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Fancy a day at the races? Then gallop down to the shops for a copy of this game - it's an odds-on favourite.

This excellent program takes you and up to live of your friends through an entire season of between four and 16 meetings. Each meeting consists of six races.

Each player manages his/her own stable of 16 horses. By entering horses for different races, carrying different weights, over varying distances, and on different ground, you slowly build up a picture of your animals' strengths and weaknesses.

By the end of season you should be able to enter your best mounts for the great classic races, with enormous prizes at stake. Your object is to make more money than anyone else from a combination of bets and race winnings.

Classic Racing is, essentially, a strategy game, but it is Oric of the best I've played. There are many different factors to take into account. For once, you really do have to think hard and make some fine judgements.

People who aren't actually playing can join in on the sidelines, analysing the form as the game progresses and perhaps even placing bets on the side. You can play on your own if you prefer, with the computer managing all the other stables.

Apart from the many menu screens giving you full information on the state of play, there's also a highly amusing and well-animated race sequence for each race. You'll leap to your feet as the leaders thunder to the finish.

A real thoroughbred, this. Beautiful to watch, a joy to ride, and strongly tipped to take first place in the Grand Oric National. Go for it.