First of all, apologies for the late email. Normal service will be resumed next week! Enough about my problems though, because thankfully most of this weekend’s best racing is still to come today and Sunday.
The pick of Saturday’s action in Britain comes from Newmarket, where there is an excellent card featuring two Group 1 races for the juveniles. The Cheveley Park Stakes is first up for the fillies, followed by the Middle Park Stakes for the colts. Later in the afternoon, the Cambridgeshire brings a very different challenge as a big field tackles nine furlongs on the Rowley Mile.
Over in Ireland, The Curragh hosts racing across the weekend. Saturday’s feature is the Group 2 Beresford Stakes and the Goffs Million, while Sunday brings the Irish Cesarewitch, a stamina test over a little more than two miles.
There is also plenty of international racing worth keeping an eye on. In the United States, Belmont Park stages the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, while Santa Anita hosts the Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes later in the night.
Sunday starts early with major sprinting action from two different parts of the world. Nakayama stages the Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes in Japan, while Caulfield hosts the Group 1 Manikato Stakes in Australia. Later in the afternoon, Cologne stages the Group 1 Preis von Europa over a mile and a half.
Elsewhere in Britain this weekend there is racing from Haydock, Ripon, Market Rasen, Southwell, Epsom and Ffos Las.
Things quieten down a little as we move into next week, although there is still racing from Hamilton, Newton Abbot, Musselburgh, Brighton, Bath and Ayr, while the Irish programme includes meetings at Sligo, Bellewstown, Cork, Down Royal and Roscommon.
And then attention turns firmly towards Paris, with the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe taking place at Longchamp on Sunday 4 October.
Big races this week
SATURDAY
2:27pm Newmarket (ITV)
Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Cheveley Park Stakes (Group 1)
6f, Flat Turf
3:00pm Newmarket (ITV)
Tattersalls Middle Park Stakes (Group 1)
6f, Flat Turf
3:10pm Curragh (Racing TV)
Churchill Tyres Beresford Stakes (Group 2)
1m, Flat Turf
3:40pm Newmarket (ITV)
bet365 Cambridgeshire (Heritage Handicap)
1m1f, Flat Turf
10:19pm Belmont Park, Saturday (Sky Sports Racing)
Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (Grade 1)
1m4f, Flat Turf
SUNDAY
12:30am Santa Anita (Sky Sports Racing)
Goodwood Stakes (Grade 1)
1m1f, Dirt
7:40am Nakayama (Stream)
Sprinters Stakes (Grade 1)
6f, Flat Turf
7:45am Caulfield (Sky Sports Racing)
Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (Group 1)
6f, Flat Turf
3:07pm Cologne (Stream)
Mehl-Mülhens-Stiftung 64th Preis von Europa (Group 1)
1m4f, Flat Turf
4:20pm Curragh (Racing TV)
Friends Of The Curragh Irish Cesarewitch (Premier Handicap)
2m1f, Flat Turf
*All races above are listed in UK time.
Race Notes
3:40pm (Sat 26 Sept) bet365 Cambridgeshire - Newmarket
The Cambridgeshire is one of those races that usually encourages you to look for something clever at a big price. Twenty-seven runners charging up Newmarket’s Rowley Mile over nine furlongs hardly screams “obvious winner”, but this year the answer may be sitting right at the top of the market.
That horse is Gavriel, the lightly raced three-year-old trained by John and Thady Gosden. He has raced only four times and took a major step forward when switched to turf at Ascot earlier this month, travelling strongly through a 1m2f handicap before winning by 1¾ lengths.
He picked up a 4lb penalty for that success, but his revised handicap mark rose by 6lb, which leaves him potentially well treated here.
There is also some history behind the confidence. The Gosden team have won the Cambridgeshire four times with horses including Halling, Pipedreamer, Wissahickon and Lord North, and Gavriel has exactly the sort of lightly raced, improving profile associated with several of those winners.
At 9/2, however, nobody is getting rich simply for spotting the obvious one, and there are plenty of dangers.
