John Burke

Morning all,

I don’t know about you but it felt like October at the weekend. In fact, we had to put the central heating on for the first time, since the spring, on Saturday night.  However, the British weather being what it is. We could be about to hit another dry and almost warm (well for October) spell of weather. That’s good news for Future Champions Weekend at Newmarket on Friday and Saturday. But not such good news for Chepstow. The Welsh track's two-day meeting which starts on Friday is for many racing fans the fixture that marks the time when the switch from flat mode to jumping mode gains momentum.

Still there is plenty of life remaining in the flat season over the next couple of weeks. However, that sense that the winter jumps season is just a few precious weeks away.

Inside today’s main piece you can read my thoughts on Saturday’s action. Plus, I have two for the tracker and a selection from today’s meeting at Galway.

Morning all,

It’s the 100^th running of Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday. The world best horse race looks to have attracted a high-class field. The only two missing are Mishriff and the newly retired St Mark’s Basilica, both better over shorter. Apart from those two. The best middle-distance horses in Europe are all set to run including two Derby winners. Add in two top class Japanese contenders and you can see why the race looks worthy of all the hype.

Inside today’s main piece I look ahead to the Arc. Plus, I have a selection from Salisbury.

Morning all,

After some glorious weather last week. We’re moving towards a more typical unsettled autumn weather pattern. Plenty of rain is forecast this week so we can expect the going to ease around the racecourses. In fact, the rain was so bad we lost yesterday’s Hamilton’s card to waterlogging.

There were plenty of classic clues on offer at Newmarket on Saturday. However, there was also one at the Curragh. Inside you can read my thoughts on Luxembourg’s win of the Blandford Stakes. Plus, I have three for the tracker and a selection from Ayr.

Morning all,

The three-day Cambridgeshire meeting gets under way at Newmarket today with the feature race being the Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes (2.45). The Andre Fabre-trained Trident, runner-up in the Group 1 Prix Morny last time, heads the ante post betting and will be tough to beat.