As we approach Midsummer’s Day, Royal Ascot arrives in style on the 15th-19th June. A pinnacle of British horseracing, Royal Ascot is synonymous with style, prestige and, of course, Her Majesty The Queen. Whether you are celebrating At Home or In Person, The Wine Tipster has all the tips and tricks for making this year’s Royal Ascot unforgettable.

Since the introduction of The Gold Cup in 1807, Royal Ascot has stormed into the history books as Britain’s most valuable race meeting where the world’s finest talent competes for over £7 million of prize money. Each of the five days are opened by a Royal Procession, a tradition started by King George IV and which continues to this day.

This year, The Wine Tipster is especially excited for the top races on all five days of the meeting:

Tuesday 15th June

• 2:30 Queen Anne Stakes Group 1, 1m, 4yo+, ITV
• 3.05 Coventry Stakes Group 2, 6f, 2yo ITV
• 3:40 The King’s Stand Stakes Group 1, 1m, 3yo+, ITV
• 4:20 The St James’ Palace Stakes Group 1, 1m, 3yo colts, ITV4
• 5:00 Ascot Stakes Handicap, Class 2, 2m3f, 4yo+, ITV4
• 5:35 Wolferton Stakes, Listed Race, Class 1, 1m1f, 4yo+, ITV4
• 6:10 Copper Horse Stakes Handicap, Class 2, 1m6f, 4yo+, ITV4

Wednesday 16th June

• 2:30 Queen Mary Stakes Group 2, 5f, 2yo, ITV
• 3:05 Queen’s Vase Group 2, 1m6f, 3yo, ITV
• 3:40 Duke of Cambridge Stakes Group 2, 1m, 4yo+ fillies and mares, ITV
• 4:20 The Prince of Wales’ Stakes Group 1, 1m2f, 4yo+, ITV
• 5:00 Royal Hunt Cup, Heritage Handicap, 1m, 3yo+, ITV
• 5:35 Windsor Castle Stakes Listed Race, 5f, 2yo, ITV
• 6:10 Kensington Palace Stakes Heritage Handicap, 1m, 4yo+ ITV4

Thursday 17th June

• 2:30 Norfolk Stakes Group 2, 5f, 2yo, ITV4
• 3:05 Hampton Court Stakes Group 3, 1m2f, 3yo, ITV4
• 3:40 Ribblesdale Stakes Group 2, 1m4f, 3yo fillies, ITV4
• 4:15 Ascot Gold Cup Group 1, 2m4f, 4yo+, ITV
• 5:00 Britannia Stakes Heritage Handicap, 1m, 3yo colts and geldings, ITV4
• 5:35 King George V Stakes Handicap, 1m4f, 3yo, ITV4
• 6:10 Buckingham Palace Stakes Handicap, 7f, 3yo+, ITV4

Friday 18th June

• 2:30 Albany Stakes Group 3, 6f, 2yo fillies, ITV
• 3:05 King Edward VII Stakes Group 2, 1m4f, 3yo colts and geldings, ITV
• 3:40 Commonwealth Cup Group 1, 6f, 3yo colts and fillies, ITV
• 4:20 Coronation Stakes Group 1, 1m, 3yo fillies, ITV
• 5:00 Sandringham Stakes Handicap, 1m, 3yo fillies, ITV
• 5:35 Duke of Edinburgh Stakes Handicap, 1m4f 3yo+, ITV
• 6:10 Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes Handicap, 5f, 3yo, ITV4

Saturday 19th June

• 2:30 Chesham Stakes Listed Race, 7f, 2yo, ITV
• 3:05 Jersey Stakes Group 3, 7f, 3yo, ITV
• 3:40 Hardwicke Stakes Group 2, 1m4f, 4yo+, ITV
• 4:20 Diamond Jubilee Stakes Group 1, 6f, 4yo+, ITV4
• 5:00 Wokingham Stakes Heritage Handicap, 6f, 3yo+, ITV4
• 5:35 Golden Gates Stakes Handicap, 1m2f, 3yo, ITV4
• 6:10 Queen Alexandra Stakes 2m6f, 4yo+, ITV4

To get your bets in, look out for The Wine Tipster’s Unibet Racing blogs for each day of the meeting.

At Ascot

Hospitality is a huge part of the raceday experience, and Ascot typically sees more than 6500 temporary staff join the team to provide the top quality service punters come for. For those on the course this year, you are spoiled for choice with the 5 magnificent fine dining experiences available. Managing Director of 1711 by Ascot, Jonathan Parker, can’t wait to welcome diners back for a memorable Ascot experience. This year, for the special return to racing, there is a Michelin-star studded array of chefs offering the finest gastronomic experiences for the Royal Meeting.

Two Michelin-star chef and Ascot regular, Raymond Blanc OBE will once again be in the Panoramic Restaurant in the Royal Enclosure. His 2021 menu showcases the best of British produce.

For a third year, five Michelin-star chef Simon Rogan will once again be bringing his impeccable standards and sustainability practices to the course. His innovative and delicious menu will be available in the award-winning ON 5 in the Queen Anne Enclosure.

For a brand new dining experience this year, Ollie Dabbous will provide racegoers in The Wolferton on the Trackside Lawns of the Queen Anne Enclosure with an interactive private table experience for a memorable Ascot.

Especially for the 2021 meeting, Rick Stein’s classic summer seafood dishes will make their Ascot debut. This is set to be another spectacular Royal Ascot.

Heralded as the home of raceday elegance, the chance for racegoers to dress to the nines is too exciting an opportunity to pass. The Royal Ascot style guide is a must whether at Ascot or At Home. This year’s 10th Anniversary Royal Ascot Style Guide also celebrates sustainability and the art of conscious shopping as it launches for 2021 in association with Swiss watch brand Longines. In association with Fenwick, the Official Royal Ascot Millinery Sponsor, the 2021 Royal Ascot Millinery Collective is full of high fashion inspiration.

Don’t forget to check the dress code for each enclosure.

At Home

This year, the total maximum capacity for racegoers on all racecourses is 4000 per day, so many will still be celebrating at home. To make life easier, The Royal Ascot Celebration Pack is the perfect way to make celebrating Ascot At Home easy and fun for up to 4 people. Buy yours here in time for the meeting. Check out the Ascot Shop to kit you and your families out with Ascot souvenirs for this and years to come!

You don’t have to miss out on the elegance and style of Ascot while at home, thanks to the Royal Ascot style guide packed full of inspiration for the track or at home. Why not try making your own hat with expert guidance from milliner Awon Golding.

Entertain children (or keen adults) with the Royal Ascot Children’s Activities downloads, and the Royal Ascot History Bingo is a fun way to learn about this momentous meeting.

Over 13,000 flowers are grown each year to ensure the racecourse is fit for royalty. The Royal Ascot Garden Guide has top tips for how to achieve exquisite blooms such as The Queen Anne Rose and how to create beautiful hanging baskets. The Queen Anne Rose was named to celebrate the tercentenary of Ascot Racecourse founded by Queen Anne in 1711 and are now planted all along the track in front of the Grandstand.

