2026 Saturday Racing Preview

We landed one place from three bets last weekend thanks to Marvelman. Eniac ran a huge race without placing but unfortunately Real Dream was ridden too aggressively and faded in the Ebor. This weekend in Ireland we have the Cambridgeshire at the Curragh and in England we have quality fare from Sandown and Goodwood. Dave Stevos’ 2026 Saturday racing preview is below.

2.00 Goodwood – Virgin Bet Handicap (Class 2)

The ground is currently quick at Goodwood but there’s rain forecast before racing tomorrow. Will it turn soft? Writing previews when ground conditions are uncertain is not ideal but I am going to take a chance that the rain does materialise.

One horse that certainly won’t have any issues if conditions ease is the Charles Hills trained son of Camacho, Galeron. This 6yo hasn’t won a race for four years but he’s run well in defeat on plenty of occasions and he wasn’t beaten a million miles in the Lincoln at Doncaster back in March on good to soft ground.

2lb Lower

He’s now 2lb lower after a modest run on quick ground back at Doncaster in June and when he last ran off this mark at Doncaster back in October (1m, heavy) he was only beaten by 0.75l into second.

Last September he ran a fine race to finish a 3.25l fourth over 1m here off 1lb higher and he won here as a 2yo, so there’s no worries regarding the suitability of this track. Obviously, given his strike rate of 2-35 he’s vulnerable for win purposes but if the ground turns soft, he could outrun his odds of 25/1 and possibly nick some place money.

2026 Saturday racing Tip: Galeron e/w @ 25/1 (4 places)

2.15 Sandown – Zyn Frontrunner Handicap (Class 2)

We have a similar problem with the weather forecast at Sandown. They aren’t due as much rain as Goodwood but even so, I’d imagine there’ll be a slight ease in the ground if they do get what is forecast.

Love Beach is the one I came down on at a decent price here. This son of New Bay started off the season in fine style, bolting up in a 1m2f Nottingham handicap on good ground. He has come up short off his revised mark in hot handicaps at Goodwood and York in two starts since but I am hoping that he might rebound back on an easier surface.

He has run well on soft ground before and he ran a fine race on good to soft when a 3l third of 10 at Nottingham last October off 84 over an inadequate trip of 8.5f. I’m hoping that James Fanshawe gave him a break after his last run in June to freshen him up for a late season campaign on easier ground and hopefully, the rain will come in time.

At odds of 20/1, back Love Beach e/w.

2026 Saturday racing Tip: Love Beach e/w @ 20/1 (4 places)

2.50 Sandown – Atalanta Stakes (Group 3)

Given the weather forecast, I’m surprised to see Love Dynasty chalked up at as big as 40/1 here. Trained by Kevin Ryan, a trainer I rarely get right, this daughter of Dubawi is already a black type mare. She finished a fine third on heavy ground in a Listed at Saint-Cloud last November and she nicked a bit more on latest at Epsom in June, chasing home Sparks Fly at Epsom (8.5f, gd-sft).

Yes, she was beaten 8.5l by the winner that day, who raced alone on the far side, but she finished 2.25l ahead of the 109 rated third Pacific Mission (to whom she was conceding 12lb), who went close in a Listed at Haydock on her next start. On her previous start at Nottingham she finished 3l behind the 116 rated See The Fire off level weights, so I believe she deserves to be rated higher than her official mark of 96.

If there’s lots of rain, her chance will be enhanced, but she handles good to soft too so once there’s a small bit of an ease in the ground she should be fine. Odds of 40/1 look far too big, hopefully we can get a rare good run from a Kevin Ryan trained horse.

2026 Saturday racing Tip: Love Dynasty e/w @ 40/1

3.10 Goodwood – Celebration Mile Stakes (Group 2)

If Zavateri reproduces the form he showed when fifth over C&D behind Bow Echo last month he’ll take all the beating here. However, I will take a punt on Naqeeb at double figure odds.

I put this son of Nathaniel up for a Group 3 at the Ebor meeting but he was taken out due to being off his feed. He was originally as big as 20s for this race but the 11/1 currently on offer is just about acceptable.

Summer Mile

On his last start, in the G2 Summer Mile at Ascot, Naqeeb ran a cracker and was beaten just 2.75l into fifth, finishing a head in front of Docklands. Smart form. He’s a Listed course winner on good to soft ground over 1m2f so if conditions ease, he shouldn’t be too inconvenienced and he was beaten a short head over 1m2f on good ground here in May so if the rain misses, he won’t mind that either.

If Zavateri runs to his best, he’ll be hard to beat but if he has an off day, Naqeeb is more than capable of taking this. At 11/1, he’s the e/w selection.

2026 Saturday racing Tip: Naqeeb e/w @ 11/1 NAP

3.30 Sandown – Solario Stakes (Group 3)

Green Sovereign is interesting at a price in this 7f Group 3 for the 2yos. Trained by Harry Esutace, this Lope Y Fernandez colt absolutely bolted up on his second start at Pontefract, his only run on good to soft ground.

Eustace wasted no time stepping him up in class and while he only finished eighth of 22 in the 6f Windsor Castle Stakes, he didn’t really get the rub of the green so to finish within 4.25l of the winner was a pretty encouraging effort.

It looked like a step up to 7f would really suit this colt so it was disappointing to see him trail in last of seven in a Newmarket G2 in July. However, I think that run was too bad to be true and if the forecast rain comes, he may well bounce back with a better showing. From a favourable draw in stall 2, hopefully Green Sovereign gives us a run for our e/w money at odds of 33/1.

2026 Saturday racing Tip: Green Sovereign e/w @ 33/1

4.15 Curragh – Irish Cambridgeshire Handicap (Premier)

We are in a similar pickle regarding the ground conditions at the Curragh. So far, they haven’t had as much as has been forecast so it’s unlikely to be very soft, but there should be a bit of an ease.

I posted on Twitter earlier this week that I was backing Playin Cool because there was lots of rain forecast. It probably won’t be as soft as she’d like it but she has run well on good before and once there is no firm in the ground, I’d be hopeful she’ll give us a run for our money at 33/1 (now 25s).

The other one I have to back here is Lord Massusus. I’ve been keeping a close eye on this multiple stakes winner since he has gone back into handicaps and it’s taken him a while to get used to the hustle and bustle of these big fields.

Warning Shot

However, he fired a warning shot on his latest start in the Ahonoora at Galway (7f, yielding), running on strongly late in the piece for a 4l fifth behind Dunum. The handicapper has, very generously, dropped the son of Markaz 3lb for that fine run and on his best form last season, such as his 1.75l fourth in a 7f Group 2 here, he’d be a certainty off a mark of 92.

That being said, there is a chance he’s not the same horse now but that last run at Galway confirmed that some sort of spark still remains and his last three wins have come over this trip. He goes on any ground and with odds of 20/1 on offer, Lord Massusus has to be worth backing e/w.

2026 Saturday racing Tip: Lord Massusus e/w @ 20/1 (5 places); Playin Cool e/w @ 25/1

-DaveStevos