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.

Ian Carnaby was delighted to tip Evens And Odds in the Stewards' Cup, with the race telling us plenty for the future, with one Nicholls-trained runner standing out in the Ayr Gold Cup.

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.

Betting shops are coming to the end of their days, reckons Ian Carnaby, who recollects his time as an auxiliary boardsman - and finds a Dandy Nicholls-trained sprinter attractively weighted in the Stewards' Cup.

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.

Newmarket has been kind to Ian Carnaby over the years. Reflecting on past runnings of the Cesarewitch, he reckons that Jim Goldie might have the answer to this year's renewal of the big staying handicap.

Ian Carnaby has had his ups and downs in the Wokingham Handicap. He looks back at some memorable winners, and reckons David Barron's filly, third over a sharp trip at Musselburgh this month, will be in the reckoning.

Ian Carnaby is keen to combine the roles of owner and flaneur (a rare achievement). Horses names are one of his great loves, and he's already getting to grips with the options.

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.

Ian Carnaby paid for his trip to Punchestown when he landed the Placepot on the second day. He never misses that Festival, and is looking forward to York's May meeting this week - but will there be vicars fifty?

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.

Reflecting on the Grand National meeting Ian Carnaby recommends a Mullins runner at Punchestown that missed the cut for Aintree, and speculates how we might approach a spread bet on Judith Chalmers' age.

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 greyhound track at Target Road in Portsmouth may be about to close. Ian Carnaby used to be a regular, and has special memories of Broken China, who won from the number 3 trap.

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.

Cheltenham is here and with it the best time of year, says Ian Carnaby, who marks the passing of Sue Lamyman, who trained Modest Hope, the winner of the Carnaby seller at Brighton in 1998.

Catalogue updates on the-racehorse.com; free trial access available 24/7

Welcome to the-racehorse.com's new catalogue updates for European Flat sales. The catalogues are updated with the latest results every day, and for every lot provide:

• Sire race and sale statistics for the last three years;
• First dam sale history, with details of progeny sales from 2003 onwards;
• All wins and places in Europe under first dam since catalogue went to press;
• Index page shows at a glance if updates are available.
• View a sample catalogue update page.

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.

Claim a free £25 bet from Betfair

Willie Mullins is hopeful that Blackstairmountain, and impressive winner at Punchestown in January, can give Dunguib a race in the Spinal Research Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Mullins told At The Races: "He has lots of gears and while he's a bit inexperienced over hurdles he's not inexperienced as a racehorse as he's run in five bumpers and twice on the Flat. I've had him away schooling a couple of times and he hasn't put a foot wrong. I know it will be a fast-and-furious race and we are taking a bit of a chance, but we have to do that. If my fellow jumps well enough I think he has a great chance."

Trainer Nicky Henderson on Monday described his star novice chasers Long Run and Punchestowns as the best horses he has handled in a training career spanning nearly 32 years.

The duo are set to lock horns in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham on Wednesday, March 17, with stable jockey Barry Geraghty partnering Punchestowns and amateur Sam Waley-Cohen due to ride Long Run, who is owned by the rider’s father Robert.

“Long Run and Punchestowns are two horses that could go the whole way. They’re quite special,” said Henderson. “They are the best that I’ve had and my duty is to keep them in one piece to get where they need to be in two years (for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup). Luckily there is no clash with jockeys.”

Travelling to Canada, Ian Carnaby was spared a double dose of pain when Southampton and Ronaldo Des Mottes got beaten. He is now wondering from afar whether he has found his Cheltenham banker.