There’s plenty of racing to keep us occupied this weekend before the focus shifts firmly to York and the start of the Ebor Festival on Wednesday.
Friday gets the action underway with the St Hugh’s Stakes at Newbury, while over in Ireland the Firville Stakes at Cork is another race worth keeping an eye on.
Saturday is the busiest day of the weekend. Newbury stages the Hungerford Stakes, while the Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon provides one of the afternoon’s big betting races. Later in the day, the action moves across the Atlantic, with the Christophe Clement Turf Stakes at Saratoga and Canada’s King’s Plate at Woodbine.
There is more quality racing on Sunday. The Curragh stages the Royal Whip Stakes and Juvenile Sprint Stakes, while closer to home we have the Flying Fillies’ Stakes at Pontefract. There is also a major prize on offer in Japan, where the Sapporo Kinen is worth around £700,000.
And then comes York.
The Ebor Festival begins on Wednesday and runs through to Saturday, bringing four days of top-class racing. It all starts with a huge opening day and the Juddmonte International Stakes, before another packed few days on the Knavesmire.
Big races this week
FRIDAY
5:23pm Newbury, (Sky Sports Racing)
Visit Malta St Hugh's Stakes (Listed Race)
5f, Flat Turf
6:03pm Cork, (Racing TV)
Irish Stallion Farms EBF Firville Stakes (Listed Race)
7f, Flat Turf
6:30pm Newbury,
UAE President Cup Series (Group 3PA)
1m, Arabian Flat
6:35pm Cork, (Racing TV)
NFP Irish EBF Platinum Stakes (Listed Race)
7f, Flat Turf
SATURDAY
3:10pm Newbury, (ITV)
Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes (Group 2)
7f, Flat Turf
3:25pm Ripon, (ITV)
William Hill/MND Association Great St Wilfrid Handicap
6f, Flat Turf
10:06pm Saratoga, (Sky Sports Racing)
Christophe Clement Turf Stakes (Grade 1)
1m4f, Flat Turf
11:12pm Woodbine, (Sky Sports Racing)
King's Plate Stakes
1m2f, All-Weather
SUNDAY
7:45am Sapporo
Sapporo Kinen
1m2f, Flat Turf
4:25pm Curragh, (ITV4)
Newbridge Silverware Royal Whip Stakes (Group 3)
1m2f, Flat Turf
4:45pm Pontefract, (ITV4)
EBF Sky Bet Club Flying Fillies' Stakes (Listed Race)
6f, Flat Turf
4:55pm Curragh, (ITV4)
William Hill Irish EBF Juvenile Sprint Stakes (Listed Race)
5f, Flat Turf
WEDNESDAY
3:00pm York, (ITV)
Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2)
1m4f, Flat Turf
3:35pm York, (ITV)
Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1)
1m2½f, Flat Turf
*All races above are listed in UK time.
Race Notes
10:06pm (Saturday 15th August) Christophe Clement Stakes - Saratoga
There is a little extra meaning to Saturday night’s $750,000 Christophe Clement Turf Stakes at Saratoga, formerly known as the Sword Dancer. The race was renamed this summer in honour of the late French-born trainer Christophe Clement, who won the race a record five times during his hugely successful career in America.
Fittingly, his son Miguel Clement has a runner in the first edition under its new name. Tawny Port has already earned more than $2 million and comes here after winning the Belmont Gold Cup over two miles. He also has an excellent record at Saratoga, although dropping back to 1m4f may not play quite as strongly to his staying strengths.
There is plenty of British and European interest among the seven runners. Ancient Egypt, trained by Charlie Johnston, brings some very strong form into the race after finishing narrowly beaten in both the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot and Grand Prix de Paris. The big question is how he handles his first start in America and the tighter Saratoga track.
George Boughey’s Survie has already answered that question. She made an excellent start to her American campaign when winning the Glens Falls over this same course and distance. This is a much tougher assignment against the boys at Grade 1 level, but she has plenty going for her and arrives in very good form.
Fort George gives Britain another chance and already has experience of Saratoga, having gone close in the Bowling Green last time. The 1m4f trip should suit him, although he needs to find a little more if he is to claim a first Grade 1 victory.
The home team also includes three-time Grade 1 winner Program Trading, who has the class but steps into unknown territory over this longer distance, while Minaret Station and recent Bowling Green winner Ole Crazy Bone complete a strong and unusually open field.
With proven American Grade 1 performers taking on several interesting European challengers, this looks one of the most competitive races of the weekend. Ancient Egypt brings particularly strong European form to Saratoga, while Survie has already shown that she can travel across the Atlantic and win at this track.
Selection: Survie
Main danger: Ancient Egypt
Antepost Watch
The Juddmonte International at York is shaping up around two horses at the head of the market, with defending champion Ombudsman around 10/11 and Constitution River at 7/4.
But the horse that has caught our attention further down the betting is Pride Of Arras.
Ralph Beckett’s four-year-old has been available at odds as big as 100/1 for the Juddmonte, but that price has disappeared. He was still available at 50/1 last week and is now around the 33/1 mark, with some bookmakers going shorter.
There are obvious reasons why he remains an outsider against horses of the quality of Ombudsman and Constitution River, but York is a course where Pride Of Arras has produced some of his best racing.
That makes the move from 100/1 towards 33/1 worth noting. He still has plenty to find with the favourites, but for anyone looking beyond the obvious names at the top of the market, Pride Of Arras is becoming an interesting one to watch as we get closer to Wednesday.
Racing Syndicates
Hambleton Racing has opened places in two new 2026 yearling syndicates, the syndicates will be built around two of the leading trainers in the North of England, Karl Burke and Kevin Ryan. Both have long and successful relationships with Hambleton Racing and strong records when it comes to finding quality horses at the yearling sales.
Rather than buying a share in a named horse, owners are effectively backing the team to find the right horse at the sales later this year.
For those who enjoy the sales side of racing, that can add another level of interest. Owners can follow the process from the purchase of the yearling through its early education and, hopefully, on to the racecourse as a two-year-old in 2027.
You can view the horses currently available for shares with Hambleton Racing here.
Betting Offers
Betfred is one of the best-known names in British betting, covering horse racing alongside a wide range of other sports.
For racing fans, Betfred offers markets across major UK, Irish and international meetings, from everyday cards through to the biggest races of the season. You can find win and each-way betting, ante-post markets and a range of other racing options.
Betfred also has a long association with British horse racing and currently sponsors several major races and meetings.
If you’re looking for another bookmaker to compare prices and racing markets, Betfred is well worth a look. New customers can also take advantage of a welcome offer when opening an account. T&Cs apply.
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Racing News
Here are a few racing updates that caught the eye this week.
Racing Legends - Big Buck’s
What made Big Buck’s so special? Maybe it was his ability to deliver when it mattered most. Maybe it was the drama of those “flat spots,” the sense that he was never beaten until the line. Or maybe it was just the joy he brought to the sport.
Thanks for reading! Let’s catch up again next week.
Regards
The Newsletter Team
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