Horse racing fans have plenty to look forward to over the next few weeks, with several major meetings taking place in the United Kingdom and overseas.
British Champions Day at Ascot takes centre stage later this month, before the Breeders’ Cup World Championships and Melbourne Cup hog the headlines at the start of November.
Read on as we preview the upcoming meetings and identify some of the horses we think will give punters a good run for their money.
Dettori set for final Ascot swansong
Top jockey Frankie Dettori will bring the curtain down on his riding career in the UK on October 21 on what promises to be an emotional day at his favourite racecourse.
Dettori was scheduled to retire at the end of 2023, but has confirmed he will be extending his career by riding as a freelance jockey in the United States.
He will have a ride in each of the give Group races on British Champions Day and will be eager to wave goodbye to his adoring fans with at least one winner.
Courage Mon Ami (Long Distance Cup) and Inspiral (Queen Elizabeth II Stakes) are among the horses Dettori has been booked to ride next weekend.
However, his best chance of bagging a winner could King Of Steel, with the strapping grey among the favourites for the Group 1 Champions Stakes.
The horse finished second in the Epsom Derby before landing the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot – form which gives him an excellent chance next weekend,
He was given an awful ride when finishing fourth in the Irish Champions Stakes at Leopardstown, which prompted Amo Racing boss Kia Joorabchian to axe retained jockey Kevin Stott.
Trainer Roger Varian has given King Of Steel time to recover from those exertions and odds of 4/1 could look generous if Dettori can work his magic.
Arcangelo will be tough to beat in the Breeders’ Cup Classic
The $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic is the standout race of a two-day meeting at Santa Anita that generates a ton of activity on online betting sites.
Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes winner Arcangelo has been well backed to win the race in recent weeks and could be extremely tough to stop.
Trainer Jean Antonucci says the horse has settled in nicely at Santa Anita since arriving from New York in September and his workouts have been impressive.
Last year’s champion two-year-old Forte finished eight lengths behind Arcangelo, while Preakness winner National Treasure and Kentucky Derby winner Mage were also defeated with ease.
Unlike many top-class North American horses, Arcangelo relishes running over longer distances which should stand him in good stead in the Classic.
Antonucci gives him plenty of time to recover in between each run – a concept that many rival trainers struggle to get to grips with.
Arcangelo’s sire Arrogate won the Classic in 2016, producing a storming run down the stretch to overhaul California Chrome in the final few strides.
Everything points to Arcangelo running a big race in the Classic and he is strongly fancied to claim the prestigious prize.
Mullins aiming to secure first Melbourne Cup victory
Trainer Willie Mullins will head to Australia at the start of November hoping to return to Ireland with the prestigious Melbourne Cup in his possession.
Mullins has never won ‘the race that stops the nation’, although he did come close when his Max Dynamite was an unlucky second in 2015.
The horse returned to Flemington Racecourse two years later, but was out of luck again as he finished third behind Rekindling.
Mullins is double-handed in this year’s Melbourne Cup, with Vauban and Absurde both holding excellent chances of breaking his duck in the race.
Vauban romped home ahead of Absurde in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot before following up with another impressive win in a Group 3 at Naas.
Top British jockey Ryan Moore is expected to ride Vauban at Flemington and the combination look a good bet to deliver a winning return for punters at odds of 4/1.
If Moore is required to ride one of trainer Aidan O’Brien’s runners, Mullins could turn to Dettori who is yet to secure a mount for the race.
Absurde is also a lively contender after winning the Ebor Handicap at York and could be a decent each-way proposition under jockey Zac Purton.
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Michael specializes in journalism, digital content production and social media management. He has a passion for numerous sports including football, horse racing and ice hockey. Michael currently works on a freelance basis, producing daily content for various outlets within the sports industry.
