Six meetings go ahead on Friday 30 October: Wetherby, Uttoxeter and Down Royal over jumps, Newmarket on the Flat, and Newcastle and Dundalk on the all-weather into the evening. We’ve picked out the four best races of the day and pulled the stats that matter before you bet.

The biggest prize among the featured races is at Newmarket, where the 2.20pm St Simon Stakes is worth £42,533 to the winner. The richest race on the whole card is Wetherby’s 3.35pm Crossley Handicap Chase at £42,713. The going is Good To Soft at Newmarket, Good at Wetherby, Yielding at Down Royal and Standard at Newcastle.

Key Race Schedule For Friday 30th October

Time	Course	Race	Grade	Distance	Runners
2.00pm	Down Royal	Irish Stallion Farms EBF Feathard Lady Mares Novice Hurdle	Grade 3	2m 190y	9
2.20pm	Newmarket	St Simon Stakes	Group 3	1m4f	7
3.00pm	Wetherby	Paul Ferguson’s Jumpers To Follow Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle	Listed	2m	8
6.15pm	Newcastle	Midnite A Next Generation Betting App Handicap	Class 3	5f	13

2.00pm Down Royal – Irish Stallion Farms EBF Feathard Lady Mares Novice Hurdle

Nine mares line up for this Grade 3 novice hurdle over 2m 190y on Yielding ground, worth €24,738 to the winner. Eight of the nine have won over the trip, and the official ratings run from 112 to 124.

Top of the ratings: Switch From Diesel (Ross O’Sullivan, Conor Stone-Walsh) is rated 124 and Speisialta (Anthony John Black, Mr Eoin Staples) 123. They are the only two carrying 11st, with the rest on 10st 10lb.
Quick turnaround: Speisialta ran at Sligo just seven days ago and won last time out, her form reading 012031.
Long absences: Torpille Dagrostis returns after 198 days, Alliteration after 183 days and Salsinha after 151 days.
In-form jockey: Jack Kennedy is 3/10 (30%) in the last 14 days and rides Torpille Dagrostis for Gordon Elliott.
Henry De Bromhead pair: The stable runs unrated Ash Hobbs, who won last time 20 days ago, and Salsinha, second then first on her last two starts.

2.20pm Newmarket – St Simon Stakes

Seven go to post for the Group 3 St Simon Stakes over 1m4f on Good To Soft ground, with £42,533 to the winner. It is the most valuable of today’s featured races.

C&D winner: Al Aasy (William Haggas, Harry Davies) is the only course-and-distance winner in the field. The nine-year-old carries top weight of 9st 11lb and won his last two starts.
Ascot rematch: Royal Playwright was beaten a neck by Al Aasy over 1m4f at Ascot 27 days ago, and again receives 5lb from him today.
Ratings: Al Qareem tops the field on 113, ahead of Al Aasy on 112 and Aegean Prince on 110. Rebel Rocker is lowest on 103.
Andrew Balding double: Balding is 13/48 (27%) in the last 14 days and runs Royal Playwright and Old Harrovian.
Absentee: Al Qareem has been off for 139 days. Clifford Lee, 6/23 (26%) in the last 14 days, rides for K R Burke.

14:20 Newmarket

St Simon Stakes (Group 3)

View Course

Going Good To Soft
Distance 1m 4f 0y
Class Class 1
Race Type Flat Turf
Surface Turf
Runners 7

Prize Money

1st £42,533
2nd £16,125
3rd £8,070
4th £4,020
5th £2,018
6th £1,013

RTV

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

1 (4)

Al Aasy 27 days W: 9st 11lb Age: 9 yo Gelding

J: Harry Davies T: William Haggas

OR: 112 RPR: 119 Form: -21311

GG Racing Score 69% Ability 5.8/10 Draw — Jockey 6.7/10 Trainer 5/10 Course 10/10 Distance 8.3/10

2 (3) 10 tips

Aegean Prince 55 days OUR TIP W: 9st 6lb Age: 4 yo Gelding

J: Kieran Shoemark T: Charlie Appleby

OR: 110 RPR: 127 Form: 1/12-1

GG Racing Score 77% Ability 10/10 Draw — Jockey 3.3/10 Trainer 10/10 Course — Distance 5/10

