Looking ahead to the meeting at Longchamp tomorrow and Sunday, there is top-class racing across two days, with 19 races in total.On Saturday, the 12.23 is a Group 2 over 1 mile and 7 furlongs. Pierre Bonard will be looking to restore his reputation after finishing unplaced in the St Leger at Doncaster last month. He faces two serious threats in Victoire Magique and Space Waltz. Of the trio, Space Waltz appeals most to me. He finished second to Victoire Magique over this course and distance in a Group 3 last time and now meets his old rival on 3lb better terms.

The 12.58 is a Group 2 over 1 mile and 2 furlongs. Phineas has improved steadily throughout the year, winning four races in succession, and looks the one to beat. Wimbledon Hawkeye and Distant Storm provide strong opposition, but Phineas was particularly impressive when landing a Group 3 on his latest start and sets the standard.

I will do an update on Sunday with a few selections.

Looking at the racing left in France today. At Toulouse in the 5.20pm race Carmenna could be the one to side with after a pleasing third on her debut at Craon over 1 mile. She will like this extra two furlongs and can get the better of Wildcatting who could be the main threat on her racecourse bow.

At Kempton this evening, Kind Of Blue in the 7.30 race appeals if he can fend off the challenge of likely chief threat Wise Approach.

More soon.

Looking at the racing in France today, at Compiègne, where it starts early at 10.20am, I like Whymper in the 10.51 race. He arrives here after winning in July on his latest start, and he should get the job done. He is currently around 11/4.

Edamura in the 11.55 is trying fences today, having fallen on his last run over hurdles at Auteuil in mid-May. He has the size and scope to do well over fences and looks tempting at around 100/30 with Bet365.

In the UK at Doncaster this weekend, I have already backed Christmas Day for the St Leger on Saturday. I think he is a bit of value at around 13/8, and any rain will not be an issue.

More soon.

With the current heatwave affecting much of Europe, it has been very difficult for the horses to cope with the demanding conditions.

Looking ahead to tomorrow’s racing, there is an early start in France at La Teste, with the first race scheduled for 8:10am UK time. The card features 12 races, with an extended break of almost four hours after the opening four contests.

At Deauville—where the meeting originally scheduled for Argentan has been transferred—it all gets underway at 5:15pm UK time. There are a couple of races that have caught my eye, but I will wait for the prices to appear in the morning before making any firm decisions.

Newmarket also has an early start, with racing beginning at 10:45am. I was particularly taken by Mysterious Times in the opening race. He ran a promising race on his debut at Sandown over five furlongs and should appreciate the step up to six furlongs tomorrow.I have heard that Etienne, the unraced runner from the Richard Spencer stable in the same race, is considered a useful prospect and could be worth keeping a close eye on in the market.

More soon.

It’s the final day of Ascot today, bringing the curtain down on what has been an excellent week for the O’Brien family. Aidan has saddled six winners, while his son Joseph is close behind with five. Both have runners on today’s card and could well add to their impressive tallies.

In the opening race at 2:30pm, I am quite keen on Orthodox as an each-way selection. He made a winning debut at Salisbury and has the assistance of Rossa Ryan in the saddle, which is always a positive sign. He is well drawn in what looks a competitive contest over the minimum trip of five furlongs.

Later on the card, in the Jersey Stakes at 4:20pm, Saber Strike is towards the head of the betting and may appear short enough in the market. However, he looked a colt with a bright future when winning on his seasonal reappearance at Newmarket, beating a highly regarded runner from Charlie Appleby’s stable into second place. Despite his restrictive odds, he would be my selection.

More later.

There is another excellent day of racing at Royal Ascot, with the feature event being the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (Group 1) over ten furlongs at 4:20pm.

I have a slight preference for the French colt Daryz, who has excelled in his two starts this season, both at Group 1 level in France. He has won both races with authority and, although today’s ground may be the quickest he has encountered, I believe he can get the better of last year’s winner, Ombudsman, who has also won both of his starts this year, most recently at Sandown Park 20 days ago.

Earlier on the card, at 3:05pm, the Queen’s Vase over one mile and six furlongs, the Irish raiders hold a strong hand with Limestone and Asakir, who finished first and second respectively when they met at Leopardstown recently. They face a formidable opponent in Galiyan, who was successful at Chester in early May and should be even better suited by this sterner stamina test.

More soon.

Reflecting on the racing at Royal Ascot today, it was encouraging to see a couple of outsiders perform so well, most notably in the opening race at 2.30, when Ten Bob Tony landed the Queen Anne Stakes (Gr.1) over the straight mile. His trainer appeared pleasantly surprised when interviewed afterwards, which was understandable given the horse returned at 50/1 and was not among the leading fancies.

The St James’s Palace Stakes (Gr.1) at 4.20 went to the favourite, Bow Echo, under Billy Loughnane. The jockey admitted in his post-race interview that he felt he had not given the colt the perfect ride, but Bow Echo still showed plenty of determination to hold on by a nose from the second favourite, Gstaad, trained by the Ballydoyle master Aidan O’Brien.

Kizlyar won the 5.00 at odds of 25/1 when getting the better of his stable mate Defiantly, who was also a 25/1 shot for Joseph O’Brien.

More tomorrow.

Looking at today’s racing in the UK, at Fontwell, where the going is described as good, the 2.30 should go to Viscountess Nelson, the current favourite. She won at Perth in late April when last seen over 2 miles 4 furlongs. She has a penalty to deal with, but may still have too much for her rivals.

In France at Dieppe, there are a couple of runners that interest me. No prices are available yet, but I expect them to appear around 12.30pm. I may provide an update later today, depending on how the betting develops.

More later.

There is some excellent racing in France tomorrow, headlined by the French Derby at Chantilly (3.30). KOMOREBI appeals as a fascinating contender after finishing strongly to take second in the French 2,000 Guineas on his latest start. With a favourable draw in stall seven and odds of around 7/1, he looks to offer solid value in a highly competitive field.

My initial choice had been CONSTITUTION RIVER, who looked a colt of considerable quality when cruising to victory in a Listed race at Chester last time out. However, a wide draw in stall 15 of 16 could make life more difficult, and while he is talented enough to overcome it, his price of around 15/8 leaves little margin for error. From a value perspective, KOMOREBI makes greater appeal.

This evening, I have backed NO GUTS NO GLORY in the 7.38 at Lyon-Parilly. In what appears a relatively small-field contest, he looks capable of turning over the short-priced favourite and could represent a worthwhile betting opportunity.

Attention turns to Plumpton this evening, where the ground is officially described as good and is likely to continue drying out in the warm conditions.

GOODWIN (6.09) catches the eye with promising claiming rider Rian Corcoran booked for the ride. Corcoran, who is attached to the David Pipe yard, has been riding with plenty of confidence recently and could help secure another success for trainer Charlie Gordon.

Later on the card, GOODWIN FACE (8.09) also looks to hold strong claims for the Charlie Gordon stable. With Tom Cannon taking the ride in the two-mile handicap hurdle, he looks capable of going very close.

The concluding bumper looks a straightforward assignment for the Dan Skelton-trained GETMYFRIEND at 8.39. He faces modest opposition and impressed when scoring at Southwell earlier this month, so another victory could be on the cards before a likely switch to hurdling in the near future.