Put the fine into fine dining at home thanks to Ascot’s afternoon tea and picnic hampers (from £89.50). Their great selection of traditional afternoon tea and picnic hampers, as well as cocktail boxes, are available to pre-order for nationwide delivery and will be delivered in fully sustainable cardboard containers or premium, Royal Ascot wicker hampers. This can be a guilt-free treat as £5 for each two-person hamper sold and £10 for each six-person hamper sold will be donated to The Tri-Forces charities.

This year, Moët & Chandon’s 10 delicious afternoon tea recipes are also available to download here, provided by Ascot’s Culinary Director Ben Dutson and Executive Chef Gemma Amor who do amazing work across the whole racecourse to make sure every dining experience is to the highest of standards.

To create your own Fine Dining experience at home, 10 recipes from Raymond Blanc OBE and Ben Dutson, Ascot’s Culinary Director, are compiled in the great Royal Ascot Food and Drink Guide. The Wine Tipster is especially excited to make the delicious Coronation Chicken with the Plant-Based Gnocchi with Carrot-Top Pesto and Prosociano.

For the perfect cocktail to accompany Royal Ascot, take your pick from the Food and Drink Guide‘s impressive cocktail selection, developed with Pernod Ricard, Official Spirits of Royal Ascot. The Wine Tipster can’t wait to pair a refreshing Lillet Summer Spritz or Royal Ascot Blush with the summery gnocchi.

On to the wine, and the Ascot Wine Club is stocked full of The Wine Tipster’s favourites, such as the ‘Gris Blanc’, Gérard Bertrand, Pays d’Oc, France 2020, Gavi del Commune di Gavi ‘Fossili’, San Silvestro, Italy 2019 and Malbec, ‘Estate’, Doña Paula, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina 2018.

The Wine Tipster also loves the following bottles for Royal Ascot at Home:

The Wine Tipster hopes that whether you are celebrating Royal Ascot 2021 in person or at home that you have a most wonderful week and some wins! Look out for his Unibet Blog  for tips, and follow him on social media for updates. For blogs straight into your inbox, subscribe here.

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The Epsom Derby Festival is a chance to see three-year old horses make history with the two classics the Oaks and the Derby. With its strict age restrictions, this really is an exciting meeting where horses must demonstrate speed, stamina and good balance on one of the steepest courses in the country. Whether you have secured a coveted Derby ticket or are making your front room an exclusive enclosure, you will undoubtedly witness history being written before your eyes. Let The Wine Tipster guide you through his tips for the Cazoo Derby Festival.

Legend has it that the 12th Earl of Derby and Sir Charles Bunbury spun a coin as to whether the race should be called the Derby Stakes or the Bunbury Stakes. Nearly 250 years later, we are still celebrating this impressive meeting of the finest three year old colts and fillies.

Both days offer the highest quality of racing. On Oaks Day the Coronation Cup (Group 1) and Cazoo Oaks (Group 1) headline a quality card. In this year’s Coronation Cup Al Aasy is deservedly favourite after looking so impressive last time out at Newbury, whilst in the Cazoo Oaks the Aidan O’ Brien trained Santa Barbara will be make significant progress after her fourth in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Derby Day’s Cazoo Derby (Group 1) is a fascinating renewal this year with Aidan O’Brien surprising everyone with one runner only with favourite Bolshoi Ballet, who looked so dominate in his Derby Trial at Leopardstown. John Leeper, named after John Dunlop, would be a poignant winner for his son Ed Dunlop, with Frankie Dettori now in the plate. Mohaafeth looks a raw talent, who has impressed on his last two starts at Newmarket, although he has to show he can make the step up here in this Group 1.

The Wine Tipster is excited to be at Epsom Downs for this return to spectator racing with crowds of 4,000 each day. On Thursday, the final preparation day, it was great to be on course and see lots of hospitality colleagues too.

Catch all the races on ITV Racing and RacingTV. If you missed any of the action, Racing Replays are available here. For all his Epsom Derby tips, keep up with The Wine Tipster’s Unibet Racing Blog here.

Derby Hospitality

Alongside the finest racing talent, Epsom is synonymous with outstanding hospitality. With over 400 people working across the racecourse in hospitality, this meeting really is a chance to celebrate this wonderful industry. For those lucky few with a Derby ticket, make sure to plan your day including downloading The Jockey Club App. All food at onsite hospitality venues will be ordered through this.

The Wine Tipster’s personal hospitality favourite is Chez Roux at the Blue Riband Restaurant, which is always an exquisite fine dining experience. The panoramic views overlooking the Parade Ring, Winner’s Enclosure and the Winning Post, alongside the wondrous offerings of the Roux family, make for a memorable Epsom experience. Look out for The Wine Tipster and Michel Roux Jr on ITV this weekend.

Epsom Chef Rhys Owen is also a huge part of the raceday hospitality, providing superb food across the hospitality venues.

Many of the venues offer an afternoon tea which is easily replicated at home with some top quality scones, cucumber and smoked salmon sandwiches and lots of strawberries.

Wines Fit For The Derby

On offer across the racecourse is the Moët & Chandon 2012 Grand Vintage Brut, Champagne, France (Around £50 – £55 Majestic, Ocado, other retailers). This a brilliant vintage and such a great style which would be perfect for an afternoon tea at home as well as on the course. A wonderful limited edition cocktail featuring Moët & Chandon Rosé is The Strongman’s Little Rituals. This labour-intensive cocktail includes a rich, creamy custard made with Glenmorangie 10yo Whiskey, mixed with Rhubarb Wine, Moët & Chandon Rosé and Soda. To get your taste-buds around this amazing concoction, order it pre-made here (£12.50).

For a top fizz from closer to home, the Coates & Seely Brut Reserve NV, Hampshire (£32.95 Coates & Seely online and Lea Sandeman) is an impressive option. Brut Reserve is a very stylish blend of mainly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with 10% Pinot Meunier that makes for a deep and and complex English fizz. Coates & Seely as they are currently expanding their 30 acres of vineyards so it’s an exciting time to enjoy a bottle!

If Rosé is your tipple of choice then you’re in luck as the release of Prosecco DOC Rosé late last year means we can now enjoy high quality bubbles in a refreshing pink style. Why not try the La Gioiosa Prosecco DOC Rosé Millesimato (£8.99 from Majestic, Waitrose and £12.99 from Ocado) which is a perfect dry example of this innovative wine. Fresh and fun, this pairs beautifully with summer food like salads and berry desserts.

On to the still wines now. If you’re looking for an affordable accompaniment to the Derby then the Castellore Pecorino 2020, Italy (£5.99 from Aldi) is a new favourite of The Wine Tipster. Its citrus and floral aromas make this a great value white for seafood and summer salad dishes.

Another impressive value wine from Aldi: the Bowler & Brolly English Rosé Cuvée 2020, Surrey, England (£8.99 Aldi) is a wonderfully vibrant rosé with summer fruits and crisp acidity, making it a go-to choice for any weekend.