3 (5) 2 tips

Al Qareem 139 days W: 9st 6lb Age: 7 yo Gelding

J: Clifford Lee T: K R Burke

OR: 113 RPR: 125 Form: 13-154

GG Racing Score 63% Ability 8.3/10 Draw — Jockey 5/10 Trainer 3.3/10 Course 2.5/10 Distance 10/10

4 (2)

Old Harrovian 41 days W: 9st 6lb Age: 7 yo Colt

J: Callum Hutchinson T: Andrew Balding

OR: 97 RPR: 108 Form: /212-6

GG Racing Score 49% Ability 0/10 Draw — Jockey 10/10 Trainer 7.5/10 Course 5/10 Distance 6.7/10

5 (6)

Royal Playwright 27 days W: 9st 6lb Age: 4 yo Colt

J: Jason Watson T: Andrew Balding

OR: 106 RPR: 118 Form: 153-52

GG Racing Score 28% Ability 3.3/10 Draw — Jockey 1.7/10 Trainer 7.5/10 Course 0/10 Distance 0.8/10

6 (7) 2 tips

Evanesco 27 days W: 9st 0lb Age: 3 yo Colt

J: Rowan Scott T: Charlie Johnston

OR: 106 RPR: 119 Form: 753152

GG Racing Score 54% Ability 5.8/10 Draw — Jockey 8.3/10 Trainer 1.7/10 Course 7.5/10 Distance 3.3/10

7 (1)

Rebel Rocker 48 days W: 9st 0lb Age: 3 yo Colt

J: David Probert T: Faye Bramley

OR: 103 RPR: 113 Form: 1-2648

GG Racing Score 8% Ability 1.7/10 Draw — Jockey 0/10 Trainer 0/10 Course — Distance 0.8/10

Form

1 (4)

Al Aasy 27 days C&D Win 9 yo Gelding · 9st 11lb

J: Harry Davies T: William Haggas

OR 112

RPR 119

TS 96

Form -21311

Win % 19%

Yet another fruitful campaign; rather disappointed in last two renewals of this race Form

2 (3) 10 tips

Aegean Prince 55 days 10 tips Top Course Trainer Distance Win 4 yo Gelding · 9st 6lb OUR TIP

J: Kieran Shoemark T: Charlie Appleby

OR 110

RPR 127

TS 94

Form 1/12-1

Win % 36%

4yo who's had just five races; deeply impressive in handicap at Haydock (1m6f, heavy) Form

3 (5) 2 tips

Al Qareem 139 days 2 tips Long Traveller Hot Jockey Distance Win 7 yo Gelding · 9st 6lb

J: Clifford Lee T: K R Burke

OR 113

RPR 125

TS 113

Form 13-154

Win % 17%

Off since June, after two uncharacteristically tame displays; big player at usual levels Form

4 (2)

Old Harrovian 41 days Hot Trainer Distance Win 7 yo Colt · 9st 6lb

J: Callum Hutchinson T: Andrew Balding

OR 97

RPR 108

TS 98

Form /212-6

Win % 3%

519 days off before respectable sixth in a handicap; this needs a big career best Form

5 (6)

Royal Playwright 27 days Hot Trainer 4 yo Colt · 9st 6lb

J: Jason Watson T: Andrew Balding

OR 106

RPR 118

TS 79

Form 153-52

Win % 12%

Neck 2nd to Al Aasy at Ascot (1m4f, good to firm; received 5lb) latest, up with his best Form

6 (7) 2 tips

Evanesco 27 days 2 tips Distance Win 3 yo Colt · 9st 0lb

J: Rowan Scott T: Charlie Johnston

OR 106

RPR 119

TS 100

Form 753152

Win % 9%

Has now earned a step up to Listed/Group events but needs further improvement Form

7 (1)

Rebel Rocker 48 days 3 yo Colt · 9st 0lb

J: David Probert T: Faye Bramley

OR 103

RPR 113

TS 100

Form 1-2648

Win % 4%

Maybe non-stayer in St Leger; back to 1m4f but he is clear bottom of this group on ratings Form

Terms and conditions

*Odds displayed on this page are sourced directly from online bookmakers. Please check all details before placing your bet(s). 18+ only.

