THERE is plenty of top-class racing action home and abroad this weekend with pride of place going to the Group One Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (3.20) at Longchamp tomorrow.

A good size field of 16 will go to post at the Paris track with a split set-up of eight three-year-olds up against the older brigade. You could make a serious argument for both generations but the younger horses may just have the edge on this occasion.

Pick of the bunch could well be SOSIE in the care of 30 times French Champion Trainer Andre Fabre. This lightly raced son of See The Stars has been a work in progress all season and is beginning to realise the promise of his strong finishing third in the French Derby over a mile and a quarter in the first week of June.

On that occasion he came home with plenty of running left in him when two-and-a-quarter lengths off Look De Vega with another of today’s runners, Sunway, a staying on seventh.

That run was merely an education for the selection who has since gone on to dismiss the subsequent Betfred St Leger runner-up, Illinois, with ridiculous ease in the Grand Prix de Paris and then reverse that French Derby form with the winner in the Prix Niel three weeks ago over the course and distance to the tune of nearly six lengths.

In fact a bigger danger to him tomorrow could well come from the Niel second Delius. Another later developing sort, Jean Claude Rouget’s charge was not suited by the soft gallop at Longchamp on September 15 and with a faster pace assured with a bigger field going to post he could push his three-year-old rival all the way. Both horses are nicely drawn towards the inside of the pack and any further late rain on the day will surely help Delius.

The Irish Champion Stakes form is represented by Japanese raider Shin Emperor (third) and Los Angeles (fourth). The last named landed the Irish Derby in workmanlike style, but was always going to be a better stayer as the season went on. I expect him to be finishing best of all alongside stable mate Continuous.

The four-year-old was an unlucky in running fifth last year behind Ace Impact and with a clearer passage and faster gallop he could well hit the frame for master trainer Aidan O’Brien.

This afternoon at Longchamp I really like the look of ALCANTOR (3.25) in the Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein. Third in the French Guineas and sixth in the French Derby, he arrives here fit and fresh and may have too much toe for the likes of Caramelito and Penalty.

MISTRAL STAR (4.00) should relish the step up to a mile-and-three quarters in the Qatar Prix de Royallieu. The daughter of Frankel stayed on very strongly behind Content in the 12 furlong Yorkshire Oaks and should take another step forward here, while ANMAAT will be hard to beat in the Prix Dollar which ends the card at 4.35.

Back to these shores, and the big betting race of the day is the BetMGM Challenge Cup Handicap at Ascot at 3.35. A field of 18 will fire down the home stretch over seven furlongs and I can see Streets of Gold outrunning his odds of 33/1 with young Oliver Carmichael taking his mark down to his lowest since his last handicap way back in August 2022. He may well be worth an each-way saver behind the very lightly raced BREWING.

The William Haggas-trained charge had a nice preparation race for this following a 228-day break when finishing fifth at Doncaster over six-and-a-half furlongs and this extra yardage should be right up his street. The likes of last year’s second Popmaster along with Golden Mind are also feared.

If all eight go to post, then SALT BAY (2.25) is worth an each-way wager in the Group Three BetMGM Cumberland Lodge Stakes. He has a tremendous record when there is give in the ground and looks much better value than the likely favourite Al Aasy.

I am going to take RUMSTAR (1.50) to cause a shock in the opening Listed BetMGM Rouse Stakes. His chance will certainly improve for the last three days of dry weather. Later on, BADRI (4.45) looks too hard to resist off his current handicap mark of just 87 and he can reverse recent course and distance form with the Ascot specialist Woolhampton on 7lbs better terms for a two-and-a-quarter-length beating.

I shall be backing 1,000 Guineas heroine ELMALKA (2.40) to bounce back to winning ways in the Group One Virgin Bet Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket. To my eyes she simply didn’t see out the mile and a quarter of the Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood last time out and may prove too good for Inspiral in receipt of 3lbs.

It is Redcar’s big day this afternoon with the Listed William Hill 2yo Trophy at 3.20 and as long as he doesn’t miss the break again I can see Dylan Cunha’s ZMINIATURE running a huge race at a massive price.

Sadly only 10 will go to post for the Woodsmith Construction Group Straight Mile Series Final Handicap (4.30) and this nice prize may well go the way of the lightly raced NAEPOINT. Set to have only his eighth career start here he can confirm recent course and distance form with the ultra consistent Empire of Light.

Finally at Wolverhampton in the evening have a second look at both BAY OF AUSTRALIA (5.20) and ANTELOPE in the following nursery at 5.55. Both horses should benefit from the step up in trip.