close
close

What’s new this week: All roads lead to City Of Troy’s meeting with destiny at Del Mar, and Jumps stars return to Down Royal

What’s new this week: All roads lead to City Of Troy’s meeting with destiny at Del Mar, and Jumps stars return to Down Royal

Monday

Dan Skelton will bid to continue his winning momentum from the Cheltenham Showcase meeting when he sends five Warwickshire runners to Ayr, including promising newcomer Country Mile Steeplechase debutant (1.17).

The first Flat card races in Galway are worth watching as they have a history of producing useful players. Opener (12.30 p.m) was won by subsequent Group 1 winner Thundering Nights in 2019.

Other afternoon meetings are held on the Flats at Redcar and Leicester and over the jumps at Wexford, followed by all-weather evening meetings at Newcastle and Southwell.

The connections of the City Of Troy and company are going to reveal them Lottery of the Breeders’ Cup fate. The ceremony starts at 23.45 GMT.

Racing Post readers and Club Members’ Club subscribers can also get exclusive information on Gordon Elliott’s powerful team in our latest stable tour.

Tuesday

Jumping is concentrated in Wales, with matches in Chepstow and Bangor.

2m3½f Handicap Chasing Feature (3.10) at Chepstow attracted a deep competitive field. Grade 2 winner Do Your Job will compete against the winners of Nocte Volatus and Opening Bid, who failed last time.

Do Your Job won last time out at Wetherby and has since changed yards to join Charlie Longsdon

Do your work (right): Introduced in Chepstowcredit: John Grossick

Several well-connected types, including a half-brother to Hennessy Gold Cup winner Cloth Cap in Unleash The Beast, line up in the bumper (4.20). Featuring the powerful stables of Dan Skelton, Paul Nicholl, David Pipe, Fergal O’Brien, Joe Tizzard, Philip Hobbs and Harry Fry.

The action at Bangor will also be informative, with plenty of recent winners and some smart types looking to make seasonal comebacks. There are races on the Flat at Catterick and also at Newcastle in the evening.

The big autumn showjumps are coming up and entries for the Paddy Power Gold Cup, Greatwood Hurdle and Coral Gold Cup will be announced.

Wednesday

In the afternoon, Nottingham plays a good flat card, including Golden Horn Maiden (1.05) – won in 2020 by future Derby hero Adair – and the Robin Hood Listed Stakes (2.08).

Adayar: Aiming for first Group 1 win at a mile and a quarter

Adayar: Nottingham’s first winner in 2020 – who will follow in his footsteps? credit: Edward Whitaker

The selection of jumps action is at Newton Abbot where the 2m5½f hurdle (3.30) looks interesting. Several entries have had multiple wins recently, including Major Fortune, What A Johnny and El Granjero.

Fakenham also hosts the jumps card, with more level action coming from Kempton and Dundalk in the evening.

It’s a day of significance for Britons leaving the circuit as Chancellor Rachel Reeves presents Labour’s first budget for 14 years.

Racing Post readers can enjoy a new column from pro punter Mark Holder, who is back with his unforgettable tipping ideas. Lucinda Russell also gives the inner line of her string in our latest stable tour.

Thursday

From this moment on, the week begins to become more intense.

Declarations will be made for Saturday’s races, including the Grade 2 bet365 Hurdle and the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby and a lucrative Ascot card called the Sodexo Live! Gold Cup with a handicap.

Last season’s Betfair and runner-up over hurdles L’Eau Du Sud could make his debut over fences in a handicap chase (2.05) in Stratford.

Absurde won the steeplechase at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival

L’Eau Du Sud (Grey): Could be a novice chaser over two miles this seasoncredit: John Grossick

At Newcastle, the Ben Pauling-trained Northern Bound could lead the weight chase on a 2m4f handicap (2.45).

Thurles hosts Ireland’s show jumping events.

Flat racing in Britain takes place from Bath in the afternoon and Southwell and Chelmsford in the evening.

Friday

Many Flat trainers are hoping to unearth their own Bosra Sham in the race named after the flying filly (1.43) in Newmarket. The once-raced Nardra, trained by William Haggas, is very attractive with a superb debut win at Haydock.

Wetherby has listed action with the Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle (2.25) on the first day of the meeting at Charlie Hall. Double Cheltenham Festival winner Langer Dan entered the race in 2019 and was followed by subsequent Grade 1 winner Porticello two years later.

Among the possible candidates this year are three horses owned by the Gradley family in Liam Swagger, East India Dock and OPEC. Denzil could represent the Skeltons, while Fergal O’Brien could unwrap Roa de Bavier. Adrian Keatley can also run a double winner model.

Smart hurdler West Balboa can go for the 3m novice chase (1.15), while Midnight River, Colonel Harry and Outlaw Peter could run in the chase with a handicap of 2m3½f (3.00).

Virgin Moon

Diva Luna: The Grade 2 winner could make her debut over hurdles at Uttoxetercredit: Sarah Farnsworth

Exciting mares Diva Luna and Let It Rain (12.55 p.m) take part in the first steeplechase at Uttoxeter. Personal Ambition and Calif Du Berlet could clash in a 2m Novice Chase (2.35).

Evening racing takes place in Newcastle, but the main focus will be on Del Mar, where the Breeders’ Cup begins. Big Mojo and Asterius take part in the Junior Sprint (9.45), while Lake Victoria will bid to increase her claims for next year’s Classic on grass Juvenile Fillies (11.05).

Juvenile peat (12.25) will be a clash of major British and Irish stables as New Century, Al Qudra, Aomori City, Henri Matisse and The Waco Kid take on the local brigade.

Lake Victoria shows she has inherited a lot from both parents on strike in the Cheveley Park Stakes

Lake Victoria: The name of the star on the Del Mar Friday cardcredit: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

Saturday

The Breeders’ Cup culminates Saturday night as City Of Troy bids for greatness in the Classic (9.41) the center of an exciting evening of racing. Can he end his career with glory on a new surface against America’s elite?

Other star names on show include Bradsell, Believing and Big Evs in the Turf Sprint (7.41), star three-year-old dirty filly Torpedo Anna in the spinning wheel (8.21), Rebel’s Romance and Emily Upjohn in the Turf (9.01) and the Distinguished Speech, Porta Fortuna and Ramatuelle in the Mile (11.45).

Notable Speech wins Sussex Stakes from Maljoom

Notable speech: 2,000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes winner heads to Breeders’ Cup Milecredit: Edward Whitaker

There are high class jumps at Charlie Hall and the bet365 Hurdle at Wetherby and the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal (2.40), which should include Gerry Colomb and Envoy Allen, who finished second in last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Watch the stars perform on a great card at Ascot and there’s also jumping at Ayr.

Newmarket (two listed races) and Southwell (evening) host meetings on the Flat in Britain.

Sunday

It’s time to think about an important weekend full of sporting events.

Falcon Eight can win back-to-back in the Group 3 Loughbrown Stakes (2.27) in Carr.

Big-spending Kia Joorabchian, chief executive officer of Group One-winning team Amo Racing, is featured in The Big Read.


Read these next:

How do you see the Classics next year after the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster?

ITV Racing to show six races on each day of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, with new order of events revealed

“I always said that this horse is the apple of my eye. I promise you, you haven’t seen his best”


Looking for free bets? Racing Post has the best deals in one place. visit racingpost.com/freebets to learn more.