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• 76 winners and counting - a fine season

  COMMENT

• Classy Infraad look s wel l up to Listed level

  Wednesday Green Area 5.25 Catterick, 1m4f handicap Green Area scored comfortably when off the mark at the third attempt at Carlisle last month and looks well treated to strike on her handicap debut.

• Two options for our Star to regain winning thread

  AFTER a landmark double last Saturday, we have our sights on stakes races either side of the Channel this weekend.

• Impressive Queen Of The Gulf could have Classic potential

  RICHARD HUGHES (below) enjoyed a double on the Cambridgeshire card at Newmarket on Saturday and most of the attention went to fillies' nursery scorer Al Samsama.

• Droopys the one to book cup final ticket

  THE SIS Star Sports Stewards Cup semi-finals take place at Star Pelaw on Saturday evening and there is plenty to play for as a majority of the cream rose to the top in the first round.

• Race of the day Sun Chariot Stakes

  It's hard to see past the favourite Story of the race and was best of the rest behind Blue Bolt when stepping up to Group 1 company three weeks ago. She isn't fully exposed but does need more to gain revenge.

• Could River and Gstaad switch?

  ONE thing it's taken me a long time to cotton on to is that when the Ballydoyle team have a plan for one of their runners they nearly always stick to it.

• Curracloe in the picture for next season's Guineas

  She's On The Ball Second, 7f handicap Listowel, September 22 The Laura Hourigan-trained She's On The Ball has taken her form to a new level since having a tongue-tie fitted and was unlucky not to have followed up her recent Cork success at Listowel last week, having finished strongly from an impossible position.

• Daryz is likely to start favourite but keep a close eye on the draw

  The contenders This looks a decent running with plenty of Group 1 winners still among the entries.

• Varandir and Thundering On are the big two in Arc puzzle

  Youngsters dominant Older horses have offered stern resistance in recent times, with four and five-yearolds responsible for six of the last eight winners. However, with a generous weight-for-age allowance, first preference is always for one from the Classic generation.

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• Speech the warm favourite

  Queen Anne Stakes 2.30 Ascot, 1m, Group...

• Bullet ready to f ire as small but select team heads north

  MY first job in racing was with William Haggas at Somerville Lodge and I spent eight influential years there. The standards are set high in the yard and are ingrained in my mind as to how an operation should be run....

• All bases covered as huge team sets sail for Cotswolds

  THE traditional Britain v Ireland contest at the Cheltenham Festival has been extremely one-sided of late with the visitors bagging the majority of wins. However, such is the dominance of Willie Mullins' yard some might say it would be better to bill the week as Closutton against the rest....

• After slowish start Lambourn ace has engaged top gear

  IT WAS a slower start than usual this season for Clive Cox's Lambourn team but now they have found top gear they have been banging in winners from all angles....

• Strong team ready to build on solid start to the season

  THERE is a spring in the step of everyone involved at Bankhouse stables this season as the Donald McCain team continue in redhot form with 60 winners in the bag already. The Cheshire-based handler is now firmly back where he wants to be and, despite admitting he never sets standards, there must be...

• Minella can call the tune at Thurles on Thursday

  Wednesday Strong Power 3.10 Newcastle, 5f handicap Strong Power comes here on a roll having won his last three and looks set to complete a four-timer....

• Consistent yard pinning hopes on fresh Thyme

  IT IS 32 years since Moody Man won the County Hurdle, giving Philip Hobbs his first winner at the Cheltenham Festival, and the ever-reliable Somerset trainer is back again this week in search of a 20th success on racing's greatest stage....

• The great grey who made Aintree his stage

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• Mukha set to show off his magic with Fisher booked

  Wednesday Midnight Moll 3.30 Catterick, 7f novice Midnight Moll is the one to beat here despite her penalty, and she can gain her second win from three starts....

• Tuesday Cheltenham Rest of ITV

  1.30 Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle 2m½f Grade...