Latest news and going as it turns soft at Haydock

A familiar set of cards present themselves on Friday - or at least they will be familiar come Saturday. Ascot and Haydock lead the line in Britain on Friday, just as Haydock and Ascot will 24 hours later.

The racing is naturally not of quite so high a standard today, but it would be unfair to expect as much. Ascot hosts a selection of maidens likely to prove indicative, as well as good handicaps. At Haydock, it is good handicaps backed up by a strong maiden or two.

Newcastle completes the afternoon line-up, including a Class 2 nursery over 1m, while Down Royal, Kilbeggan, Musselburgh and Kempton come along later. Strangely, only the last-mentioned counts as a true evening fixture.

Going report

Ascot - first race 1.30

Good to soft (GoingStick Straight: 6.7, Round: 6.6 on Friday at 8:15am). Course at full width, distances as advertised.

Newcastle - 1.40

Standard

Haydock - 1.50

Soft (GoingStick 7.3 on Friday at 6:30am). All races will be run over the inner home straight. Allowing for rail position on bends, race distances are: Race 1: 1m 3yds Race 2 & 3: 6f Race 4: 5f Race 5: 7f 3yds Race 6: 1m 6f 17yds Race 7: 1m 2f 75yds

Down Royal - 4.05

Sprint course - Yielding (Soft in places); Round course - Soft (Yielding in places)

Kilbeggan - 4.20

Good to yielding

Musselburgh - 4.30

Good to firm, good in places (GoingStick 6.8 on Friday at 6.15am). Rails are in the inner most position. Distances as advertised

Kempton - 5.50

Standard to slow

What's on today

Watch the weather, especially at Haydock where the clerk of the course is already resigned to Saturday's flagship fixture on the Flat taking place on soft ground.

Also keep an eye on France, where Glorious Journey (in the Sheikha Al Jalila/old Sheikh Mohammed silks), Great White Shark and Pleasant Surprise are the three British runners split between two Group 3s and a Listed race at Saint-Cloud.

What to back

Our tipsters pick out their usual daily fancies. Find them all in the Tips Box.

Paul Kealy is back on main tipping duty once more, supported by The Edge.

What to read

Didn't your granny always say: 'you never see a poor bookie?' Tony McFadden has looked into whether she had a point in the latest Racing Revealed.

Our series of Irish Champions Weekend heroes continues, this time with former Matron Stakes winner Fiesolana.

What to watch

Check out this week's football Postcast.

The best of Racing Post Sport

The US Open is building to a climax and, though we were denied a Federer-Nadal semi, there is still plenty to get excited about on Friday.

There is also Championship football to look forward to between Derby and Hull.

Final thought

The news that three-year-olds will have more novice stakes open to them from next year is just the latest in a series of BHA initiatives to be met with widespread murmurs of assent, as opposed to the usual howls from opposite rims of the canyon. Long may peace ring out.