Betting Forecast

7/2 Al Aasy, 11/8 Aegean Prince, 4/1 Al Qareem, 33/1 Old Harrovian, 13/2 Royal Playwright, 9/1 Evanesco, 20/1 Rebel Rocker

Verdict

Al Aasy continues to defy his advancing years but the concession of 5lb may prove too tough for him this time. Instead, this may well be where AEGEAN PRINCE can graduate successfully into Group events. He’s had just one race this year but it was a deeply impressive win, when the considerable promise of his earlier runs came to fruition with a runaway win in a good 1m6f handicap. The chief element of doubt arises from that race having been staged on heavy going, which would also have prevailed had this race gone ahead at its usual venue (Newbury was abandoned) whereas the ground here is seemingly unlikely to be anything like that testing. With Al Qareem needing to put his last two efforts way behind him, third on the list is Royal Playwright.[Richard Austen]

Selections

D Express:

Daily Mail:

Daily Mirror:

Daily Record:

NEWMARKET:

POSTDATA:

RP RATINGS:

SPOTLIGHT:

TOPSPEED:

Telegraph:

The Guardian:

The Star:

The Sun:

The Times:

3.00pm Wetherby – Paul Ferguson’s Jumpers To Follow Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle

Eight three-year-olds meet at level weights of 11st in this Listed juvenile hurdle over 2m on Good ground, worth £25,628 to the winner.

Unbeaten over hurdles: Wicksey (Ben Haslam, Richie McLernon) is 2-2 over hurdles. Minella Rockett (John J Nallen, Daniel King) won his only hurdle start in July and returns after 120 days.
Highest rated: Vietnorm (Adrian Paul Keatley, Oakley Brown) is rated 115 after winning at Market Rasen last month. Timely Salute is on 107 and Wicksey 105.
In-form jockey: Harry Skelton is 14/46 (30%) in the last 14 days and rides French Flat winner Sacre Chef for Dan Skelton. Sacre Chef was third on his stable and hurdle debut 20 days ago.
First-time blinkers: Pass The Buck (Harry Derham, Paul O’Brien) wears blinkers for the first time after finishing second at Chepstow 20 days ago.
Hurdle debut: Charles Darnay (James Owen, Jonathan Burke) makes his hurdling debut after finishing third on the Flat last month.

15:00 Wetherby

Paul Ferguson’s Jumpers To Follow Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle (Listed Race) (GBB Race)

View Course

Going Good
Distance 2m 0f 0y
Class Class 1
Race Type Hurdle Turf
Surface Turf
Runners 8

Prize Money

1st £25,628
2nd £9,617
3rd £4,815
4th £2,399
5th £1,206
6th £603

RTV

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

1 4 tips

Charles Darnay W: 11st 0lb Age: 3 yo Gelding

J: Jonathan Burke T: James Owen

OR: — RPR: — Form: —

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey 5.7/10 Trainer 8.3/10 Course — Distance —

Confused 20 days W: 11st 0lb Age: 3 yo Gelding

J: Harry Cobden T: Faye Bramley

OR: — RPR: 71 Form: 6

GG Racing Score 24% Ability 0/10 Draw — Jockey 7.1/10 Trainer 2.5/10 Course — Distance 2.5/10

3 6 tips

Minella Rockett 120 days OUR TIP W: 11st 0lb Age: 3 yo Colt

J: Daniel King T: John J Nallen

OR: — RPR: 113 Form: 1

GG Racing Score 69% Ability 10/10 Draw — Jockey 0/10 Trainer — Course — Distance 7.5/10

Pass The Buck 20 days W: 11st 0lb Age: 3 yo Colt

J: Paul O’Brien T: Harry Derham

OR: — RPR: 106 Form: 32

GG Racing Score 36% Ability 5/10 Draw — Jockey 2.9/10 Trainer 5/10 Course — Distance 0/10

