What's on this week: the final domestic Group 1 of the year at Doncaster plus Cheltenham returns with Showcase meeting

Monday

The Group 3 Prix des Reservoirs (3.53) headlines a strong card at Deauville, which also includes two Listed contests in the form of the Criterium de Vitesse (1.30) and Prix Vulcain (5.03). In the first named, debut scorers Sandtrap and Miss Tonnerre, trained by Ralph Beckett and Ed Walker, form part of the international challenge alongside the Raphael Freire-trained Li Ban.

In Britain, the pick of the action comes from Pontefract, which features the Listed Tankard Stakes (3.15). Ascot maiden winner Calla Lagoo, Love Talk, Castle Stuart, Tuscan Hill and Basalt contest the mile event.

There are also fixtures from Bath, Gowran Park and a jumps card from Plumpton, while the day is rounded off with two meetings from Southwell and Wolverhampton.

Away from the track, confirmations for Saturday's action, including the second day of Cheltenham's October meeting and Doncaster's Group 1 Futurity Trophy, will be revealed. 

Punters will also be able to pick up The Big Jump Off, our free unmissable 72-page supplement on the new jumps season available in the Racing Post newspaper.

Tuesday

The Group 3 Staffordstown Stud Stakes (1.30) at the Curragh has attracted a competitive field of 12 and should be informative. Aidan O'Brien, a winner six times in the past ten years, is responsible for ante-post favourite Giselle, Island Hopping, Whirl and Mint Candy.

In Britain, Art Decco will attempt to land a four-timer for trainer Robert Walford in the feature 3m handicap chase (4.28) at Exeter.

With Perth's seven-race jumps meeting falling foul of the weather, the remaining afternoon action comes on the Flat at Yarmouth, before racing concludes with an evening all-weather card from Newcastle.

Wednesday

The seven-race card at Newmarket, which has produced high-class winners such as Mutasaabeq, is headlined by the 1m2f handicap (3.30). Last-time-out scorers Sing Us A Song and Watching Stars could take their chances for Beckett and Charlie Appleby respectively.

Oscars Moonshine has made the switch from Paul Nicholls to Georgina Nicholls and could make his first start in a year in the feature 2m3f hurdle (3.40) at Fontwell. The Ben Pauling-trained Whatsupwithyou and Paul Nicholls’s Inca De Lafayette are also engaged.

There is also a jumps card from Southwell and action on the Flat at Navan, while the day concludes with an evening all-weather fixture from Kempton.

Declarations for day one of Cheltenham's two-day October meeting, which includes the Grade 2 Sky Bet Novices' Hurdle, will be confirmed.

Lookaway: won the Grade 2 novice hurdle at Cheltenham last yearCredit: John Grossick

Thursday

It's a busy day of jumping action, with Ludlow, Clonmel and Carlisle all staging afternoon fixtures.

At the latter, British and Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins could saddle only his third runner at the track as three-time winner Fine Margin holds an entry for the 2m4f novice chase (2.20).

There is an afternoon Flat card from Nottingham, before the day concludes with all-weather racing from Southwell and Wolverhampton.

Punters will be able to start looking towards the weekend as declarations for Saturday's action will be revealed.

Away from the track, a parliamentary debate takes place at Westminster Hall into government support for the racing industry.

Friday

The changing of the seasons is evident as Newbury hosts the first day of its final meeting of the Flat campaign, while Cheltenham returns with the opening day of the Showcase meeting.

Dancing On My Own: classy chaser is set to return to Cheltenham on FridayCredit: John Grossick

Dancing On My Own bids to record back-to-back victories in the 2m handicap chase (2.25), while Gale Mahler could bid for a seventh win on the spin in the 2m Grade 2 novice hurdle (3.00).

There is also racing at Sligo, Dundalk, where the Group 3 Mercury Stakes (7.30) takes place, Wolverhampton and Doncaster.

Saturday

Is Wimbledon Hawkeye a genuine Classic contender for 2025? We will find out at Doncaster when the Royal Lodge winner bids to land the final Group 1 of the British Flat season, the William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes (2.45).

A win would cap a remarkable year for his trainer James Owen, who only had his first Flat runner in November 2023, and powerhouse stables Aidan O'Brien, Ralph Beckett and John and Thady Gosden could have runners in opposition.

Hotazhell: Irish contender is high up in the betting for the FuturityCredit: CAROLINE NORRIS

Newbury's final day of Flat racing in 2024 features the St Simon Stakes (1.30), Horris Hill Stakes (2.05) and the Radley Stakes (3.14), while there is also Flat racing on the all-weather at Wolverhampton.

Cheltenham hosts a seven-race card, the Edinburgh Gin Chase (4.00) takes place at Kelso and there is the first day of a two-day meeting at Galway.

Sunday

A cloudy forecast will be the desire for officials at Aintree with the course preparing to host the Old Roan Chase, a contest that has in the past been impacted by low sun.

Racing also takes place in Britain at Wincanton and at Galway in Ireland, but there is top-quality action taking place across the globe in Japan, Germany, Italy and France.

In Japan, the Tenno Sho (Autumn), won last year by the brilliant Equinox, takes place at Tokyo.

Three Group 1s take place at Saint-Cloud in France, with the Prix Royal-Oak, Criterium de Saint-Cloud and Criterium International all contests to look forward to.

Read more . . .

'He is obviously a machine but I think JP McManus has a serious squad' - the big jumps season question answered 

A leading sprinter for next season, Burke handicapper to follow and future stars in saddle - three things we learned this week 

'He beat very decent horses there' - King George hero Goliath tunes up for Japan Cup with cosy win at Longchamp 

Pick up your copy of The Big Jump Off, packed with everything you need for the 2024-25 National Hunt season. Our 72-page supplement includes ante-post tips, pro punter insight, trainer and jockey analysis and much more. Grab your copy free in the Racing Post newspaper on Monday, October 21, also available via the Racing Post Digital Newspaper as part of Members' Club Ultimate, our unrivalled subscription package.