Indalo deserves plenty of respect after finishing a nose second in this race last year. He has continued to run well in major handicaps this season, including victory at Sandown and a third-place finish in the Royal Hunt Cup, and we already know the unusual demands of this course and distance suit him.
Bourbon Blues is another interesting three-year-old. He has been steadily improving and arrives after winning a strong handicap at Doncaster earlier this month, having previously finished third at York and second at Goodwood. Ryan Moore takes the ride and there is every reason to think the nine-furlong trip will suit.
For something at a bigger price, Wild Thoughts is difficult to ignore. He began the season from a mark of just 56 but has already won five times in 2026, most recently producing a career-best performance at Ayr. Saffie Osborne knows him extremely well and has been aboard throughout his improvement.
There is also an interesting storyline around Thunder Run, who carries top weight. Karl Burke has won the last two Cambridgeshires and is attempting a third consecutive victory, although asking Thunder Run to carry 10st makes this a very different challenge. He does at least arrive after an impressive Doncaster win.
For all the temptation to search for something less obvious in a 27-runner handicap, Gavriel is difficult to oppose. He is inexperienced, but that also means we may not yet know just how good he is.
🏆 Winner: Gavriel
⚠️ Main Danger: Indalo
👀 One at a Price: Wild Thoughts
Antepost Watch
With the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe now only a little over a week away, you might expect the ante-post market to be moving rapidly. Instead, it has been surprisingly quiet.
Daryz remains favourite at around 7/4, with Maltese Cross at 13/2 and Thundering On at 15/2. For anyone who already likes one of those three, that lack of movement is probably welcome news. There has been no sudden rush of money forcing the leading prices dramatically shorter.
Daryz has already completed his preparation, winning the Prix Foy at Longchamp, and will attempt to defend the Arc crown he won last year.
Maltese Cross is definitely heading to Paris. William Haggas has confirmed the Grand Prix de Paris and Great Voltigeur winner will line up, with Tom Marquand set to ride. His ability to win over the Arc course and distance earlier this season is an obvious positive.
There is slightly more uncertainty around Thundering On. Joseph O'Brien has said a final decision has not yet been made, with the ground likely to play an important part. Connections would prefer conditions on the softer side of good, while regular jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle is also racing against time to be fit.
Elsewhere, Kalpana is confirmed to run and will be Juddmonte's sole representative, with Colin Keane booked. Sunly, who had also been under consideration, will miss the Arc and instead head for the Prix de Royallieu.
Bay City Roller is another whose participation depends on the weather. George Scott currently puts his chance of running at around 75 per cent, but he wants natural rain at Longchamp. The Champion Stakes at Ascot is the alternative if conditions stay too quick.
There is still some uncertainty over exactly what Aidan O'Brien will send to Paris, with the final shape of his challenge yet to be confirmed.
So this week's Ante-Post Watch is really about what hasn't happened. Daryz, Maltese Cross and Thundering On remain at very similar prices, but with ground forecasts, final running plans and eventually the draw still to come, it would be surprising if the Arc market stayed this quiet for much longer.
Racing Syndicates
For anyone interested in racehorse ownership, MyKingdomForAHorse.org has added a couple of useful features worth keeping an eye on.
The new Syndicate Finder brings together racing syndicates and ownership clubs in one place, making it easier to browse the different options available and see what might suit your budget and level of involvement.
There is also a dedicated New Horses page, featuring recently added horses and upcoming ownership opportunities. It is a useful way to see what is becoming available and keep track of new horses before shares start to fill.
You can explore the ownership options at MyKingdomForAHorse.org.
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 - Gay Trip
Looking at Gay Trip before the 1970 Grand National, there were plenty of reasons to wonder whether Aintree would really suit him.
He was a relatively small horse, had never won beyond two and a half miles and was being asked to carry 11st 5lb over more than four miles.
Thanks for reading! Let’s catch up again next week.
Regards
The Newsletter Team