5 1 tip

Sacre Chef 20 days W: 11st 0lb Age: 3 yo Gelding

J: Harry Skelton T: Dan Skelton

OR: — RPR: 98 Form: 3

GG Racing Score 52% Ability 1.7/10 Draw — Jockey 10/10 Trainer 10/10 Course — Distance 2.5/10

Timely Salute 34 days W: 11st 0lb Age: 3 yo Colt

J: Freddie Mitchell T: Max Comley

OR: 107 RPR: 102 Form: 121

GG Racing Score 31% Ability 3.3/10 Draw — Jockey 1.4/10 Trainer 2.5/10 Course — Distance 5/10

7 2 tips

Vietnorm 34 days W: 11st 0lb Age: 3 yo Colt

J: Oakley Brown T: Adrian Paul Keatley

OR: 115 RPR: 112 Form: 12O1

GG Racing Score 84% Ability 8.3/10 Draw — Jockey 8.6/10 Trainer 6.7/10 Course — Distance 10/10

Wicksey 60 days W: 11st 0lb Age: 3 yo Colt

J: Richie McLernon T: Ben Haslam

OR: 105 RPR: 107 Form: 11

GG Racing Score 50% Ability 6.7/10 Draw — Jockey 4.3/10 Trainer 0/10 Course — Distance 7.5/10

Form

1 4 tips

Charles Darnay 4 tips Top Course Trainer Top Course Jockey 3 yo Gelding · 11st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke T: James Owen

OR —

RPR —

TS —

Form —

Win % 19%

Ran to useful level when third on the Flat last month; interesting on hurdle debut Form

Confused 20 days Long Traveller 3 yo Gelding · 11st 0lb

J: Harry Cobden T: Faye Bramley

OR —

RPR 71

TS 38

Form 6

Win % 3%

Useful Flat form this year but beaten about 41l when sixth on recent hurdling debut Form

3 6 tips

Minella Rockett 120 days 6 tips Distance Win 3 yo Colt · 11st 0lb OUR TIP

J: Daniel King T: John J Nallen

OR —

RPR 113

TS 19

Form 1

Win % 33%

Won on hurdling debut in July and has made good progress on the Flat since; big player Form

Pass The Buck 20 days Top Course Trainer 1st Blinkers 3 yo Colt · 11st 0lb

J: Paul O’Brien T: Harry Derham

OR —

RPR 106

TS 84

Form 32

Win % 8%

Bettered low-key stable/hurdle debut when clear second at Chepstow; now sports blinkers Form

5 1 tip

Sacre Chef 20 days 1 tip Top Course Trainer Hot Jockey Top Course Jockey 3 yo Gelding · 11st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton T: Dan Skelton

OR —

RPR 98

TS 71

Form 3

Win % 10%

French Flat winner; promising third on recent stable/hurdle debut; can build on that Form

Timely Salute 34 days Long Traveller Distance Win 3 yo Colt · 11st 0lb

J: Freddie Mitchell T: Max Comley

OR 107

RPR 102

TS 86

Form 121

Win % 6%

Battled well to win Class 5 handicap last month; not favoured by these weights, though Form

7 2 tips

Vietnorm 34 days 2 tips Top Course Trainer Distance Win 3 yo Colt · 11st 0lb

J: Oakley Brown T: Adrian Paul Keatley

OR 115

RPR 112

TS 105

Form 12O1

Win % 12%

Held on well to fend off odds-on favourite at Market Rasen last month (front pair clear) Form

Wicksey 60 days Distance Win 3 yo Colt · 11st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon T: Ben Haslam

OR 105

RPR 107

TS 36

Form 11

Win % 10%

Fair Flat racer who is 2-2 over hurdles; this is tougher but he might still be improving Form

Terms and conditions

*Odds displayed on this page are sourced directly from online bookmakers. Please check all details before placing your bet(s). 18+ only.