Finally, the Cellier des Dauphins Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Villages 2019 (now £7.49 in Waitrose) really is a must-try red. Full of ripe summer berry aromas and rich spice and notes make this a classic Rhône.

Soft drinks don’t have to be boring! Luscombe have an impressive range of fruity and fun still and sparkling drinks and tonic, which work well with slices of fruit and ice or with a splash of Racing Gin (£37.99).

Celebrating At Home

After a year of At Home racing, many of us have come up with some exciting ways to bring the buzz of the racecourse to our front rooms. Last year’s Derby celebrations were no exception, and are a great source of inspiration for this year’s Festival.

The Garden Party activity pack from The Jockey Club is also packed full of recipes, bunting, games, selfie props and fun for a memorable Derby. In particular, The Wine Tipster is looking forward to making Homemade Lemonade and the famous Derby Spritz Cocktail. To make this, fill a large glass with ice. Adding 50ml Pink Gin and 50ml Lemonade. Top up with 25ml Prosecco DOC and a splash of lemon juice before garnishing with halved strawberries and enjoying!

Finally, whether you’re dressing up at home or in person, you may be looking for some style inspiration, but look no further as ideas for your finest, most stylish outfit are here.

The Wine Tipster hopes that whether you are celebrating The Epsom Cazoo Derby Festival 2021 in person or at home that you have a most wonderful weekend and some wins! Look out for his Unibet Blog on Saturday for tips and follow him on social media for updates. For blogs straight into your inbox, subscribe here.

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Three days of top quality racing; 500 million viewers over 140 countries; 30 unique fences; One Grand National Champion. The 2021 Randox Grand National meeting is a racing event for seasoned fans and first time punters alike, bringing everyone together over this amazing sport. With nearly 200 years of history and featuring the famous fences, such as Becher’s Brook, The Chair, Foinavon, The Canal Turn and Valentine’s Brook, The Grand National races are some of the most challenging tests for runners and riders.

Get Grand National ready with the Wed 7th April Preview Night.

Don’t forget to check out The Wine Tipster’s Unibet Racing Blog for each day of the meeting and all his top tips. You won’t want to miss his naps this week!

All 21 races will be covered on RacingTV and ITV Racing so you won’t miss a thing.

Randox Liverpool’s NHS Day Thurs 8th April

Celebrating the heroes of the NHS, the first day of the Randox Grand National Meeting is bound to get off to a flying start with four Grade 1 races in running order: Manifesto Novices’ Chase, Doom Bar Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle, Bowl Chase and Aintree Hurdle . The Wine Tipster can’t wait for the Rose Paterson Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase held over the iconic fences for amateur riders. What a thrill!

The Fan National Sweepstake declarations will be made on the 8th too.

Randox Ladies Day Fri 9th April

Ladies Day is not only an impressive day for fashion, but also for the four Grade 1 races to get your racing gears going with the Top Novices’ Hurdle, Mildmay Novices’ Chase, Marsh Melling Chase and Sefton Novices’ Hurdle. A firm favourite among Liverpudlians, this year you can bring the catwalk to your own home! Share your best raceday outfits with The Wine Tipster on Twitter and Instagram.

Randox Grand National Day Sat 10th April

And finally, the day everyone has been waiting for. One of the world’s most famous sporting occasions shown live on ITV. The 17:15 Randox Grand National Steeplechase features forty runners competing over more than four miles and over 30 unique fences, with winners automatically becoming sporting legends. Saturday isn’t just about The Grand National, The Mersey Novices’ Hurdle, The Doom Bar Maghull Novices’ Steeplechase and the Ryanair Stayers’ Hurdle are the Grade 1 races of the day, and the 7 racecard is packed with top racing action.

Satisfy your Grand National obsession with these Facts and Figures from its 182 year history.

Celebrating The Grand National

Go all out for this momentous occasion with a bottle of show-stopping Coates & Seely Brut Britagne Reserve NV, Hampshire (£31.95 Coates & Seely, Magnum £64.95 Lea & Sandeman). Or their Rosé Brut Britagne NV, Hampshire (£32.96 Coates & Seely, £31.75 Lea & Sandeman) always hits the spot.

Looking for an easy drinker that matches the quality of the racing? Yealands Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2020, Awatere Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand (£11.59 Waitrose) is a truly class act.

An unbeatable great value Red for the top racing is the Ramos Reserva Vinho Regional Alentejano 2018 from Portugal and available in Majestic £8.99.

Something stronger for the edge-of-the-seat viewing? A glass of top quality Glenfarclas 10 Year Old Malt is a smooth taste experience (£32.90 Master of Malt, £34.95 The Whiskey Exchange).

The Wine Tipster wishes you a winning Grand National! Cheers!

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The countdown is over. The Cheltenham Festival is finally here, and The Wine Tipster is excited to make this year’s At Home Festival unforgettable for all the right reasons. Read on for top tipples to accompany you through the four days of unbeatable racing and how you can recreate the electric Roar of Cheltenham at home.

Cheltenham is synonymous with superb racing, and The Festival is the pinnacle of the Jump season. The Festival has been held at Cheltenham since 1911, and The Stayers’ Hurdle is the oldest championship race having first been run in 1912. Over its many successful years, the Festival has expanded from three days to four, and now boasts four days of seven-race cards, 14 Grade One races and some of the best horses, trainers and jockeys in the world. It really is Horseracing’s Olympics!

This year, The Festival is supporting the charity WellChild. WellChild is a national charity that gives sick children the best chance to thrive through support at home and for their families.

Celebrate in Style

To match the atmosphere and excitement of each day of racing, The Wine Tipster has chosen some Grade 1 wines and spirits to give you that wonderful Cheltenham experience at home:

Day One Tues 16 March

Kicking off The Festival is an incredible card of four Grade One races including the top class Unibet Champion Hurdle. Start your At Home Festival off with a bang with a Cheltenham Sponsor, Nyetimber. Their world-renowned English Sparkling Wine is meticulously crafted in West Sussex, Hampshire and Kent, Their Classic Cuvée MV is a wonderfully elegant option for the start of The Festival. Pair it with smoked salmon blinis for a great aperitif.

For a touch of Pink at the start of Cheltenham, Château Léoube’s artisan organic wines are just the thing. Their award-winning Rosé de Léoube is a rosé for all seasons, full of mineral notes and fruit on the palate. Pair with a light lunch and you have yourself a winner.

Day Two Wed 17 March

As the going gets underway, there are seven classic races to really spoil punters. The Grade One Queen Mother Champion Chase is set to be an unmissable watch, as is the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase. Watch it with a Glenfarclas 15 year old Single Malt on the rocks. The rich history of this family owned business make for award-winning Sherry cask aged malts in the traditional Speyside way.

Day Three 18 March

Not one but three Grade 1 races make Thursday a truly magnificent day. Hold on to your Racing Gin & Tonic throughout the Marsh Novices’ Chase. Ryanair Chase and the Stayers’ Hurdle ! Racing Gin is a recent addition to the gin scene, but is perfect for race lovers. Featuring beautiful silks on the label, and with a herbaceous and floral taste, this gin is great with a classic tonic water or in any cocktail.

