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

Group racing is a bit like a bottle of your favoured fizz. You should not need an excuse to have it during the week, and yet . . .

Today's Sovereign Stakes, the feature at Salisbury taking place at 4.10, is one of the few British Group races to fall on a non-festival midweek meeting. This year it boasts a 2,000 Guineas fourth who, if York's 1m2f track were precisely that and not 56 yards longer, would probably be going for the Juddmonte next week.

Elarqam shaped best in the Sky Bet York Stakes last time, but was pounced on late and now returns to a mile. He is a hot favourite and could, like Kodi Bear a few years back, use this as a launchpad to
late-season Group 1s over the trip.

The day's other meetings come from Wolverhampton, Beverley and, in the evening, Yarmouth, Chepstow, Tramore and Leopardstown.

The last-named includes the Group 3 Desmond Stakes (7.20), but then in Ireland there seems less need for an excuse to get the good stuff out during the week.

Going report

Wolverhampton (first race at: 1.20)
Standard (AW)

Beverley (2.00)
Good to firm

Salisbury (2.10)
Good to soft (GoingStick: 7.8 at 7.45am on Tuesday)

Yarmouth (4.45)
Good, good to soft in places (GoingStick: 7.2 at 6.30am on Thursday)

Tramore (4.50)
Good

Chepstow (5.05)
Soft (GoingStick: 6.3 at 6.30am on Thursday)

Leopardstown (5.15)
Good to firm

Market movers

Beverley 2.30
Spirit Kingdom 9-1 (from 10)

Salisbury 2.40
Muraahin 3-1 (from 4)

Wolverhampton 2.50
La Fortuna 5-1 (from 6)

What to back

Jack McCarron is today's tipster in a hurry, picking one out from Leopardstown in ten seconds.

What to read

Although he is set to break the record as the winningmost trainer in British history, Mark Johnston is again looking to the future. Perhaps a little further than might have been expected.

And some good news: there's a slightly brighter winter in prospect.

What to watch

Relive Frankel's Juddmonte, when he smashed up one of the best fields to assemble against him.

The best of Racing Post Sport

The European Tour comes to Sweden this week. It is the Nordea Masters.

Meanwhile Bruce Millington assesses the first week of the Premier League season.

Final thought

Connections of Thundering Blue, who beat Elarqam in the York Stakes, may have been wishing the Sovereign Stakes came a day earlier. Today they must make the decision over whether or not to supplement him, at a cost of £75,000, for the Juddmonte.

For the freshest betting advice, based on latest going and market conditions, don't miss the Live Tipster every afternoon. Just click Raceday Live at racingpost.com or the mobile app