive action and while it’s worth treading carefully at this very early stage of the season, there looks to be some ante-post value to be had. [...]
