By Tony Calvin - 4 August 2025
The Shergar Cup does not lend itself to ante-post betting, so I won’t even touch upon it here.
First things first; I have never heard of seven of the 12 jockeys due to take part on Saturday.
Little Englander perhaps, but that’s the truth.
The five-day fields are plentiful (one has 36 entries) but the maximum field size for each of the six weekend contests is only 10.
You clearly want to know what jockeys are riding your fancies, and we won’t know that until later in the week.
Similarly, it is very difficult for bookmakers to price up, which I guess is why only one betting outfit have bothered at the moment (and at some borderline criminal over rounds in some races).
See all going and weather forecasts below – and the fact that Newmarket are putting 10mm on the notoriously over-watered July course on Wednesday should strike fear in all punters’ hearts.
Ascot are also putting 10mm on the straight track on Wednesday.
We also have three Saturday ITV races from Haydock and Newmarket then, for which we do have prices.
Newmarket’s terrestrial race is the 7f 2yo Group 3 Sweet Solera at 3.40, in which we have 12 five-day entries for the 60k pot.
Rowley Mile May winner Dance To The Music, pulled out of Ascot recently with a vet’s certificate (it’d be good to know exactly what these ailments are), is the early [5/2] favourite.
As we haven’t seen her for the thick-end of three months, she strikes me as a bad favourite.
Amora Queen has been confirmed to run at Chelmsford on Thursday, so do not back her.
She ranges from [9/2] to 6s in the market, and that is obviously a shocking price given she is currently set to run 48 hours earlier.
Three trainers are double-handed, so that’s a problem for punters, and this isn’t a race that excites me ante-post.
We have two ITV races from Haydock (where they had 10mm on Monday and a bit more this morning).
Only Sparks Fly is doubly-entered this week in the Group 3 Rose Of Lancaster Stakes at 3pm (14 entries), and the unbeaten Nahraan heads the betting here at [11/4].
It’s a close-knit race on official ratings, but on trainerform stats alone Royal Dubai has to be seriously considered, especially as he is also in top form and narrowly heads the official figures after his Listed win last time.
We also have a 1m Listed race on the box at Haydock at 2.25pm, and they have got a healthy early field of 22, with Celestial Orbit heading the betting at [11/2].
Mind you, some firms have NINE horses trading in single figures, so the betting for this race is hardly generous to my eye.
The following are double-entered: Arisaig, Gaiety Musical (100s poke but confirmed to run at Chepstow on Thursday), Radiant Beauty and Sparks Fly.
I’ll leave it there; that’s the shortest column I have ever done I think, but those ante-post races are seriously unappealing.
GOING: Good to firm, good in places
Going for raceday is anticipated to be a combination of Good to Firm and Good
Thursday morning course update: Dry since Monday to 8.00am Thursday. 2mm rain recorded over the past 7 days. This week is forecast to be generally dry to Saturday with a possible shower today, getting quite warm; 27c for Saturday. For access to our live weather station and for the latest Going info please go to www.ascot.com/thegoing
Weather: Dry, 21-24 degrees all week
Watering: Watered Straight course 10mm on Wednesday and watered Round course 3mm on Wednesday night. Will water again on Friday to maintain current Going
GOING: Good
Going stick: 7.2, Thursday, 7.45am
Thursday morning course update: 3mm Sunday, 10mm Monday. 2.8mm Tuesday, dry since. Outlook: Dry through to Racing. Max temperature: 21°C. Live weather & going: https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/haydock/owners-and-trainers/the-going/
Weather: 1.5mm Thursday
Watering: With three racedays considered; 2mm on home straight, 4mm back straight. Replaces moisture loss (2mm ET Wednesday) and allows dry back during the weekend.
GOING: Good, good to firm in places
Going Stick: 6.8, 6.30am Thursday (was 7.4 on Wed 6:30am)
Thursday morning course update: Forecast: Dry and cloudy with sunny spells, max daytime temps of 23c.
Rails: Far Side Course in use
Stalls: 5f, 6f, 7f and 1m – Centre. 1m 2f and 1m4f – Inside.
Weather: Dry, sunny and warm all week
Watering: 10mm applied on Wednesday.
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