Gold Cup Day Fri 19 March

Saviour the outstanding Gold Cup Day – the pinnacle of the Cheltenham Festival. With the coveted Grade One WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup featured as the Blue Riband of Jump racing, you’ll surely be wanting a bottle to match the magnificence of The Festival’s finale. Jack Mann Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 from Houghton Wines in the Swan Valley in Western Australia, pays homage to the great winemaker Jack Mann MBE, who shared a birthday with Gold Cup Day! It’s a rich and concentrated red with a pure Cabernet Sauvignon dark fruits, spicy, oaky notes and a wonderful long finish. Decant for a couple of hours beforehand, this is delicious with a Roast.

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For more food pairing ideas, get inspired with world class hospitality recipes from The Jockey Club’s top chefs. All the dishes work well with the bottles here, and are a great way to get the Cheltenham Hospitality experience at home.

If you really want to bring Cheltenham home, get yourself an At Home Hamper! Brought to you by British Fine Foods, these luxury hampers come in three options, full of award-winning food from artisan producers across the UK. Each hamper comes with a different bottle to really make your At Home experience special. Order here in time for The Festival! 10% of each hamper sale will go to WellChild.

Be Raceday Ready

• Check out how to watch The Festival from home. ITV Racing and Racing TV will be showing The Festival, and if you miss any of the action, The Jockey Club’s Racing Replays are available 20 minutes after the winner crosses the line.
• The official racecard is available here with details of horses and jockeys available here.
• Find out more about each of the top quality races here.
• Put your racing knowledge to the test with The Ultimate Racing Quiz featuring Double Grand National-winning jockey Ruby Walsh and Gold Cup-winning Jockey and Festival legend Barry Geraghty
• The Race Results and Winners page will help in your revision for the quiz!
• Download The Jockey Club App with a digital racecard, live updates, competitions and the latest odds at your fingertips.
• Check out the latest editions of Kalendar Magazine between races
• Why not impress your friends and family with some top facts and stats!
• Got kids? Find some fun raceday activities for them to enjoy here – host a mini best dressed competition, make hats or turn your garden into a track!
• You can still dress the part from your home! Browse out The Jockey Club website for At Home Style inspiration.

However you choose to celebrate this superb meeting, share pictures and comments with The Wine Tipster on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and make sure to follow him for daily updates and Unibet Racing Blogs.

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Start the festive season with a bang this year with the highlight of Sandown’s jump racing – the Tingle Creek Festival. For the first Friday and Saturday of December, Sandown hosts two days of superb jump racing, which this year can be celebrated in person by a limited number of spectators. Don’t worry if you didn’t manage to get tickets, they sold out in 17 minutes! However you’re celebrating this year, read on for The Wine Tipster’s Sandown tips.

Friday 4th December

Tingle Creek Friday opens the festival with a top line up of races.

The Wine Tipster is especially excited to see his My Racing Manager Friends runner Funambule Sivola in the 1.50 Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase! Funambule Sivola won impressively at Wetherby on chasing debut last week and is carrying a seven pound penalty for that success today. This is much more competitive contest and his slick jumping will need to come to the fore this afternoon.

My Racing Manager was created by Elli Morgan, and The Wine Tipster is delighted to be involved. My Racing Manager has had two Cheltenham Festival winners with Coo Star Sivola and Flying Tiger.

The race card for Friday:

12:45 – 3m (3m37y) Sandown Park Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-130)

1:15 – 1m7½f (1m7f119y) Handicap Chase (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-125)

1:50 – 2m4f (2m4f10y) Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-135)

2:25 – 2m4f (2m3f173y) Ballymore Winter Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+)

3:00 – 2m7½f (2m7f98y) Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Pertemps Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+)

3:35 – 2m4f (2m3f173y) Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Mares’ Series Qualifier) (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-130)

Saturday 5th December

Tingle Creek Saturday hosts two top class Grade 1 races – the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase and The Tingle Creek Chase. With a history of over 40 years and named after a Jumps racehorse of the 1970s, The Tingle Creek Chase is one of the key races of the season with a purse of over £68,000. Here’s the line up:

12:05 – 2m (1m7f216y) The 1.50 Introductory Juvenile Hurdle (Gbb Race) (Class 2) (3yo)

12:40 – 2m (1m7f216y) “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Gbb Race) (Class 3) (4yo+)

1:15 – 2m (1m7f216y) Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (Gbb Race) (Class 4) (3yo+ 0-120)

1:50 – 1m7½f (1m7f119y)  Henry VIII Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (Gbb Race) (Class 1) (4yo+)

2:25 – 1m7½f (1m7f119y) Tingle Creek Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+)

3:00 – 3m5f (3m4f166y) National Handicap Chase (Class 2) (5yo+)

3:35 – 2m (1m7f216y) December Handicap Hurdle (Listed Race) (Class 1) (4yo+)

Look out for The Wine Tipster’s Unibet Blog on Saturday.

At Home

• Don’t miss a thing – catch every race live on Racing TV and ITV, and even rewatch highlights from racing history via Racing Replays (available 20 minutes after the winner crosses the line!).
• The Raceday App is a must for the At Home experience. Get your own digital racecard, exclusive content, and access to the Raceday 5 Game with a chance to win a bottle of Coates & Seely Rosé NV and £10,000!
• Get inspiration from others’ At Home Celebration creations here, don’t forget to share yours with The Wine Tipster, Sandown Park and The Jockey Club.
• Need to brush up on your racing knowledge and jargon? Check out Racing Explained for all the confusing terms.
• Keep up to date with all the entertainment events from The Jockey Club with their Content Hub.

Food & Drink

Taking inspiration from The Jockey Club, The Wine Tipster is looking forward to making this week’s featured dish, Braised Shank of Herdwick Lamb with Root Veg, Red Onion Jam and Greens. See the recipe from Senior Sous Chef Lawrie Jeffries here.

For something sweet, why not try a Vegan Lemon Cheesecake from Head Chef Warren O’Connor – a real winner with vegans and non-vegans alike.

To accompany a hearty winter dish this Festival, The Wine Tipster’s Top 5 Red Wines are a must for the cooler months. In particular, Don David Blend of Terroirs Malbec 2019, Calchaqui Valley, Argentina (Co-op £9) has a great autumnal flavours of blackberries and blueberries, with sweet spicy notes and silky tannins.

For another classic red, St. Hallett ‘Faith’ Shiraz 2018, Barossa Valley, Australia (Majestic £16.99 and £14.99 mixed case of six) is a must try, full of bold flavours of pepper and plums – perfect for a roast.

For a true celebration, pop open some bubbly this weekend. Moët & Chandon, official Champagne of The Jockey Club, is always a treat. The Wine Tipster especially loves their Moët Impérial, with its iconic fruitiness and elegant maturity.

Coates and Seely, official sparkling wine sponsors, is also perfect for Jump season. Pop open a bottle of their wonderful English Sparkling Brut Reserve NV for a hit of green apple freshness and a rounded palate.

