Our ambassador offers a preview of a bustling Saturday card that includes the Listed August Stakes at Windsor, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing from 4:30 p.m. The centerpiece of the evening’s Sky Sports Racing coverage is the Listed Weatherbys August Stakes, scheduled for a 6:30 start. This race could see my husband, jockey Tom Marquand, aboard the well‑trained William Haggas runner Tenability.
Tenability arrives at Windsor with a solid record on this course and a reputation for handling soft or wet ground without losing his stride. He demonstrated that ability last autumn at Ascot when he chased home Al Qareem in the Cumberland Lodge under rain‑slicked conditions.
Since his victory over stablemate Hamish at Goodwood in June, Tenability has been kept fresh, then added a respectable third‑place finish in a Group Three at Deauville over a longer distance than the Windsor trip. His recent form is more compelling than that of the intriguing Silawi, whose performances have disappointed relative to the high expectations set by his Group One International win in Canada last October and his close second to Opera Ballo in the Jebel Hatta in Dubai earlier this year. Turning to the day’s most prestigious contest, the Group Two Virgin Bet Celebration Mile Stakes (3 ½ furlongs) at Goodwood, I am inclined to back the affable Zavateri.
Zavateri has shown promise and could secure his first win of the season in this mile‑long test. Eve Johnson‑Houghton’s three‑year‑old, who ran respectably behind Bow Echo in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and held his own in Notable Speech’s Group One at York last weekend, is another contender worth noting. Although this colt is making a quick turnaround, his prior Pattern win in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood suggests he can handle a standard renewal, potentially at the expense of Qirat, the surprise Sussex Stakes victor of last year who could prove dangerous if he finds the lead. Never miss a story – stay updated with the latest racing news, interviews and features on your mobile device.
George Scott appears to have been tempted to place Forty Years On in a stakes company, and he will aim to exploit a favorable mark in the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money‑Back Handicap (2 furlongs) at Goodwood. This progressive filly, recently raised eight pounds to a rating of 96, has won four of her last five outings, most recently on easy ground at Newbury in early June. Any additional rain on the South Coast should suit her. She will face Andrew Balding’s Ghost Mode, who, despite a tendency to hang, claimed a victory at the Goodwood Festival.
Ghost Mode carries a four‑pound penalty and looks to be her biggest threat, though The Fingal Raven possesses form that could see it win at longer odds. William Haggas’s gelding High Degree, a son of Too Darn Hot, appears capable of conceding weight to his rivals in the Virgin Bet A Good Bet Handicap (2 ¾ furlongs) at Goodwood.
Cieren Fallon’s mount, recently equipped with cheekpieces for the first time at Pontefract, remains lightly raced enough to handle a four‑pound rise. I also think Gary and Josh Moore’s Too Soon is well‑handicapped despite a win at Epsom earlier in the summer.
He could give the young Warren Fentiman a solid ride if the colt is fully primed for a return after a three‑month spell. For the latest horse‑racing news, interviews and features, tune in to Sky Sports Racing. Welsh trainer Chris Mason’s All Ways Glamorous, who performed admirably in the Shergar Cup, may have to settle for a share of the minor purse in the Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap (4 ½ furlongs) at Goodwood. My pick, however, is David O’Meara’s Toca Madera, who ran a strong race in defeat at York last week before struggling on softer ground four days later.
His fifth‑place finish in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood suggests he can measure up to seasoned rivals under the guidance of Danny Tudhope in this demanding finale. Looking beyond Goodwood, I expect Secret Of Life to maintain her unbeaten record in the Group Three BetMGM Atalanta Stakes (2 ½ furlongs) at Sandown on Saturday. Ralph Beckett’s daughter of Pinatubo captured the Listed Coral Distaff on Eclipse Day and appears ready for a step up in class, benefiting from a weight concession to older, classier fillies.
I am also keen on Calendar Girl, a Listed winner who returned to the track at Haydock Park three weeks ago. Like Secret Of Life, she has an entry in the Group One Sun Chariot, and trainer Owen Burrows will be hoping she can continue her upward trajectory.
Both of Sonic Angel’s wins have come on all‑weather surfaces, but Simon and Ed Crisford’s colt possesses the credentials to make a successful turf debut in the Group Three BetMGM Solario Stakes (3 furlongs) at Sandown this Saturday. I was impressed by Oisin Murphy’s ride, which saw the horse pull clear of the 90‑rated Siouxperb on debut at Newcastle before following up with a penalised win at Kempton Park this month. Although the colt still has much to prove, his entries in the Group Two Champagne Stakes and the Group One Dewhurst indicate a bright future.
He should be able to take on Godolphin’s promising Yarmouth debut winner, Rock Montreal. Hollie Doyle discussed these insights with Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft, offering a glimpse into the strategic thinking behind each selection.