Great Voltigeur winner Rewilding is a hot favourite for the final Classic but, light behind the saddle, might he appreciate a longer period between York and Doncaster? Graham Richards previews the runners in detail.

2010 York Ebor Festival preview

York’s Ebor Festival commences on Tuesday August 17th with the Group One Juddmonte International and Group Two Great Voltigeur Stakes the feature races of the opening day.

Sir Michael Stoute's Derby winner Workforce heads the market for Saturday's King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, where he bids to become the first three-year-old to win the race since Alamshar in 2003. Form expert Graham Richards previews the runners.

With a number of horses posting decent performances in the trials, Graham Richards can't fathom why St Nicholas Abbey is so short for the Derby. Read on for his horse-by-horse appraisal of the race.

Form analyst Graham Richards gives his horse-by-horse preview of Sunday's 1000 Guineas, with comments and FSF rating for each runner.

Form analyst Graham Richards expects to see a Ballydoyle/Godolphin battle at the finish of the 2000 Guineas, but his each-way selection is one of the longer-priced O'Brien runners.

Form expert Graham Richards provides his horse by horse guide to the runners in this year's John Smith's Grand National, which takes place at Aintree on 10 April.

The turf Flat season gets underway at Doncaster on Saturday with the Lincoln Handicap over a mile the main feature race. Graham Richards previews the runners, and finds one that has dropped 5lb since finishing fifth last year.

The debate over Kauto Star's fine form this season against Denman's lack of condition at Newbury dominates the Gold Cup this season - Graham Richards surveys the form of the leading contenders.

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Newbury and Warwick last weekend provided more clues for Cheltenham, and plenty of pointers for the Grand National. Form analyst Graham Richards takes a detailed look back.

There were Cheltenham clues in abundance last weekend, with quality racing at Sandown, Doncaster, Wetherby, Leopardstown and Musselburgh. Graham Richards analyses the form to find horses to follow and avoid come the Festival.

In the open at Ascot, Call Me A Legend won well for Alan King. Subsequent results over the past couple of days confirm the stable is back firing again. Advisor won the Juvenile Hurdle well enough. He jumps well and finished the race with his ears pricked. The times suggest the ground was good to soft and he is clearly effective when the word “soft” is in the description.

A fine weekends' racing in prospect including important trial races for the Cheltenham Festival.

The Paul Nicholls pair of Advisor and Pistolet Noir hold entries at Ascot; together with stablechum Royal Mix they also hold entries in what looks like a high-class renewal of the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown on February 7th, a race won last year by Jumbo Rio.

Champion Bumper

Some early names worth consideration and to look out for. Thomas Mullins trains Tavern Times and Dr Whizz; both have already won, suggesting they might be useful. Noel Meade hit the scoreboard with Monastrell and Perfect Smile. He has another likely type in the shape of Realt Mor waiting in the wings. Willie Mullins has a good mare called Killultagh Queen. She won at Fairyhouse in good style.

Khyber Kim put up another improved performance and is now fulfilling his potential

Events at Cheltenham on Saturday conspired to make the Champion Hurdle a mystery worthy of Hercule Poirot’s attentions. The International Hurdle was run at a good pace. Apart from Medermit's mistake at the second last, I could see no excuses for the beaten horses. Ashakazar took them along at a good pace; despite looking less than keen to play the game with any enthusiasm. Headed three from home, he gave way to Celestial Halo who was shadowed by Punjabi, Medermit and Khyber Kim.

With the early exchanges of the jumps season behind us, Graham Richards provides his list of twenty unexposed horses to follow for the remainder of the season.

On Friday, Consigliere showed more than enough to suggest he will be wining on soft to heavy ground. Four of his five wins have come on right-handed courses.

Later in the day, Regal Approach served notice he will be winning soon. He looks well-handicapped and came from way off the pace. Recovering from a mistake three from home, he finished in good style.

This preview is extracted from the trainer interviews in the 2009/10 National Hunt Season Guide by Graham Richards. With stable tours, horses to follow and newsletters for all major meetings through the season, it is an essential source of winners. Order your copy online today.

Bensalem
Won an Irish Point-To-Point at Dromohane, before joining the team at Barbury Castle Stables. Following a Bumper win at Sandown Park, he won three novice hurdles before finishing second to Diamond Harry at Cheltenham in January. Having summered well, he will go Novice Chasing and is likely to start over two and a half miles, before moving up in distance. Alan considers him an exciting prospect and reports he loves soft ground.

Novice hurdlers to follow, 2009/10

Benbane Head
Ex-Irish Point-To-Point winner. Benbane Head has won a Bumper at Uttoxeter and a three and a quarter-mile Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham. Thought to be best on good or good soft ground, he has the look of an ideal candidate for the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle over three miles. Should not be underestimated and the apple of trainer Martin Keighley’s eye.

Fencing Master and Steinbeck both showed massive improvement in the Dewhurst

Champions' Day at Newmarket last Saturday threw up a number of significant performances that should aid us in the future. The first-time visor appeared to improve Aiden O’Brien’s Beethoven as he landed the Dewhurst from stablechums Fencing Master and Steinbeck who finished second and fourth. Reported to be going for the Breeders Cup, he could go well there despite his long season. Experience counts for a lot in that race and he is the right size to nip round Santa Anita’s sharp track.