Tony Calvin: A brilliant weekend in store for racing fans

So far, so good for our 14-1 Leger fancyHousesofparliament. At least he has made it to the five-day stage for the Classic - along with six other stablemates, granted - and let's hope he now gets the green light on Thursday morning.

Little has clearly changed since I stuck him up last week - well, aside from the withdrawal of similarly-priced horses Wings Of Desire and Algometer - and the reasoning stands.

Idaho quite clearly remains the horse to beat but I wouldn't be beating a path to anyone's door to back him at 1.9110/11, but more of that race on Friday evening.

The Leger aside, it is a very busy week on the racing front. The four-day St Leger meeting starts on Wednesday, we have the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, and the Irish St Leger at the Curragh and the Arc trials on Sunday.

It makes sense to go through the live ante-post races in chronological order, and that means kicking off with Friday - the day-of-race declarations were out for Thursday at 10am on Tuesday morning, which meant an end to the ante-post betting window on that day - and the Mallard Stakes.

Obviously running plans for the 3yo+ 1m6f132yd handicap are up in the air, and the current forecast is for the good-to-soft going to dry up considerably this week.

That probably isn't deal for Desert Encounter, who heads the market for 8.07/1, even though he has won on fast ground, and impressive Melrose winner Wall Of Fire probably wouldn't want it to dry appreciably either.

Life Less Ordinary interests me at a price but I'd rather wait until nearer the day before playing, and that is a theme of all ante-post markets this week, in truth.

The other ante-post market live on Friday's card is the Doncaster Cup where Mizzou looks a very worthy favourite at 3.7511/4 on the exchange.

Domestically, Saturday's card is pretty strong. Aside from the Leger, the Portland handicap over 5f140yd is traditionally a very competitive and open sprint - and it is 10-1 the field this time around, too - and there is also the small matter of the Champagne Stakes and the 3yo+ 7f Group 2 race.

Running plans are up in the air for both but if the principals stand their ground for the Champagne Stakes, it looks a cracking renewal - Mehmas just shades favouritism from River and Boynton in most lists, even though he has his stamina to prove - and Nemoralia will take plenty of stopping in the older 7f race, on drying ground, if she takes in this contest instead of a Friday Doncaster option or a Saturday engagement at Leopardstown.

The classiest action on Saturday is over in Ireland though, with the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown taking centre stage. And what a race it will be if all the big guns race.

Unlikely, I know, but with a four-day line-up currently consisting of Minding, Harzand, Almanzor, Fascinating Rock, Highland Reel, Found, New Bay, Hawkbill and US Army Ranger - to name just nine - it promises to be a race for the ages. Even if just five or six of those run.

Minding heads the market at around the 7-4 and 15-8 mark, but that looks a bit on the short side to me against that level of opposition. She is also currently in the 1m Group 1 Fillies & Mares Matron Stakes on the card which could be a slight area of concern if connections have a late re-think...

As it is, Qemah is the strong favourite for the Matron, with the Betfair Sportsbook making the dual Group 1 winner a 6-4 chance.

It is Arc Trials day at Chantilly on Sunday, so expect the Arc betting itself to come in for a big shake-up this weekend.

Postponed is currently the 5.14/1 favourite for the race and he is about the only top-class contender not in action this weekend, or rather entered up. And, oh, I forgot to say that Order Of St George is due to run in, and win, the Irish St Leger at the Curragh on Sunday, too.

The latest Japanese superstar, Derby winner Makahiki, is favourite for the Niel, while no-one really knows who is going to rock up in the Foy.

Betfair and Paddy Power are the only two firms to have priced up the Vermeille and they make the incredibly impressive Yorkshire Oaks winner Seventh Heaven the 2-1 favourite.

Throw in the Moulin too - the Sportsbook make Zelzal the 5-2 favourite - and this weekend is simply an embarrassment of riches.

It is just that I currently don't have any idea of a decent bet in them. If you do, you have plenty to get stuck into above, as you may have gathered.....