There is plenty of racing to keep us busy this weekend, with the biggest race coming from the United States as Saratoga hosts the 2026 Travers Stakes on Saturday night.
Known as the “Mid-Summer Derby”, the Travers brings together many of America’s leading three-year-olds, and this year’s field looks particularly strong. Golden Tempo heads the betting as several of the horses who met earlier in the Triple Crown season come together again.
The international action begins much earlier on Saturday at Caulfield in Australia, where the Group 1 Memsie Stakes is the feature. The seven-furlong contest is also an early stepping stone towards the Melbourne Cup, with the race often used as a starting point for horses whose spring campaigns could eventually lead towards Flemington in November.
There is also a strong card at The Curragh, headed by the Irish Cambridgeshire, while later in the evening Kentucky Downs stages the Grade 1 Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes.
Sunday is much quieter, although there is still racing from Goodwood, Cork, Beverley and Yarmouth. The Beverley Bullet and Prestige Fillies’ Stakes provide two of the better races of the afternoon.
Things remain fairly quiet as we move into next week. Monday has racing from Ripon, Epsom and Chepstow, plus jumps at Cartmel, while Tuesday and Wednesday include meetings at Gowran Park, Ripon, Brighton, Bath and Hamilton.
Looking further ahead, Haydock takes centre stage next weekend with the Group 1 Betfair Sprint Cup, one of the major sprint races of the British season.
Big races this week
SATURDAY
7:10am Caulfield, Saturday (Sky Sports Racing)
Stow Storage Memsie Stakes (Group 1)
7f, Flat Turf
2:50pm Sandown, Saturday (ITV4)
BetMGM Atalanta Stakes (Group 3)
1m, Flat Turf
3:10pm Goodwood, Saturday (ITV4)
Virgin Bet Celebration Mile Stakes (Group 2)
1m, Flat Turf
4:15pm Curragh, Saturday (Racing TV)
Tote Irish Cambridgeshire (Premier Handicap)
1m, Flat Turf
6:30pm Windsor, Saturday (Sky Sports Racing)
Weatherbys August Stakes (Listed Race)
1m3½f, Flat Turf
10:40pm Kentucky Downs, Saturday (Sky Sports Racing)
Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes (Grade 1)
6½f, Flat Turf
11:35pm Saratoga, Saturday (Sky Sports Racing)
DraftKings Travers Stakes (Grade 1)
1m2f, Dirt
SUNDAY
2:15pm Beverley, Sunday (ITV)
William Hill Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes (Listed Race)
5f, Flat Turf
3:10pm Goodwood, Sunday (ITV)
Virgin Bet Prestige Fillies' Stakes (Group 3)
7f, Flat Turf
4:05pm Cork, Sunday (Racing TV)
Irish Stallion Farms EBF Abergwaun Stakes (Listed Race)
5f, Flat Turf
*All races above are listed in UK time.
Race Notes
11:35pm (Saturday 29 August) Travers Stakes - Saratoga
The Travers Stakes is the big US race this weekend, and Saturday’s $1.25 million Grade 1 at Saratoga has brought together a very strong group of three-year-olds.
Golden Tempo is the 5-2 morning-line favourite from post 9 and is our pick. The Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner is already two from two over 1¼ miles, which is a big positive, although this will be his first start since recovering from a bacterial infection that ruled him out of the Jim Dandy.
Renegade looks the biggest danger at 3-1 from post 5. He was beaten only a neck by Golden Tempo in the Kentucky Derby, finished third in the Belmont and then returned to win the Jim Dandy at Saratoga. Tyler Gaffalione takes over from the injured Irad Ortiz Jr., but his recent form makes him very hard to leave out.
The most interesting alternative could be Sea Strike at 5-1. He has raced only three times, but his 8¼-length win in the Curlin Stakes suggested there may be much more to come. This is a big step up in class, but he is one of the few runners whose full level may not yet be known.
Napoleon Solo at 8-1 also deserves plenty of respect. He won the Preakness and was only narrowly beaten by Baby Vino in the Haskell. The big question is whether he can see out the full 1¼ miles as well as Golden Tempo.
At the same price, The Puma is easy to overlook. He won the Tampa Bay Derby, was beaten just a nose in the Florida Derby and should improve for his fourth-place return in the Haskell after a long layoff.
Baby Vino at 10-1 comes here on a three-race winning run, topped by his surprise Haskell victory. He now has to prove that form over an extra furlong and away from the sloppy conditions he faced at Monmouth.
Another 10-1 chance, Silent Tactic, is one we like at a bigger price. He was second in both the Rebel and Arkansas Derby earlier in the year and finished third in the Jim Dandy on his first run for four months.
Unbeaten Leading Change at 12-1 is another interesting runner, although this is a major test on only his third career start. Emerging Market at 15-1 has Louisiana Derby-winning form but needs to bounce back, while Ocelli at 20-1 is still a maiden despite finishing third in the Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Preakness.
Selection: Golden Tempo
Main danger: Renegade
Antepost Watch
The Cambridgeshire at Newmarket on 26 September has seen a notable market move this week, with Blue Courvoisier cut from 40/1 into 20/1 after winning the Sky Bet Mile Handicap at York.
That York success has clearly caught the attention of bookmakers, and while there is still a month to go before the big 1m1f handicap on the Rowley Mile, Blue Courvoisier has gone from being a big-priced outsider to a much more serious name in the market.
The favourite remains Raammee at around 8/1, so there is still a fair gap between the pair, but Blue Courvoisier is the horse whose price has moved most sharply.
With the Cambridgeshire often attracting a large and very competitive field, there is plenty of time for the betting to change again. For now, though, Blue Courvoisier is one of the most interesting movers to keep an eye on.
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.
18+ Please gamble responsibly. #ad Need help? contact GambleAware.org
Racing News
Here are a few racing updates that caught the eye this week.
Racing Legends - Flooring Porter
One of the most popular staying hurdlers of recent years, Flooring Porter, has been retired at the age of 11 after a recurrence of an injury.
Trained by Gavin Cromwell, Flooring Porter will be best remembered for his back-to-back victories in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2021 and 2022, with Danny Mullins aboard on both occasions. He returned to finish second to Teahupoo in the same race in 2024.
Cromwell confirmed that Flooring Porter is retiring in good health and will now head to his owners for his life after racing.
Thanks for reading! Let’s catch up again next week.
Regards
The Newsletter Team
Recommend Racing Newsletters
