Punters side with Mother Earth in Saturday's Sun Chariot as Snow Lantern drifts

Mother Earth is now the standout 11-4 favourite for the Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes (2.55) as overnight market leader Snow Lantern drifts in price in her bid to to emulate dam Sky Lantern by winning Saturday's Newmarket Group 1.

Bookmakers had struggled to split the pair last night and this morning for Britain's showpiece race of the day, but the Aidan O'Brien-trained 1,000 Guineas winner is now clear of Snow Lantern (4-1 from 11-4) to claim a third Group 1 of the season.

At each-way prices, last year's Matron Stakes winner Champers Elysees has been well supported to land a second Group 1 of her career. The Johnny Murtagh-trained four-year-old – one of two in the race for owner Teruya Yoshida – is a best-priced 14-1 (from 20) .

Ayr Gold Cup runner-up Great Ambassador (7-2 from 4) is the new favourite to bounce back from that disappointment with victory in the Group 3 Bengough Stakes (3.15). Overnight market leader Glen Shiel has drifted to 9-2 (from 3) while Diligent Harry is as short as 15-2 havcing been a best-priced 11-1 overnight.

Last Saturday saw Anmaat just touched off in the Cambridgeshire after being well backed into favouritism in the morning, and today sees another Shadwell runner leap to the top of the market for a heritage handicap in the shape of Aldaary (9-2 from 7), who has usurped River Nymph's (11-2 from 5) position in the Equine Productions 'The Fall' Challenge Cup at Ascot (3.50).

Aldaary: well-backed for the Challenge Cup at AscotCredit: Tim Goode (Getty Images)

Aldaary's three victories have come on good to soft, soft and heavy and he could return to winning ways after being beaten on quicker surfaces over the summer.

Market movers

Newmarket 1.45: Ms Ghandi 9-1 (from 12)
Newmarket 2.55: Champers Elysees 14-1 (from 20)

Ascot 3.15: Great Ambassador 7-2 (from 4-1)
Ascot 3.15: Tabdeed 12-1 (from 14)
Ascot 3.50: Aldaary 9-2 (from 7)

Redcar 3.35: Mojomaker 11-2 (from 17-2)
Redcar 3.35: Chipotle 9-2 (from 11-2)

Heavy rain could affect big-race action at Newmarket and Longchamp

Heavy afternoon rain could play havoc with the cards in Britain and France on a bumper day of action on both sides of the English channel.

Arc weekend at Longchamp kicks off with a barnstorming clash between heavyweight stayers Stradivarius, Trueshan and Princess Zoe in the Group 1 Qatar Prix du Cadran ().

France Galop is reporting the ground to be very soft on its readings after 5.6mm of rain in the last 24 hours, but the deluge expected to fall before Sunday's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe () looks set to arrive too late to affect this afternoon action.

ITV Racing tips: one key runner from each of the eight races on ITV4 on Saturday

Trueshan has been strengthening as favourite for the gruelling 2m4f Cadran, the most prestigious staying race in France, at a best-priced 2-1 from Princess Zoe (10-3) and Stradivarius (7-2).

There are eight live races on ITV4 on Saturday, headlined by the Group 1 Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes () from Newmarket.

The going on the Rowley Mile remains good and clerk of the course Michael Prosser is hopeful of avoiding the worst of the weather before the day's showpiece race.

He said: "It was dry overnight so I've left the ground at good and the forecast is to be dry this morning. The winds are due to pick up this afternoon and we're expecting some light and patchy rain first at approximately 1pm and then getting heavier from mid-afternoon.

"It's hard to predict exactly when that will arrive, but hopefully it will be post-Sun Chariot. I'm looking at the radar and the rain is a long way from us at the moment, but I'd imagine it will pick up apace as the winds come up. We are going to get something but hopefully we'll get through most of the card before the heavier stuff."

Two Group 3s, the Cumberland Lodge Stakes () and the Bengough Stakes () are the highlights of Ascot's six-race card, four of which will be shown live on ITV4.

The going at the Berkshire track was changed to soft all over (from good to soft on the straight course and good to soft, soft in places on the round course), after 3mm of rain fell in the morning, with showers set to get heavier as the day progresses.

Meanwhile, the Listed William Hill Two Year Old Trophy () gives Redcar its opportunity to shine on the national stage on the biggest day of the North Yorkshire track's calendar.

After a dry night, the ground is good, good to firm in places and the rain is not expected to fall until late in the afternoon.

Non-runners

The Ivan Furtado-trained Just Beautiful – who had been a general 20-1 shot for the Sun Chariot – is the only non-runner in Newmarket's big race, although there have been plenty of others across the televised cards.

Ascot

1.30: 6 Chocoya, 16 Undertheboardwalk
2.05: 4 King Of Stars
3.50: 7 Documenting
4.25: 2 El Astronaute, 3 Mountain Peak

Newmarket

2.20: 5 Burtonlodge Beauty, 16 Streak Jazz
2.55: 6 Just Beautiful
4.40: 9 Silent Flame

Redcar

1.50: 2 At The Double, 3 Captain Howse, 4 Cotai Creek
2.25: 4 Golden Shot, 9 Danby Wiske
3.00: 1 Cornerstone Lad
5.15: 8 Prydwen, 13 Libby Ami
5.50: 11 Our Little Pony

Saturday's race previews:

2.15 Longchamp: Red-hot Prix du Cadran draws big hitters to Paris for staying race of the year

2.55 Newmarket: 'She's going to run a big race' - Snow Lantern team confident before Sun Chariot

3.15 Ascot: Glen Shiel could be peaking with British Champions Sprint on the horizon

3.20 Gowran Park: Champion Chase heroine Put The Kettle On begins road back to Cheltenham Festival

3.35 Redcar: 'He's done amazingly well' - trainers assess their Two Year Old Trophy runners

3.50 Ascot: 'His strong-staying Sandown effort makes him a big player off an unchanged mark'

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