Lastly, Rosé – a great all-rounder. Château Léoube’s Rosé de Léoube (Daylesford £18.99) is an elegant and dry wine with a perfect combination of minerals and fruit.

The Wine Tipster hopes that whether you are attending The Tingle Creek Festival in person or enjoying it at home, that you have a most wonderful weekend and some wins! Look out for his Unibet Blog on Saturday for tips.

Jump Season is well underway, and as we await the return of The Festival at Cheltenham in the Spring, The November Meeting is where the magic really starts. As the biggest Jump racing fixture before Christmas, the November Meeting is unmissable. Celebrate this three day meeting with The Wine Tipster from the comfort of your own home this year.

Kick off the November Meeting with Wednesday night’s Preview Evening hosted by Tom Nugent featuring Ruby Walsh, Paddy Power, ITV Racing, Mick Fitzgerald and Emma Lavelle. Join the panel at 8pm via Zoom as they chat through the racecards and horses to watch out for.

Countryside Day – Friday 13th Nov

Starting the Meeting in style, Countryside Day features 6 amazing races including The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase at 3:00 – a must see for all Cross Country fans, and a great excuse for a Glenfarclas Whiskey to accompany it! The 1:50 Handicap Chase is another great Class 2 race. For the full race schedule check out the Cheltenham Website here, and for a line up of horses, see Racing Post here.

Saturday 14th November

Featuring the iconic 2:15 Gold Cup Steeple Chase and 6 other quality races, Saturday’s racecard is spectacular. The Wine Tipster is looking forward to the 12:30 JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial and the 1:40 Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices Steeple Chase, both of which highlight the top racing talent who will go on to The Festival in March.

Tune in to races live on ITV Racing across all three days, or on Racing TV. Race Replays are also available 20 minutes after the winner crosses the line, and is a great way to watch racing highlights from over the years. Check the November Meeting results here!

Sunday 15th November

The final day of the meeting, and the last chance to see the thrilling races such as the 1:15 Novices’ Steeple Chase, the 2:25 Shloer Steeplechase (another great excuse for a drink with a Shloer mixer!), the unmissable Unibet Greatwood Hurdle Race at 3:00, the 3:35 Supreme Trial Novices’ Hurdle Race and the 4:05 Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race which is a great quality flat race this time of year.

November Meeting At Home

With racing remaining behind closed doors, The Jockey Club and the Wine Tipster have an array of ways to celebrate the meeting in style from the Jump Season Hub.

• See Claisse’s Corner for all course updates and the Going video ahead of racing each morning.
• Read Kalendar Magazine from The Jockey Club South West, full of great interviews with top jockeys such as Jonjo O’Neill Jr and his father Jonjo O’Neill Snr and Cheltenham Racecourse Director Zara Tindall MBE.
• Why not train like a jockey with an online Barre Class from Torre Barre, starting 15th November.
• You could host a Cheltenham Countryside Raceday Lunch at home on Friday 13th November whilst making a donation to the Countryside Alliance for The Great British Get Together. Share your pics with the hashtags #Chelfie and #gbgettogether with @CheltenhamRaces.
• Got kids to entertain? Why not include them in the raceday fun with an activity pack! Full of wordsearches, colouring pages and facts, you might even find yourself tempted to print one too!

Nyetimber Classic Cuvée MV, Sussex (Waitrose £36.99, Majestic)

To celebrate a winner or two enjoy a glass of bubbly from Nyetimber, who produce Grade 1 English Sparkling. Their dry, Classic Cuvée MV is a beautiful blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, with a lovely balance of intensity and elegance. Winemaker Cherie Spriggs is making wonderful wines so look to try to try their Nyetimber Rosé NV too from Waitrose at £39.99.

Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2018, Rhône, France (£8.00 in Asda and Tesco)

This blend of Grenache Blanc and Viognier is great value and so versatile. Les Dauphins made by leading Rhône producer Cellier des Dauphins has fruity notes of apricot and peach, complemented by ripe fruitiness and lovely smoothness. Great as an aperitif, with salads, seafood and chicken in a creamy sauce.  

Château Léoube Rosé 2019, Provence, France, (Daylesford shop £17.95) 

Provence in Southern France is the obvious place to go for classic pale pink, lighter styles of rosé. Château Léoube is very delicate and elegant and this dry organic rosé is lovely on its own or with some salmon, seafood or cheese. Château Léoube has the most fantastic location and they also produce beautiful olive oil available at Daylesford too.  Lord and Lady Bamford, owners of Château Léoube and Daylesford, are big horse racing fans and owners.  

St. Hallett ‘Faith’ Shiraz 2018, Barossa Valley, Australia (£16.99 and £14.99 mixed case of six Stockist: Majestic)

This is classic Barossa Valley Shiraz with bold flavours of pepper, plums with herbaceous and savoury character too, whilst never being too heavy on the palate this is a wine to savour. Great with a roast or full flavoured vegetarian dishes.

The Wine Tipster will be celebrating the day by pairing these bottles with a delicious local cheese, Rollright, pork pies from his local Butchers, and some top quality Severn & Wye Smoked Salmon.

As the Meeting ends on Sunday, why not celebrate with a classic Roast Dinner. Looking for some inspiration for your Sunday Roast? The Jockey Club’s Head Chef, Warren O’Connor, suggests Roast Sirloin and Crunchy Roast Potatoes here. This would go down a treat with any of the Red Wines mentioned above or in The Wine Tipster’s Autumnal Reds suggestions for The Jockey Club, available here.

The Wine Tipster hopes The November Meeting bring some much needed fun this Winter, and that you can enjoy it safely at home. Share how you celebrate with him on Social Media, and subscribe to his latest blogs here.

The QIPCO British Champions Series features the 35 top Flat races in the British horseracing calendar from June – October, featuring all of British Flat racing’s key festivals.  QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday 17 October is Britain’s richest raceday with £2.5 million in prize money and marks the end of The Series. Although racing remains behind closed doors this year, let The Wine Tipster guide you round the Fan Zone at Home with tips for wines, horses, and activities.

Races

The Series includes five championship categories: Sprint, Mile, Middle Distance, Long Distance and Fillies & Mares. Each features the seven highest-rated races in that category and brings together the finest horses, jockeys and trainers to compete for the sport’s most prestigious prizes.

For QIPCO British Champions Day, the five championship races are:

• The QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes – over 6 furlongs (1,200 metres) for horseracing’s speed merchants.
• The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is Champions Day’s Mile category – for four-year-olds and older horses. With prize money of £1.1 million, it is Europe’s richest mile race.
• The £1.3m QIPCO Champion Stakes (1¼ miles) – Britain’s richest ten-furlong race. The QIPCO British Champions Series Middle Distance category is the most important of all, full of hugely valuable, iconic contests.
• The QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup – over 2 miles (3,200 metres). In the QIPCO British Champions Series Long Distance category come the stamina-sapping races for horses that can stay the trip – the “stayers”.
• The £500,000 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes – over 1½ miles where the three-year-olds clash with the older fillies and mares. In 2019, Frankie Dettori and John Gosden teamed up for another QIPCO British Champions Day winner thanks to Star Catcher.

