General / Andrew Hughes / 24 October 2009 / Leave a comment

There's something for everyone in the racing week ahead with high-quality flat contests at Longchamp, Leopardstown and Newmarket and some exciting jumps action at Ascot and Wetherby. Andrew Hughes brings us the highlights

"The first major conditions event of the autumn, the Charlie Hall is a perennially fascinating three-mile-and-a-furlong Grade Two chase"

Sunday October 25

Galway

3:00 Barna Waste Ballybrit Novice Chase
A Grade Three chase run over seventeen furlongs, likely to feature a small field of good young novices and worth noting for future prospects. Let Yourself Go looks the best of these, winner of his last three races, including at Graded contest at Limerick two weeks ago.

Wincanton

3:00 F J Chalke Desert Orchid Handicap Chase
An interesting three-and-a-half mile chase in the West Country for the Desert Orchid Silver Cup. Some talented horses lining up for this one, including the promising novice Toby Jug.

Longchamp

1:35 Prix Royal-Oak
A Group One run over a mile-and-a-half and though it is not of the very highest class, it will feature some consistent Group-class horses. Pick of the entries is probably Sir Michael Stoute's Ask, winner of the Coronation Cup earlier in the year and not seen since July.

Monday October 26

Leopardstown

1:25 J R A Killavullan Stakes
A Group Three race for two-year-olds that has been farmed by Ballydoyle in recent seasons. Aidan O'Brien has a number of entries including the highest rated, Air Chief Marshall, but there are a number of unexposed and talented youngsters entered here, including Dermot Weld's Thunder Bridge, impressive winner of a Sligo maiden last time out.

3:55 Jockey Club of Turkey Trigo Stakes
A ten-furlong Listed event for those on the fringes of Group-class that features some up and coming three-year-olds including the progressive Distant Memories, comfortable winner of a Ripon handicap last time out.

Thursday October 29

Lingfield

2:10 EBF All-Weather 20th Anniversary River Eden Fillies' Stakes
A competitive thirteen-furlong Listed event confined to fillies. There are some interesting horses entered here from the top stables including Godolphin's undefeated Ribblesdale winner Flying Cloud.

2:40 EBF All-Weather 20th Anniversary Fleur De Lys Fillies' Stakes
Another Listed event for fillies, this one over a mile. At this stage, the entries are dominated by three-year olds including Marcus Tregonning's lightly raced Dalakhani filly, Arwaah.

Friday October 30

Wetherby

2:40 bet365.com Handicap Chase
A competitive two-and-a-half-mile Listed event. Horses performing well here are sometimes aimed at the Paddy Power at Cheltenham's Open meeting.

3:15 Weatherbys Bank Wensleydale Juvenile Novices' Hurdle
Another Listed event, won by some useful juveniles in the past and which may include one or two early contenders for the Triumph Hurdle.

Newmarket

1:50 EBF Igloos Boshra Sham Fillies' Stakes
A six-furlong contest for some of the speedier two-year-old fillies around. This event has varied in quality but an impressive performer here can sneak into Guineas contention.

Saturday October 31

Wetherby

2:20 Best Odds Guaranteed At bet365 Mares' Hurdle
A Listed race that is fairly new to the calendar, confined to mares and run over two-miles-and-half-a-furlong.

2:55 bet365 Charlie Hall Chase
The first major conditions event of the autumn, the Charlie Hall is a perennially fascinating three-mile-and-a-furlong Grade Two chase although it is usually of limited significance for the big Grade One staying chases later in the season.

3:25 John Smith's Hurdle
A Grade Two event run over three-miles-and-a-furlong for some of the smarter staying hurdlers.

Ascot

1:50 United House Gold Cup Handicap Chase
A typically competitive Saturday race with the big prize likely to attract some top class contenders for this three-mile Listed contest.

3:00 williamhill.com Handicap Hurdle
This is a keenly fought two-mile event that usually features a big field of closely matched hurdlers and often goes to something with a touch of class.

3:35 Byrne Group Handicap Chase
Another competitive handicap, this time over two-miles-and-a-furlong for the speedier chasers.

Newmarket

2:35 James Seymour Stakes
A ten-furlong Listed event that in a good year can feature some decent horses.

3:10 Ben Marshall Stakes
A typically competitive end of season Listed contest that is likely to involve a big field with the usual mixture of failed Group horses and progressive handicappers.

3:45 Montrose Fillies' Stakes
Another Listed mile event that offers a decent test of stamina for these two-year-old fillies up the galloping Rowley course.

Tags: Ascot races, Ask, charlie hall chase, horseracing betting briefing, Longchamp, Wetherby