Betting Forecast

7/2 Charles Darnay, 25/1 Confused, 13/8 Minella Rockett, 10/1 Pass The Buck, 8/1 Sacre Chef, 14/1 Timely Salute, 6/1 Vietnorm, 8/1 Wicksey

Verdict

It will be interesting to see how well useful Flat racer Charles Darnay takes to hurdling but preference is for Irish raider MINELLA ROCKETT, who has shown better form on the Flat and created a pretty good impression on his hurdling debut at Limerick in the summer. Vietnorm was one of two to pull a long way clear of the others when beating an odds-on favourite at Market Rasen last month and is second choice.[Chris Wilson]

Selections

D Express:

Daily Mail:

Daily Mirror:

Daily Record:

POSTDATA:

RP RATINGS:

SPOTLIGHT:

TOPSPEED:

Telegraph:

The Guardian:

The Star:

The Sun:

The Times:

6.15pm Newcastle – Midnite A Next Generation Betting App Handicap

Thirteen runners line up for this Class 3 sprint handicap over 5f on Standard ground, worth £7,956 to the winner. The ratings range from 77 to 97.

C&D winners: Five runners have won over course and distance: Germanic, Against The Wind, Michaelas Boy, Vintage Clarets and Juan Les Pins.
Topweight: Germanic (Julie Camacho, Ryan Sexton) is the top-rated runner on 97 and carries 9st 11lb. He was third last time out, 24 days ago.
Hot trainer: Michael Herrington is 6/17 (35%) in the last 14 days. His Elyam won both of his starts at Southwell last month after a long absence.
Up in class: Juan Les Pins won over 6f here 18 days ago and steps up two classes. He and Vintage Clarets are bottom of the weights on 77.
In-form jockey: P J McDonald is 4/18 (22%) in the last 14 days and rides Forager for Simon Pearce. Forager won two starts ago.

Trainers and jockeys in form

These strike rates cover the last 14 days, and every name has runners in today’s featured races.

Name	Role	Last 14 days	Featured runners today
Michael Herrington	Trainer	6/17 (35%)	Elyam (6.15pm Newcastle)
Andrew Balding	Trainer	13/48 (27%)	Royal Playwright, Old Harrovian (2.20pm Newmarket)
Harry Skelton	Jockey	14/46 (30%)	Sacre Chef (3.00pm Wetherby)
Jack Kennedy	Jockey	3/10 (30%)	Torpille Dagrostis (2.00pm Down Royal)
Clifford Lee	Jockey	6/23 (26%)	Al Qareem (2.20pm Newmarket)
P J McDonald	Jockey	4/18 (22%)	Forager (6.15pm Newcastle)

Key angles

Newcastle C&D depth: Five of the 13 runners at 6.15pm have won over course and distance, more than any other featured race.
St Simon form line: Al Aasy beat Royal Playwright by a neck at Ascot last time, and the weight difference between them is unchanged at 5lb.
Unbeaten juveniles: Wicksey and Minella Rockett are both unbeaten over hurdles going into the Wensleydale.
Returning mares: Three of the nine at Down Royal have been off for at least 151 days.

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Next Race Off

Friday Racing Cheat Sheet: Stats & Trends For Newmarket, Wetherby, Down Royal And Newcastle

Key Race Schedule For Friday 30th October

2.00pm Down Royal – Irish Stallion Farms EBF Feathard Lady Mares Novice Hurdle

14:00 Down Royal

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Feathard Lady Mares Novice Hurdle (Grade 3)

Verdict

Selections

2.20pm Newmarket – St Simon Stakes

14:20 Newmarket

St Simon Stakes (Group 3)

Verdict

Selections

3.00pm Wetherby – Paul Ferguson’s Jumpers To Follow Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle

15:00 Wetherby

Paul Ferguson’s Jumpers To Follow Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle (Listed Race) (GBB Race)

Verdict

Selections

6.15pm Newcastle – Midnite A Next Generation Betting App Handicap

18:15 Newcastle

Midnite A Next Generation Betting App Handicap

Verdict

Selections

Trainers and jockeys in form

Key angles