Events / Timeform / 31 October 2008 /

All the weekend action previewed by the Halifax maestros.

There's something for everyone this weekend.

Newmarket plays host to its final meeting of the year on Saturday as we enter the last week of the 2008 Turf season. If last year's fixture is anything to go by it's one to watch closely for clues for next season as the likes of Dar Re Mi, Infallible and Twice Over all left their mark here twelve months ago.

The two maidens that begin proceedings at HQ are guaranteed to produce plenty of winners in the future and there are some impressive pedigrees on show among the newcomers. Three Listed races make up the backbone of the card with 14 two-year-olds declared for the Montrose Fillies' Stakes (2.10).

Bombina may not be the most straightforward but she created a good impression when winning a maiden at Yarmouth earlier this month, a performance made all the more impressive considering she'd ran loose beforehand. She's sure to do better providing her temperament holds and she's one to note in the betting as she was withdrawn twice before her debut having been well backed on both occasions. Enticement was a rare purchase at the sales by the Queen and the daughter of Montjeu earned a Timeform large 'P' after winning a maiden at Nottingham, overcoming considerable greenness to win going away by half a length. She looks an exciting prospect.

The Ben Marshall Stakes (3.55) brings the curtain down for the year on HQ, Bankable is likely to be a warm order to end his run of second-place finishes, having been beaten a length and a half by 50/1-shot Charlie Farnsbarns in the Darley Stakes at this track last time - the fifth consecutive start he's found just one too good. John Gosden's Virtual could pose the biggest threat. The three-year-old has looked back on the up of late, winning a handicap at Doncaster and a listed race comfortably in France on his last two starts. Having passed an inspection Ayr plays host to the only other card on the level in the afternoon and conditions are set to be testing. Evening racing comes from Great Leighs.

If National Hunt racing is more your thing then one look at Saturday's cards will have you salivating. It's Charlie Hall day at Wetherby and in the big race itself (3.35) Ollie Magern is set to carry top-weight as he bids to win the Grade 2 contest for the third time in four years. Last year's second and third, State Of Play and Monkerhostin respectively, are lined up to re-oppose. Seven races make up a bumper card at Ascot where a number of those set to swerve the Charlie Hall, notably Air Force One, will line up in the United House Gold Cup Handicap (2.05). It goes without saying that Paul Nicholls has got his string in tremendous form as the jumps season begins proper and his 32% strike rate in the last fortnight indicates that every one of his runners warrants consideration when having a bet this weekend.

One who'll no doubt be the subject of many column inches is Kauto Star who makes his reappearance in the James Nicholson (2.30) at Down Royal. The outstanding chaser's 2007/8 season ended on something of a damp note in the spring as he lost consecutive races for the first time since 2005. While he's still our highest-rated chaser, just 2 lb now separates him and stable-companion Denman and all roads lead to a re-match between the two at Cheltenham on March 13th. The 2007 Gold Cup winner has reportedly been working well and this is set to be his first race of three before March if all stays well, a trip to Haydock to attempt the hat-trick in the Betfair Chase and the King George at Kempton the other two connections have planned.

Timeform Race Cards are now available for every jumps meeting in Ireland from the downloads area for just £4 each.

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