THIS is what I call the weekend crossover in flat and national hunt racing with Wetherby’s big jump meeting of the year alongside that at Down Royal and Ascot while on the flat front it is the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar through the weekend and last but not least the race that stops a nation, the Melbourne Cup at Flemington Park in the early hours of Tuesday.

The Grade Two, Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (2.58) is the big race of the day at Wetherby with an up-to-scratch field of seven set to go to post headed by 2022 winner and runner-up last year, Bravemansgame.

The fact that this year’s renewal will be run on good ground is a huge plus for Paul Nicholls’s charge and he will be the rightful market leader.

However, that is reflected in his price of around 6/4 and I would much prefer to take a chance on Irish raider CONFLATED who should get a lovely tow into this race with the likes of Grey Dawning, Hang Inn There and French Dynamite all likely to be at the sharp end throughout.

The selection unseated Jack Kennedy at the first obstacle in the BetVictor Chase at Punchestown won by French Dynamite, a part of his make-up which happens at least once a season.

But on his day he is a mighty fine staying chaser and as long as he puts in a clear round I suspect he will put it up to the favourite and the Dan Skelton charge and anything in the region of 7/1 will do for me.

The Grade Two Bet365 West Yorkshire Hurdle (2.22) looks a deal more open betting wise with bookmakers set to offer 3/1 the field with just the six set to go to post.

Third in the 2023 Albert Barlett Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, Sandor Clegane reverts to the smaller obstacles following no wins from five outings over fences, albeit at a very high level.

If he wins here it is not hard to imagine the shrewd Paul Nolan aiming him at the Stayers Hurdle next March.

With Dashel Drasher having to hump a penalty around here though I think we will get a big run out of the mare KATEIRA who Dan Skelton is sure to have as fit as a flea first time up.

She is totally unexposed over this trip, won’t mind the prevailing conditions and is given the nod over the Irish raider at odds of around 6/1.

As far as the rest of the card is concerned, ARTHUR’S QUAY (1.15) could outrun his double-figure price in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase, while LUCCIA (1.50) can successfully give four pounds away to her five rivals in the Listed Bet365 Mares’ Hurdle.

The runners at Ascot will experience similarly top of the ground tomorrow afternoon and the feature betting race will be the Sodexo Live! Gold Cup Handicap Chase at 3.45 with the weights headed by Cheltenham winner Chianti Classico who will bid to make the step up to Gold Cup class this season.

If he has claims in the big race next spring then he will need to dismiss this field of 11 with disdain off a mark of 152.

If his jumping holds up, I suspect Kim Bailey’s charge (stable in red hot form) will go very close, but there are plenty of his rivals here that could warrant each-way support further down the weights.

Our Power won here two years ago and is still fairly weighted after time on the sidelines if he retains all of his old ability while Solo has been crying out for a shot at this staying trip and Flegmatik will adore this ground even if he handicapped to the hilt on his best Kempton Park form.

But off a mark of 139, under conditional rider Mike O’Connor, AMRITE is just preferred.

A fine fifth in the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown Park last back end, this unexposed chaser blew away the cobwebs when well down the field in the Kerry National and that run should have put him straight for this venture.

FIRE FLYER (3.15) and TIME IN THE SUN (12.55) are my other selections on a cracking jumps’ card.

At Down Royal, last year’s first and second lock horns again in the feature.

If the ground continues to dry out that could play against the reigning holder Gerri Colombe and I am happy to let him go and win at odds-on, while the 2023 runner-up Envoi Allen should run well, but the one I want to be on with the going in his favour has to be the supplemented HEWICK.

The King George hero has the benefit of a run under his belt and looks way too big at around 13/2 to land yet another big prize.

LAKOTA BLUE (12.25) can retain his unbeaten record in the opener, while ROMEO COOLIO, runner-up in last year’s Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival, may have too much class for Harry’s Legacy on his hurdling debut at 1.00.

All eyes will be on City of Troy as he bids to land the Breeders’ Cup Classic at 9.41 tonight.

Nicely drawn in stall three, if Ryan Moore can extricate him early on and get him rolling in the first three then he could very well out gallop his 13 rivals in this £5 million event.

The son of Justify has been a huge gamble in the past couple of weeks, was 33/1 after blowing out in the 2,000 Guineas in April, but that has merely made the market for the rest of the field and I really like the claims of Japanese challenger USHBA TESORO.

Winner of nearly £13m in prize money, he comes here very fresh and based on his first and second in the Dubai World Cup he looks fabulous each-way value here.

Of the other races on the card I will also be having a small play on ANISETTE in the Filly and Mares Turf at 10.25 and SAUDI CROWN in the concluding Dirt Mile at 12.25 where he is taken to make all from the inside stall.

Finally, the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday has lost a lot of its lustre with Jan Brueghel scratched earlier in the week and several ante-post fancies not making it to the start.

My two against the field are the recent Bendigo Cup winner SEA KING with little weight on his back. The Harry Eustace-trained runner looks sure to appreciate the step up in trip. I have already backed last year’s closing sixth, INTERPRETATION at a big price and there is still some mileage in his current odds.

He comes here in really good form after staying on in eye-catching fashion when second to Onesmoothoperator in the Geelong Cup.