The big question will be the weather. There is to be a meeting on course Friday morning UK time regarding moving to the inner track.

While the weather forecast for Friday and Saturday has mostly showery there is the threat of the odd thunderstorm and there has been a lot of rain lately.

Whatever happens there is likely to be quite a few scratchings and if we were a French trainer we would be having second thoughts about shipping a horse over for this.

So the card starts off with the Long Distance Cup G2 over 3200m with 8 runners including Trueshan who is trying to win this for the 4th time. He's not the favourite however with that honour going to Kyprios on 6/5 for O'Brien-Moore.  Trueshan is 2/1.  And our darling Broome will love this trip and worth a bit of the hard-earned each way at 40/1 which is OK with 8 in the field.

The Sprint is G1 over 1200m with 15 runners.  Kinross is on top on 13/8 for Gosdens-Dettori and then we are going wider with Spycatcher 10/1 and Sense of Duty 14/1.

The F&M is G1 over 2400m with 14 runners and we are going for Jackie Oh here from the O'Brien yard and then Time Lock 5/1 for the Charltons with William Buick riding and Sweet Memories is on 9/1 for the Gosdens with Hollie Doyle riding.  Keep an eye on Rue Boissonade as he's holding an entry for the Japan Cup and may require a good run here to book his ticket.

The QEII is over 2000m and a few have opted to run in this rather than the 2400m of the Champion Stakes.  Favourite is of course Paddington on 6/4 for O'Brien-Moore with fellow Irish horse Tahiyra from Dermot Weld's yard with Chris Hayes riding on 4/1.  Nashwa would have a good chance here on 9/2 for the Gosdens and Hollie Doyle and a roughie here too in French raider Facteur Cheval who is in good form and improving with every race and 11/1 is value.