NOT content with plundering the big bucks on offer at the Breeders' Cup meeting over in the USA, Irish ace Aidan O'Brien seems almost certain to capture Doncaster's £175,000 Racing Post Trophy with Castle Gandolfo (3.05).

O'Brien has three of the six runners. Using the relevant speed ratings, Castle Gandolfo, an impressive seven-length scorer at the Curragh on his latest start, looks bang on course to give the mercurial Irish trainer a stunning 21st Group One success of the season.

There's not much to be gained from a betting point of view by siding with the selection, sure to start a long odds-on favourite. And with no viable alternative to offer I recommend sitting back and enjoying the high-class feast of two-year-olds.

The in-form speedster Smart Predator (4.15) is definitely worth a decent wager in the Bubwith Rated Stakes.

John Quinn's dashing grey has won two of his last three outings and was dominant when romping away with a red-hot handicap at Newmarket nine days ago.

Newbury's principal event, the mile-and-a-half £35,000 St Simon Stakes, could turn out to be a three-horse affair between Mubakter, Head In The Clouds, and Love Everlasting (2.30).

Although the latter is technically held by Head In the Clouds on their clash at Ascot in the Group 3 Princess Royal Stakes, I expect Love Everlasting to get her revenge.

For starters Mark Johnston's filly is finally reunited with Joe Fanning, who won on the daughter of Pursuit Of Love over track and trip in mid-summer.

No disrespect to Kevin Darley, who has been riding her since, but on a couple of occasions the combination haven't exactly appeared to gel that efficiently together.

Unsung hero of the apprentice ranks, David Kinsella, gets another opportunity to shine on Thihn (3.35) in the nine-furlong Cyntergy Handicap.

John Spearing's six-year-old has his own ideas about the game, notably throwing the toys out of the pram and refusing to battle if hitting the front too soon.

Young David will be fully aware he has to leave his challenge to the very last second, a tactic which could reap handsome reward in the £15,000 contest.

Kempton stage the afternoon's premier jumping action featuring the £30,000 Charisma Gold Cup.

There's a superb line-up for the race and sorting out the winner is not going to be a simple matter. My two against the field are the top and bottom weights respectively, Tremallt and Royal Snoopy (3.25).

Tremallt, who bids to win the race for a second successive year, received a major boost when he demonstrated real zip by hacking up in his prep event, a three-mile novices' hurdles race at Market Rasen this month.

Royal Snoopy flopped badly at Worcester in September. There was a valid excuse because Charlie Mann's quirky chaser simply does not act going left-handed.

Right-handed Kempton will be much more to his liking and, provided he jumps as well as he did when scoring in scintillating style at Huntingdon, Royal Snopy just gets the nod.

Carlisle have put together cracking six-race card, starting with the North West Racing Club Novices' Chase, in which Mulligan's Express (1.45) is the likely winner.

Ferdy Murphy rates his seven-year-old extremely highly and it would be a shock if Mulligan's Express does not make a big name for himself over fences this term.

Wilf Storey's rejuvenated stayer Weaver George tries for a fabulous five-timer in the Jane Goodwin Birthday Handicap. But much as I'd like to see the tough-as-teak eleven-year-old do the business, my personal preference is for Lancastrian Jet (2.45).

Henry Daly's dour slogger had a Millennium campaign to forget, but in previous seasons Lancastrian Jet has been especially effective first time up and he should be as fresh as paint after a substantial lay-off of 212 days.

Finally to Southwell, where two-mile specialist Welsh March (3.10) could have the legs of his opponents in the Bet Direct Handicap Chase