QIPCO British Champions Day is the ultimate raceday, and sees the kings and queens of the turf fight for victory in the last Flat Meeting of the season. The Wine Tipster is excited for what is a fantastic line up of runners in all the six races and you can check out his selection in each race in his Unibet Racing blog:

1:20 – QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 2) (British Champions Series) (Class 1) (3yo+) on ITV and Racing TV

1:55 – QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) (Class 1) (3yo+) on ITV and Racing TV

2:30 – QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) (Class 1) (3yo+) on ITV and Racing TV

3:05 – Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1) (Sponsored By QIPCO) (British Champions Mile) (Class 1) (3yo+) on ITV & Racing TV

3:40 – QIPCO Champion Stakes (British Champions Middle Distance) (Group 1) (Class 1) (3yo+) on ITV & Racing TV

4:15 – Balmoral Handicap (Sponsored By QIPCO) (Class 2) (3yo+) on ITV and Racing TV

At Home

The Wine Tipster will be enjoying a glass of wine or two from Ascot Wine Club. Launched for the 2020 Royal Ascot Festival in partnership with Moët & Chandon, Official Champagne, and Official Wine Partner Hallgarten Novum Wines.

Official Wine Supplier, Ascot Wine Club delivers top quality bottles directly to your door in time for the races.

The Wine Tipster’s four bottles for the QIPCO British Champions Day are:

Sauvignon Blanc Reserva, Viña Echeverría, Valle de Curicó, Chile 2019 – Chile are now producing great value and very classy Sauvignon Blancs, like this Viña Echeverría. This bottle can also come as part of the Fame And Glory Case, taking its name from the Gold Cup Winner who had an impressive racing career winning 5 races and was the favourite for the Ascot Gold Cup in 2011, winning by three lengths. The case provides 12 bottles of 4 luxury and affordable wines.

Malbec, ‘Estate’ 2018, Doña Paula, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina – A high quality, complex and beautifully balanced wine. This bottle is also available from the Sagaro Case, another historical Gold Cup winner who won in every season from 1974 to 1977. The case is a middle range price point with 12 bottles of 4 top quality wines.

Sancerre 2019 Domaine Gérard Millet, Loire, France – a classic, top class bottle from the Loire which can also be purchased in the Yeats Case. Yeats made Ascot history becoming the first horse ever to win the Ascot Gold Cup four times in succession. The case is at the top end of the prices and features some truly wonderful bottles of champagne and wine.

Rosé, ‘Whispering Angel’ 2019, Provence, France – this Group 1 pink showcases all the elegance and style of the Provence region. It is also available in the top class Yeats Case.

Virtual Fan Zone

QIPCO British Champions Series and the Pony Club have joined together to create a list of unmissable activities for children on Champions Day. First stop – the Horseracing Handbook is a must read for children wanting to get involved with the day, or adults looking for some light entertainment! Design your own silks and fill in the winners for each race in this handy guide.

Why not enter a competition for a chance to win a limited edition QIPCO British Champions Day Decade of Champions jacket and mask, and a QIPCO British Champions Day scarf for your child. Details here.

There are a number of fun videos on the QIPCO British Champions Day website including how Tom Marquand rose through the ranks, a course ride with Frankie Dettori and see what is involved in the early life or a racehorse.

For those looking for an indepth analysis of this year’s QIPCO British Champions Day, why not check out the Media Guide for all the horse racing stats and more. Check out the QIPCO British Champions Day in Numbers below:

The Wine Tipster hopes you have a most fantastic QIPCO British Champions Day and see the Flat Season out in style. Don’t forget to engage on social media with The Wine Tipster, Ascot Racecourse and QIPCO British Champions Series.

As the final meeting of the racing season at Newmarket Racecourse, the Dubai Future Champions Festival 9th – 10th October 2020 is a special showcase of horses kickstarting their careers and a must for all racing fans. The Wine Tipster’s favourite race, Saturday’s Cesarewitch, is a spectacle to behold, and he especially loves the chance to see the top two-year-olds in The Fillies Mile and The Darley Dewhurst Stakes. The Wine Tipster is looking forward to seeing these top performers return next year in The Classics. Here, The Wine Tipster guides you through this great meeting and how to enjoy it safely.

The Gold Season – The Wine Tipster’s favourite time in the racing calendar – is off to a flying start and should be a great weekend of racing.

Dubai Future Champions Festival Friday – 9th October

As the final festival of the racing season at Newmarket, the first day of the Dubai Future Champions Festival features thrilling racing. The Wine Tipster is excited for a great Friday card with 5 impressive Group Races, and the historic Old Rowley Cup. The Fillies’ Mile is a hugely important race, with the two year olds going on to race in the 1000 Guineas – The Wine Tipster loves following them through their racing careers.

START TIMES	RACE
12.45pm	The Godolphin Under Starters Orders Maiden Fillies’ Stakes Div I – Racing TV
1.15pm	The Godolphin Under Starters Orders Maiden Fillies’ Stakes Div II – Racing TV
1.50pm	The Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis Stakes Group 3 – ITV & Racing TV
2.25pm	The Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes Group 3 – ITV & Racing TV
3.00pm	The Godolphin Stud & Stable Staff Awards Challenge Stakes Group 2 – ITV & Racing TV
3.35pm	The Fillies’ Mile Group 1 – ITV & Racing TV
4.10pm	The Old Rowley Cup (Heritage Handicap) – ITV & Racing TV
4.45pm	The Darley Pride Stakes Group 3 – Racing TV

The Wine Tipster is looking forward to seeing how Indigo Girl, Isabella Giles, Shale and Pretty Gorgeous perform in a fascinating Fillies’ Mile, while Luncies looks very interesting in the Old Rowley Cup Handicap.

Dubai Future Champions Day – 10th October

The seven race card hosts three Group races including the Group 1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes. Often used by trainers to kick start a horses career, previous champions include: Frankel, considered the finest race horse of all time, 2000 Guineas winners Dawn Approach and Churchill, and 2018 July Cup winner US Navy Flag.

The Wine Tipster loves the Rowley Mile and especially the top class Cesarewitch which starts in Cambridgeshire and finishes in Suffolk showcasing over 30 horses thundering along the 2 mile 2 furlong course. The other Group races of the day host top class horses, and The Wine Tipster is looking forward to seeing the two year olds in The Darley Dewhurst Stakes before they return for the 2000 Guineas next year.

START TIMES	RACE
1.10pm	The Dubai Nursery Handicap Stakes – Racing TV
1.45pm	The Godolphin Flying Start Zetland Stakes Group 3 – ITV & Racing TV
2.20pm	The Emirates Autumn Stakes Group 3 – ITV & Racing TV
2:55pm	The Darley Dewhurst Stakes Group 1 – ITV & Racing TV
3.35pm	The Together For Racing International Cesarewitch (Heritage Handicap) – ITV & Racing TV
4.15pm	The Dubai British EBF Boadicea Fillies’ Stakes – Racing TV
4.50pm	The Darley Stakes Group 3 – Racing TV

A cracking Saturday of racing and look out for my selections in my Unibet Blog.

