There is a helping of afternoon Flat racing from Ascot on Friday with the Berkshire circuit serving up a six-race programme to help usher in the first weekend of October. 

The feature event is the Listed Harrogate Water B Corp Noel Murless Stakes over a mile-and-three-quarters at 3.05pm. 

Conditions at Ascot are set to be 'Good' on the Straight course and 'Good to soft-good in places' on the Round. 

We have picked out five for horses for you to follow on the card. 

1.55pm - Racing To School Classified Stakes (Str, 1m)

The Ascot opener is an open looking heat and it would not be hard to find confidence in plenty of the dozen-strong line-up. 

WALHAAN has not been able to add to his debut success in France back in the winter of 2018 but the Dark Angel gelding has been showing the right signs in four runs since joining James Tate. 

He has improved in each of those outings, going close in a hot Newbury handicap in August (first two won all three starts since) and then finishing second behind John and Thady Gosden's Uncle Bryn over this C&D at the beginning of September.

He shaped well coming off a sedate pace there and, from an unchanged mark, can have a major say back here. 

LiveScore selection: Walhaan 

2.30pm - Troy Asset Management Novice Stakes (1m4f)

Bartzella let her supporters down at Thirsk recently but could well rebound, while Kingsofthemidlands has been absent since failing to fire in a Chester maiden in May. 

He, too, is respected given his debut effort at Newmarket was full of promise. 

NELL THE THIEF was fifth on debut at Kempton over this trip in August. 

The field was routed by Pennymoor that day but four subsequent winners have emerged from the vanquished runners and Ed Walker's filly has plenty of scope for improvement here under the champion jockey Oisin Murphy. 

LiveScore selection: Nell The Thief 

3.05pm - Harrogate Water B Corp Noel Murless Stakes (Listed, 1m6f)

Progressive handicapper Chalk Stream has won his last three and is a player for William Haggas in the Royal colours but Scope and MANDOOB could be the pair to focus on. 

They are closely matched on form behind Yibir, who beat the selection into second at Newmarket (1m5f, good to firm) in July and also had Scope behind in fifth when landing York's Great Voltigeur the following month. 

On those readings there may not be much between the pair and while Ralph Beckett's colt has achieved more, Brian Meehan's charge was having only his third start in that Newmarket Group 3 (only defeat) and could have plenty more to come upped again in trip. 

LiveScore selection: Mandoob 

3.40pm - Design Work Studios Handicap (6f)

Mitrosonfire saw his excellent run of form snapped at Doncaster's St Leger Festival but could rebound, while Liberated Lady and Bickerstaffe are both dangers — the latter having run well in the Ayr Silver Cup last time. 

PROP FORWARD was inched out on his Salisbury debut in July but has won a Bath maiden (5½f, good) and a Wolverhampton novice over this trip in stylish fashion since. 

The Iffraaj colt has not exactly been thrown in for this handicap bow but he has lots of potential on those recent showings and is well worth keeping tabs on as he moves forward with his sights to be raised. 

LiveScore selection: Prop Forward 

4.50pm - Berkshire Search & Rescue Dogs (BSARD) Handicap (7f)

It is a quarter of a century this week since a boyish Lanfranco Dettori lit up this famous place and made history with his 'Magnificent Seven' sweep of the Ascot card. 

The Italian's enthusiasm for race-riding continues to defy the passage of time. 

He partners SUNNY MAJOR in the finale for John and Thady Gosden as the Dubawi colt looks to make a winning start in handicaps. 

Despite a 15-month absence, the Juddmonte runner was an easy winner of a Chelmsford novice a couple of weeks ago over this trip with Frankie on board. 

Boasting a recent strike-rate of 50 per-cent (6-12), Dettori is as good as ever and could have a willing and talented partner here. 

LiveScore selection: Sunny Major