Busy Period Approaches in the Racing World as Huge Meetings Converge on the Calendar

Cheltenham and Aintree begin their seasons this weekend. Considering that, along with the fact that the Charlie Hall Chase, the unofficial start, is coming fast, means the jumps campaign is well underway.

Despite that, there is so much more to settle on the flat both in Britain and elsewhere round the world. As the racing worlds collide, we’re looking at the fascinating contrasting events we have to look forward to in the next few weeks.

Jumpers Getting into Swing

This weekend marks the start of Cheltenham’s season as the track hosts the Showcase Meeting.

Friday is arguably the higher-quality day as it features the Grade 2 Sky Bet Novices’ Hurdle, though most of the betting will be done on Saturday. That seven-race card features the Class 2 Pertemps Handicap Hurdle with the winner now guaranteed a place in the final at the Festival in March.

It’s Old Roan Chase Day at Aintree on Sunday. The big race may feature Protektorat and Stage Star among others.

Old Roan Chase 2024 Betting

The Grand Sefton Handicap Chase is another big betting race, run at Aintree on November 9. That is followed by the Greatwood Hurdle, part of the famed November Meeting at Cheltenham on November 17.

Before all that, the Charlie Hall Chase is run at Wetherby. This top three-miler, a Grade 2, is considered the proper start of the jumps season with the winner automatically given quotes for the Gold Cup. The meeting is run over November 1 and 2, the same time as a very different meeting over in the States.

One Last Group 1 in Britain

Doncaster starts the flat turf season in Britain and, next month, it will end it too. In between and coming this Saturday, Town Moor also hosts the final Group 1 in Britain as the juveniles look to see out the mile in the Futurity Stakes.

Futurity Stakes 2024 Betting

With the course potentially drying up nicely all week, all intended runners should take their chance being well. While Newmarket winner Wimbledon Hawkeye remains favourite, those runners should now include a big challenge from Detain, a very taking colt owned by Juddmonte.

Along with horses representing Godolphin and Coolmore, this should be a very high quality end to domestic Group 1 action for 2024. There will also be betting shifts in both the 2000 Guineas and Derby markets afterwards.

Del Mar Looking Very Hot

Breeders' Cup LogoThe warmer weather isn’t the only thing to look forward to for runners and horsemen at the Breeders’ Cup. This year’s meeting, run at Del Mar over November 1 & 2, looks scorching in terms of both home runners and those arriving from these shores.

Most of the conversations in Britain and Ireland, frankly too many, have concerned City Of Troy’s attempt to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic. If he’s anything like his daddy Justify, he can handle it fine but that’s an unknown and even on the balance of his form he has his work cut out.

Charlie Appleby will have his usual strong team. We find out pre-entries in an announcement late on Wednesday afternoon, but what we do know is that 2000 Guineas and Sussex winner Notable Speech is heading to California. He would be a rightful favourite in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Speaking of the Boys in Blue, Godolphin will strongly back Appleby’s penchant for an American winner but have an even stronger overall squad. US-trained East Avenue was hugely impressive last time and is favourite for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Their Immersive is also favourite for the fillies’ equivalent.

As well as this, they have lively outsider Highland Falls going up against City Of Troy and co in the Classic which will be a very high quality race, as they all will.

Breeders' Cup Classic

There are 14 championship races in all. Five are run on Friday and are all for juveniles, while the other nine are all staged on Saturday. It’ll be some spectacle.

Melbourne Cup and More

On Tuesday November 5, straight after the Breeders’ Cup, comes Australia’s biggest race. The Melbourne Cup is run in the early hours UK time and will be as competitive as ever.

Many top-level British and Irish trainers have begun leaving this meeting alone of late. For those who don’t know, the main reason is the invasive veterinary checks enforced on them by the Victoria vets. There may be some easing of that in future but for now, the Gosdens and the Applebys are nowhere to be seen.

Aidan O’Brien looks set to return however and in fact has the current favourite in Jan Brueghel. Willie Mullins tries again with Vauban and Absurde, while a good performance in Wednesday’s Geelong Cup could see Brian Ellison’s Northumberland Plate winner Onesmoothoperator also take part.

Sunday, December 8 is another massive date. The Hong Kong Sprint, Hong Kong Mile, Hong Kong Vase and Hong Kong Cup are all Group 1 races run at Sha Tin with millions of pounds on the line.

There should be some strong British and Irish interest in those contests, perhaps more than we’ve seen before in fact, which takes us up to the festive season.

For those who keep their finger on the pulse, even that’s not the end of the flat action. After a brief lull, the end of December and into January takes us into Dubai Carnival territory. Racing will take place just about every week leading all the way to World Cup Night in late March.