TWO-YEAR-OLD races don't come much better than this afternoon's Group 1 Middle Park Stakes over six furlongs at Newmarket.

A whole host of top-class colts from the UK, Ireland, and France lock horns in the £170,000 showpiece, which will almost certainly have some bearing on the outcome of next year's 2,000 Guineas.

Runaway Royal Ascot winner Three Valleys, and the top-rated French raider Whipper are sure to be among the market leaders, although I'm inclined to seek slightly better value in the guise of Kheleyf (2.55).

Strictly on the book David Loder's colt has a bit to find with those two principals, but he's a very progressive individual with a high cruising speed plus a blinding turn of foot.

In a race where the leaders are bound to set off at a really searching gallop, it is that blistering burst of acceleration which should stand Kheleyf in good stead once Frankie Dettori presses the button come the final furlong climb to the line.

Despite the fact that only five turn out for the Shadwell Stud Joel Stakes, it's still a fascinating Listed contest.

Sir Michael Stoute's Kalaman is massively superior to his rivals according to the official ratings. Unfortunately he's cost his supporters a pretty packet on his last two outings and I for one wouldn't be wanting to take a short price about Christophe Soumillion's mount.

A better alternative might be the lightly-raced Muqbil (2.20), recently beaten a gnat's whisker at Goodwood in a red-hot ten-furlong Group 3 event. This step back to a stiff mile should suit to perfection, provided Richard Hills makes plenty of use of the selection's superior stamina.

When fillies hit top gear in the autumn it usually pays to stick with them so there is absolutely no reason in the world to desert Montmartre (3.30), who landed a cracking 11-2 nap for us at Ascot exactly a week ago.

It's pretty moderate stuff at Lingfield, including the Surrey Trading Claiming Stakes featuring one potential standout bet, Knight Onthe Tiles (3.05).

Brian Meehan's representative has been a shade disappointing since breaking the six-furlong course record at Warwick in August. Crucially though, Meehan has now dropped his youngster in grade and there is further encouragement to be taken from Danzig River's impressive success at Newmarket yesterday.

Using the Newmarket form as a yardstick, Knight Onthe Tiles finished close enough to Danzig River at Bath last time out to suggest he'll be good enough to get back on the winning trail in this far weaker company.

The decline of National Hunt racing is reflected in the desperately small fields on show at Hexham, which does not make for very competitive action and is therefore neither spectator nor punter friendly.

At his best, Xaipete (2.05) could probably pick the opposition and carry them over the winning line in the opening selling hurdle, while Rose Tea (3.15) looks an equally big certainty in the later Novices' Hurdle.

Another odds-on favourite likely to oblige at a miserly starting price is James Hetherton's Valeureux (5.00), fit from the flat and placed on all three of his latest outings over timber.

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