All you need to start your day including going from all the tracks

As is often the case, Thursday is when the week kicks up in gradient, this time towards an action-packed Saturday that takes us into the Christmas break.

Today there is turf racing to digest from both Exeter and Towcester. While the ostensible feature race at the first-named track has attracted just the two runners, the novices are strong and the handicaps typically competitive.

There are also three all-weather fixtures, at Southwell, Dundalk (the beginning of a two-day fixture that rounds off pre-Christmas racing in Ireland) and Chelmsford. Fans of the all-weather's familiar faces will be spoiled, with General Tufto making his 200th appearance and Very First Blade his 100th at Southwell, while Captain Scooby will reach 206 not out at Chelmsford.

Going report

Southwell - first race 11.45
Standard

Towcester - 12.25
Good to soft, soft in places (Dead) (GoingStick 7.6 on Thursday at 7.30am)

Hurdle course dolled out on both bottom bends. Chase and hurdle courses on shared bends. Race distances altered by the following approximate distances: Races 1 and 7 - 10 yards; Races 2 and 6 - 45 yards; Race 3 - 20 yards; Race 4 - 35 yards; Race 5 - 15 yards

Exeter - 12.35
Soft (GoingStick: Chase 5.5; Hurdle 5.6 on Tuesday at 11:30am)

Shared bends, all races will be run on the chase bend turning into the home straight. Chase distances as advertised. Hurdles saces 1 and 5 add 102 yards, races 6 and 7 add 180 yards

Dundalk - 4.30
Standard

Chelmsford - 5.45
Standard

Market movers

Southwell 11.45 Good Time Ahead 4-1 (from 9-2)

Exeter 2.05 Le Rocher 7-4 (from 2-1)

Chelmsford 5.45 Complicit 5-4 (from 11-8)

What to back

What could you do in ten seconds? Nick Watts gives his bet of the day.

What to read

Get up to date with a dramatic hearing in London, where the Our Little Sister hearing concluded on Wednesday. For Members, Tom Kerr has provided the colour.

The best of Racing Post Sport

Our golf tipsters have already looked ahead to the season's ante-post lists, selecting some European success in the States.

There is also Belgian Pro League action to get tucked into, including Gent vs Charleroi.

Final thought

It is looking increasingly as though we will be digesting a full book of Boxing Day fixtures less than 24 hours after the turkey and sprouts. In this case, even 72-hour declarations does feel insufficient.