Races will be broadcast on ITV and Racing TV which is available on Freeview, YouView, Virgin Media, BT TV, Talk Talk TV, Plusnet TV and Apple TV. Racing Replays are available 20 minutes after winners cross the line so you’ll never miss out on the action.

At Home

The Wine Tipster would normally be presenting with Michelin Star Chef of Midsummer House, Daniel Clifford, at the Champs Gallery Restaurant. Although this won’t be possible this year, it’s a great chance for The Wine Tipster to try making Daniel’s recipes at home! He’s especially excited to try making Cottage Pie with Celeriac Mash and Kale, and a Watercress and Spinach Soup with Poached Hen’s Egg, Smoked Oil and Seeds for Starters. For more Autumnal food inspiration from Midsummer House, find all the recipes here.

For wine pairings with this fantastic Cottage Pie, The Wine Tipster recommends Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Villages 2018, Rhône, France available from Waitrose, or the Rioja ‘Selección Especial’ 2017, Ramón Bilbao, Spain available from Majestic.

For wine pairings with Daniel’s lovely soup dish, The Wine Tipster recommends Macon Charnay Les Chenes Domaine Manciat-Poncet 2017, Burgundy, France – a super white burgundy to enjoy as an aperitif and with the Watercress and Spinach Soup. Or why not try a lovely easy drinking Freixenet Pinot Grigio DOC 2019, Veneto, Italy

At Home – To Do

There are a number of interactive and fun activities to get involved with at home during the Dubai Future Champions Festival. Don’t forget to follow all the Social Media for Newmarket Racecourse and The Wine Tipster to share your celebrations! Use #GoldSeason to stay involved in the action.

• Calling friends and family to enjoy the day with? Why not use a Gold Season Video Background from The Jockey Club and feel as though you’re really there.
• The Raceday App is a must for the At Home experience. Get your own digital racecard, exclusive content, and access to the Raceday 5 Game with a chance to win a bottle of Coates & Seely Rosé NV and £10,000!
• Decorate your home with The Jockey Club Bunting which can be used throughout The Gold Season At Home.
• Need to brush up on your racing knowledge and jargon? Check out Racing Explained for all the confusing terms!
• Colour and fill in your own Sweepstake Sheet for each of the races.
• Put your knowledge of racing to the test with Raceday Quizzes.
• Don’t forget to keep up to date with the fantastic Competitions available.
• Set the scene for the Meeting with your very own Spotify Playlist.
• Get inspiration from others’ At Home Celebration creations here!

To keep up to date with The Wine Tipster’s blog, subscribe here, and don’t forget to follow him on Social Media for updates and coverage.

On Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th October 2020, the racing world’s most talented thoroughbreds, coupled with top international jockeys, will do battle on Paris Longchamp racecourse in the 99th edition of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Here, The Wine Tipster guides you through how to celebrate Arc At Home this year, discusses the Queen of the Turf, Enable and other top horses to look out for.

Ever since it was created in 1920, the “Arc” has been recognised as the Holy Grail for flat racing professionals, boasting a purse of €5 Million and the winner being crowned the year’s best racehorse. It is generally considered to be Europe’s second most prestigious horse race, after Epsom Derby, and is currently the world’s second richest turf behind The Everest.

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe was first run on Sunday 3 October 1920. Coming in the wake of World War I, it was decided that the race would be named after the Arc de Triomphe, a famous monument which had been the scene of a victory parade by the Allies in 1919. The inaugural running was won by Comrade, a three-year-old colt owned by Evremond de Saint-Alary. The winner’s prize was 150,000 francs.

Since then, this legendary race is broadcast in 50 countries and brings together normally 45,000 spectators inside the racecourse. Due to the restrictions connected with the Covid-19 crisis, Paris Longchamp racecourse is unable to welcome spectators for the 2020 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Instead, fans can celebrate Arc At Home via Social Media and racing broadcasters.

Remember, this is a fantastic two-day meeting at Longchamp, with 17 races over the weekend, including eight that have Group 1 status. The Saturday card has Group 1 and Group 2 races, which is top class racing, featuring many UK horses with who can strike here. Sunday sees the centre piece with the Arc on an eight race card that has six Group 1 races and there many chances for foreign raiders as well as Enable, with Glass Slippers in the Prix de l’Abbaye and Safe Voyage in the Prix de la Foret.

Enable – The 2020 race will mark the second historic triple attempt by Queen Enable

In 2019, Enable went for an historic third win of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe yet faced a tough run and was pipped to the post by Waldgeist, who relished the very soft conditions. While it made for a thrilling show of elite racing stars, Enable returns to Longchamp this weekend to have another chance at claiming her crown with Frankie Dettori, and will hopefully break the Arc record. “Ground conditions are heavy and this is going to be really testing for all the runners and it is hard to see a Waldgeist coming with a late charge to deny her victory this year, as the 2019 Arc was run in very soft conditions and nowhere near as testing as this year’s renewal. From a form perspective, with Love’s defection because of the ground, Enable is rightly a strong favourite and a draw in stall 5 was well received by connections”.

The Wine Tipster watched her run her ‘last’ race in the UK at the 2019 York Ebor Festival in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks (before her triumphant return in 2020) and recalls just how special she is: “This success summed up what Enable meant to everyone as the stands, paddock and rails were packed with racegoers, who had come to celebrate her career and charisma. Her jockey Frankie Dettori was understandably very emotional on what he thought was her last UK appearance. It was a beautiful and memorable day at a wonderful racecourse.”

The Arc is a showcase of the best racing talent, and it’s great to see so many good horses from France and abroad that have featured in The Wine Tipster’s previous 2020 tips making the race. He’s excited to see the English Derby winner Serpentine, who is drawn in stall 15 and In Swoop, who won the German Derby. These two finished behind another runner Mogul at Longchamp last month and yet I see these two runners as the main each way dangers.

ARC AT HOME – Get Involved

Follow this exceptional weekend of racing action, watch the world’s greatest horse race and access a whole host of exclusive and immersive content on the @FranceGalop Twitter, Instagram and Facebook pages with the hashtag #QPAT and #EnableChallenge.

Equidia.fr is also offering its viewers a special “Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe” package that includes all the videos and information relevant to this year’s potential runners.

The Wine Tipster will be watching Sunday’s three feature races including the Arc on ITV Racing, with all races available on Sky Sport Racing.

The Wine Tipster’s selections for unmissable Longchamp’s two-day meeting are in his Unibet blog.

He’ll also be celebrating this world-class meeting with a bottle or two of Les Dauphins Côtes Du Rhône Blanc 2019, which is especially great with a light lunch and the races. The weather is very autumnal so red wine fans should try a super, complex vin rouge from the Languedoc Hegarty Chamans Le Matelas No.2 2014. For those looking for some bubbles, the La Gioiosa 63 Kcal Prosecco DOC is a must try and adds to this important occasion. Coincidentally, La Gioiosa the racehorse, runs at Longchamp on Sunday in the 1.50 Prix Marcel Boussac with Frankie Dettori in the plate!

