Our ambassador sets the scene for a bustling Saturday at Windsor, where the Listed August Stakes will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing from 4:30 pm. The evening’s marquee race is the Listed Weatherbys August Stakes, scheduled for a 6:30 start, and it looks likely to be claimed by my husband Tom Marquand aboard the well‑handled Tenability, trained by the veteran William Haggas. Tenability arrives in Windsor with a solid record at the course and a reputation for handling soft ground without complaint.
He proved his resilience at Ascot last autumn when, in the Cumberland Lodge, he chased down Al Qareem on a rain‑slick track. Since then he has been kept in top condition, having beaten his stablemate Hamish at Goodwood in June and then finishing a respectable third in a Group Three at Deauville over a distance slightly longer than today’s trip. When you compare Tenability’s recent form with that of the intriguing Silawi, the balance tips in Tenability’s favour.
Silawi has under‑delivered relative to his achievements earlier in the year, when he captured the Group One International in Canada last October and later chased home Opera Ballo in the Jebel Hatta in Dubai in January. Those performances hinted at high class, but recent runs have been disappointing, making Tenability the more compelling choice for the Windsor feature.
The day’s most prestigious contest will be the Group Two Virgin Bet Celebration Mile Stakes at Goodwood, slated for a 3:10 start. I am inclined to back the affable Zavateri, who appears primed to secure his first win of the season. Zavateri, owned by Eve Johnson Houghton, ran a respectable race behind Bow Echo in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and was not outclassed in Notable Speech’s Group One at York last weekend. Although the colt is making a quick turnaround, he has a proven pattern record at the track, having won the Vintage Stakes there previously.
I anticipate he will prevail in a relatively ordinary renewal, potentially at the expense of Qirat, last year’s surprise Sussex Stakes victor, who could become a hazard if he gets loose early. Never miss a story – the latest racing news, interviews and features are always at your fingertips on your phone.
George Scott appears tempted to enter Forty Years On in a stakes company, and he has identified a promising opportunity in the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap at Goodwood (2:00). The progressive filly has been lifted by eight pounds to a rating of 96 and has been in fine form, having won four of her last five starts on easy ground at Newbury in early June.
Any additional rain on the South Coast should suit her well. She will face Andrew Balding’s Ghost Mode, who won at the Goodwood Festival despite a tendency to hang badly. Ghost Mode carries a four‑pound penalty and looks to be her biggest threat, although The Fingal Raven also possesses the form to deliver a strong performance at longer odds.
William Haggas’s gelding High Degree, a son of Too Darn Hot, looks capable of giving his rivals weight in the Virgin Bet A Good Bet Handicap (2:35) at Goodwood. Cieren Fallon’s mount was invigorated by the introduction of cheekpieces at Pontefract a fortnight ago and remains lightly raced enough to handle a four‑pound increase. I also see promise in Gary and Josh Moore’s Too Soon, who appears well‑handicapped despite a win at Epsom early in the summer.
He could provide a solid ride for the young Warren Fentiman if the horse is fully primed after a three‑month break. For fans of Welsh trainer Chris Mason, All Ways Glamorous is a horse to watch.
He performed admirably in the Shergar Cup, but may have to settle for a share of the modest prize money in the Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap (4:55) at Goodwood. My personal pick for that race is David O’Meara’s Toca Madera.
He was beaten in a big race at York last week and then struggled on softer ground four days later, but his fifth‑place finish in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood suggests he can hold his own against seasoned rivals under the guidance of Danny Tudhope. Looking ahead to Sandown on Saturday, I expect Secret Of Life to maintain her unbeaten streak in the Group Three BetMGM Atalanta Stakes (2:50).
Ralph Beckett’s daughter of Pinatubo captured the Listed Coral Distaff on Eclipse Day and appears ready for the step up, especially after receiving a weight concession from older, classier fillies. Calendar Girl also catches my eye. She won a Listed race on her reappearance at Haydock Park three weeks ago and, like Secret Of Life, has an entry in the Group One Sun Chariot. Trainer Owen Burrows will be hoping she can continue her upward trajectory.
Sonic Angel’s two victories have come on all‑weather surfaces, but Simon and Ed Crisford’s colt boasts the credentials to make a successful turf debut in the Group Three BetMGM Solario Stakes (3:30) at Sandand. The horse impressed when Oisin Murphy’s mount drew clear of the 90‑rated Siouxperb at Newcastle and then followed up with a penalised win at Kempton Park this month. The colt’s future looks bright, especially with entries in the Group Two Champagne Stakes and the Group One Dewhurst. He should be able to measure up against Godolphin’s promising Yarmouth debut winner, Rock Montreal.
Hollie Doyle was recently interviewed by Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft, providing further insight into the day’s selections and the broader racing landscape.