This week brings a strong programme of racing from Britain, Ireland and the United States, with Saturday’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes providing the clear highlight.
Friday gets underway with Listed action at Ascot and York, before the quality steps up considerably on Saturday. The York Stakes opens the afternoon’s major action, while Gowran Park stages the Marble City Stakes.
The main event comes at Ascot, where nine runners have been declared for the King George. Aidan O’Brien is responsible for four of them, headed by Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini and leading filly Minnie Hauk. They are joined by Lambourn and Action, giving Ballydoyle a powerful hand in one of the biggest middle-distance races of the season.
They face a strong international field that includes defending champion Calandagan, Japanese challenger Masquerade Ball and leading British hope Kalpana. With proven Group 1 performers taking on improving three-year-olds, it promises to be one of the most eagerly anticipated races of the summer.
Later on Saturday, attention switches to Saratoga for the American Oaks, before the US action continues in the early hours of Sunday with the Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar. Closer to home, Sunday’s British programme is headed by the Pomfret Stakes at Pontefract, alongside jumps racing from Uttoxeter.
Monday is relatively quiet, with meetings at Southwell, Ayr and Windsor, while Galway begins its festival with the Connacht Hotel Handicap among the main attractions.
Tuesday marks the start of Glorious Goodwood, which takes over as the centre of attention during the middle of the week. The five-day festival features three Group 1 races and some of the best Flat racing of the summer.
Galway continues with a mixed card on Wednesday, while Sandown, Leicester and Redcar also stage meetings. Thursday’s action at Nottingham and Epsom then takes us towards another busy weekend, with Glorious Goodwood reaching its climax.
Big races this week
FRIDAY
2:55pm Ascot (Sky Sports Racing)
Pat Eddery Stakes (Listed Race)
7f, Flat Turf
7:50pm York (Racing TV)
Lyric Fillies' Stakes (Listed Race)
1m2½f, Flat Turf
SATURDAY
2:35pm York (ITV)
York Stakes (Group 2)
1m2½f, Flat Turf
3:22pm Gowran Park (Racing TV)
Marble City Stakes (Listed Race)
1m4f, Flat Turf
3:35pm Ascot (ITV)
King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 1)
1m4f, Flat Turf
10:45pm Saratoga
American Oaks (Grade 1)
1m1f, Dirt
SUNDAY
2:30am Del Mar (Sky Sports Racing)
Bing Crosby Stakes (Grade 1)
6f, Dirt
3:30pm Pontefract (Racing TV)
Pomfret Stakes (Listed Race)
1m, Flat Turf
*All races above are listed in UK time.
Race Notes
3:35pm (Saturday 25th July) King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes - Ascot
Saturday's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes has attracted a high-quality field of nine runners, with a fascinating mix of proven Group 1 performers, Classic winners and international challengers set to line up at Ascot.
Last year's winner Calandagan (13/8) heads the betting after bouncing back from a below-par effort at Epsom with victory in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. The French-trained star has already won this race once and arrives with leading claims of defending his crown.
Japan is represented by Masquerade Ball (4/1), who was narrowly denied by Calandagan in the Japan Cup before finishing runner-up to Romantic Warrior on his only start this season. The rematch with Calandagan adds another intriguing dimension to the race.
Aidan O'Brien is responsible for four of the nine runners, headed by Benvenuto Cellini (5/1). Sent off favourite for the Derby before becoming a non-runner after getting his leg caught in the stalls, he quickly put that disappointment behind him by winning the Irish Derby and now faces his toughest assignment yet. Ryan Moore has chosen to ride him.
Stablemate Minnie Hauk (13/2) also commands plenty of respect after finishing second in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. Already a multiple Group 1 winner over this trip, she looks capable of building on that latest performance now returning to a mile and a half.
Kalpana (10/1) is another with solid Ascot form and was narrowly beaten by Calandagan in this race last year before going close again in the Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal Meeting. She looks another capable of making her presence felt.
The remaining runners have more to prove. Goliath (10/1) arrives after winning a Group 2 earlier this season and was still in contention in the Hardwicke Stakes before misfortune struck late on. Lambourn (100/1), Action (150/1) and Wurttemberg (66/1) all need to improve on recent efforts if they are to challenge for the £1 million prize.
With proven international stars taking on the latest Irish Derby winner and a strong Ballydoyle team, the King George looks set to deliver one of the highest-quality races of the Flat season.
Selection: Calandagan
Main danger: Minnie Hauk
Each-way contender: Kalpana
Antepost Watch
The market for next week's Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood has been lively, with several leading fillies attracting support.
Diamond Necklace remains the one to beat and is now a clear Evens favourite, while See The Fire has been well backed from 8/1 into 5/1 after attracting sustained support during the week.
Another notable mover is Friendly Soul, whose price has been trimmed from 12/1 to 7/1, suggesting plenty of confidence behind her chances ahead of the Group 1 contest.
Jancis has drifted even further, doubling in price from 20/1 to 50/1 as punters look elsewhere in the market.
With several days still to go before the fillies line up at Goodwood, expect the betting to remain one of the stories to watch in the build-up.
Racing Syndicates
Hambleton has been running syndicates for over two decades and is a founder member of the Racehorse Syndicates Association, working across a stable of leading yards including Kevin Ryan, Archie Watson, Karl Burke, Tom Clover and David O’Meara.
Ownership model: Buy an equal share in a specific horse, capped at a maximum of 12 owners per syndicate, rather than joining a general club.
Trainers: A panel of leading UK trainers (Kevin Ryan, Archie Watson, Karl Burke, Tom Clover and David O’Meara).
Member base: Presented as one of the UK’s longest-established and most popular syndicates over two decades. The site does not publish a member or owner count.
Payment structure: An upfront payment to buy the share, followed by ongoing monthly payments covering training and racing costs. This differs from a one-off, fixed-term model.
Each owner receives genuine ownership of their percentage share, full entitlement to prize money with no deductions, and a share in any future resale value. On naming day, owners receive a professionally taken photograph of their horse.
Owners get two complimentary owners’ and trainers’ badges every time their horse runs, unlimited accompanied stable visits arranged around their own schedule, and access to Hambleton’s complimentary social events: notably, the Doncaster Owners’ Day and annual Christmas get-together.
Interested in learning more about Hambleton Racing? click here.
Betting Offers
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Racing News
Here are a few racing updates that caught the eye this week.
Racing Legends - Red Marauder
Red Marauder’s 2001 Grand National is remembered as one of the most brutal, attritional renewals in modern Aintree history, producing just four finishers in bottomless ground and a winner who came home virtually alone.
Thanks for reading! Let’s catch up again next week.
Regards
The Newsletter Team
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