Share how you’ll be celebrating this fantastic meeting with The Wine Tipster on Social Media.

Arc Quick Fire Stats

1ST – Named Longines World’s Best Horse Race in 2019, the fourth time in five years.
99TH EDITION Of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2020, a legendary sporting event created in 1920.
1 ½ miles – The distance run in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, which pits the world’s very best thoroughbreds against each other in a race that demands both speed and stamina.  
2’24’’49 – The record time for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on the ParisLongchamp course (held by German mare Danedream since 2011), which equates to an average speed of 60 km/h with a peak speed of 65 km/h at the finish!

9.7 MILLION EUROS – The total purse for the 16 races run over the weekend, nine of which have Group 1 status, the highest category of horse race.
5 MILLION EUROS – The prize money for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe alone, making it the most richly-rewarded horse race in France.
62 MILLION EUROS – Of bets on the Arc alone, of which 45 million euros are wagered abroad.
TRICAST – Irish trainer Aidan Patrick O’Brien had a fantastic race in 2016, when his three runners took the first three places!  
FIRST ARC – Waldgeist deprives Enable of a third win in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe as André Fabre hits the « Arc » target for the eighth time.
TRIUMPHANT TRAINERS – Christiane Head-Maarek is the only female trainer to have won the race, and she  did it on three occasions (two of which were with Trêve)! But André  Fabre, a Chantilly-based trainer, takes the top spot with eight Arc victories!
ILLUSTRIOUS JOCKEYS – The Arc is an opportunity for the world’s best jockeys to measure up to one  another. Lanfranco Dettori is the only jockey, to date, to have won this exceptional race six times.

45,000 SPECTATORS – Usually present in the stands at ParisLongchamp racecourse for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend.
500 JOURNALISTS – From all over the globe cover the event.

The Wine Tipster hopes that you have a safe Qatar Arc Weekend, and enjoy The Arc At Home. To keep up to date with The Wine Tipster’s blog, subscribe here, and don’t forget to follow him on Social Media for updates and coverage.

The two day Racing TV Grand Season Opener at Warwick Racecourse (21st and 22nd September) marks the start of the new jumps season at this excellent course, which certainly draws a high level of horses, trainers and jockeys. The first stand at Warwick was built in 1808, and this racecourse is steeped in history as a National Hunt racing or Jump, course with a programme usually of 25 meetings throughout the year. For a detailed history of this popular course then The Wine Tipster highly recommends Chris Pitt’s recently published book, ‘Chandler’s Leap: and other stories from Warwick Racecourse’. Chris is a super guy to have a chat with and previously we have presented together.

Despite being one of the original racecourses planned to hold crowds again post-lockdown, the news of the Government’s decision to restrict large groups further meant changes to Warwick Racecourse’s Pilot Meeting plans for today’s meeting. As a result, after discussions with Public Health England the decision was made to reduce capacity to just under 500 for today’s meeting with owners, an agreed amount of annual members and agreed number in hospitality. Andre Klein, General Manager at Warwick Racecourse and all his team including Clerk of the Course Jane Hedley, Tommy Williams and Charlotte Parkins have worked relentlessly and enthusiastically as ever to have everything in place to trail all the health and safety procedures which have had to be put in place for this very important pilot meeting.

The Wine Tipster is excited to be attending The Racing TV Grand Season Opener Pilot Raceday and will be reading in detail the new Spectator Code of Conduct. He will also be providing tips on social media.

Here are explanations of the two types of National Hunt racing to be seen at the Racing TV Grand Season Opener:

Chase – or Steeplechase originated in Ireland in the 18th Century in which horses ran from church to church over fences and ditches of the countryside. Collectively, Great Britain and Ireland account for over 50% of all jump races worldwide. Chases are run over distances of 2–4 ¹⁄₂ miles (3–7 km) over obstacles called fences that are a minimum of 4 ¹⁄₂ feet (1.4 m) high.

Hurdle – Hurdling involves horses jumping over obstacles called hurdles or flights that are a minimum of 3 ¹⁄₂ feet (1.1 m) high and typically made of flexible panels of brush. They are run over run over distances of 2–3 ¹⁄₂ miles (3–5.5 km) and always include a minimum of 8 hurdles. Hurdle races tend to be faster than Chases as they have lower fence heights and horses can maintain momentum.

To watch the Chase and Hurdle races this meeting, check out the racecards below –

Racecard for Day 1:

START TIMES	RACE	DISTANCE	TYPE
12:45	The Wigley Group Novices’ Hurdle Race	2m 3f	Hurdle
1:15	Join Racing TV Now  Novices’ Handicap Chase	3m	Chase
1.45	Biffa Waste Services Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)	2m	Hurdle
2.15	Biffa Waste Services Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (Div 11)	2m	Hurdle
2:45	The racingtv.com Handicap Chase	2m 4f	Chase
3.15	The Agetur UK Handicap Hurdle	2m 5f	Hurdle
3:45	The Bet At Racing TV Handicap Chase	2m	Chase
4.20	Get Daily Tips at Racing TV.com Handicap Hurdle	3m 1f	Hurdle

Racecard for Day 2:

START TIMES	RACE	DISTANCE	TYPE
12:45	The Racing TV Novices’ Hurdle Race	2m 3f	Hurdle
1:15	The Racing TV Club Days Novices’ Handicap Steeple Chase	abt 3m	Chase
1:45	The racingtv.com Novice Handicap Hurdle	2m	Hurdle
2:15	The racingtv.com Handicap Chase	2m 4f	Chase
2:45	The OVER 40 FREE Racing TV Club Days Handicap Hurdle	2m 5f	Hurdle
3:15	The Join Racing TV And Go Racing Free Handicap Chase	2m	Chase
3:45	The Free Entry With Racing TV Club Days Handicap Hurdle	3m 1f	Hurdle
4.15	Follow @racingtv On Twitter Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race	2m	Bumper

Racing TV will be showing every race live which you can watch on your TV, tablet, or mobile. 

If you miss any of the action, Racing Replays are available 20 minutes after winners cross the line!

To join in on the race day action, download The Jockey Club App for free, full of exclusive content, digital racecard tips and the chance to win prizes in the Raceday 5 Game. The Wine Tipster is especially excited to see the wonderful Coates & Seely, one of The Jockey Club‘s partners, featured as a prize on the app. The top scorer on the Raceday 5 Game leaderboard can win a bottle of Coates & Seely Rosé NV and potentially £10,000! This beautifully pale pink sparkling wine is made wholly from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes and lees-aged for 2 to 2 ½ years. It has won Coates & Seely numerous awards and is the perfect accompaniment to the races. Definitely worth a go to win a bottle – info and rules here.

The Wine Tipster hopes you have a fantastic Racing TV Grand Season Opener and stay safe this season. Sign up to his blog here and follow him on Social Media here.

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