Horse racing betting tips for Saturday, August 23rd 2025

The relentless horse racing action continues this week, and all the attention this weekend is focused on the York Ebor Festival. The prestigious meeting is being broadcast is roughly 140 different countries, so more eyes are on York Racecourse than ever before.

Our Punters Panel are on demand once again to answer the big questions and deliver their best insights and horse racing betting tips.

Introducing the Odds Now Horse Racing Punters Panel

Before we get stuck in, here’s a little bit more on the four men answering our key questions:

SD - The self-proclaimed ‘star of the show’ on Races Now, who has been going viral with his daily tips and betting ring analysis over the past few months.

Adam Smith - A betting industry veteran, flat lover and one half of our Races Now double act.

Harry Fowler - Another of Odds Now’s regular racing contributors, currently working in the industry.

Dale Nicholls - Long-term friend of Races Now and all-weather lover who tipped a 25/1 winner of the Northumberland Plate on this column recently.

Craig Talbot - Owner of Ursa Major Racing, providing affordable and rewarding syndicates for racing fans.

Who wins the Ebor?

SD: French Master had a lovely pipe opener at Goodwood. Think this could be his day, but at a massive price, Real Dream is in pretty good form and shouldn’t be 40s or 50s with enhanced places.

AS: Subsequent has done absolutely nothing of note this year. But looked really progressive as a staying handicap last year. And are we really going to let an Andrew Balding-trained, Oisin Murphy-ridden horse in a big race go off 100/1? I think not.

HF: I’m going to take a chance on Siege Of Troy, first try at 1 mile 6 after two of her best efforts over 1 mile 4. Officially, 3 lbs ahead of the handicapper, and an amateur jockey takes over, taking another 7lbs off. Expect more to come from this filly.

DN: Aeronautic ran well at Goodwood, and if he can get in (needs 2 to come out), could give a solid account off bottom weight, but one I am keen on is Majestic Warrior. He is related to an Ebor winner, and the form of his Thirsk win looks better by the day. 16/1 and 5 places.

CT: I’m a big Ethical Diamond fan. He looks an EW bet to nothing for me. I'll be shocked if he isn’t in the shake-up. I think Kihavah will run a nice race at a big price. He runs the track well.

Give us your winner in the​ City of York stakes?

SD: Never So Brave should have this run to suit and might just upset Rosallion, who is looking like an excuse horse.

AS: Great that this is now a Group One. I'm on Lake Forest ante-post at about the price he is now. I think this is the perfect race for him. Is he good enough? We'll find out. Never So Brave is the one to beat.

HF: I do think the most likely winner will be Rosallion, they will go quick, but I think Levey will make sure to be as close as he can. He will for sure finish well. I think that Quinault at a big price could be an each-way play, loves York and will be up with the pace.

DN: Rosallion clearly is the class edge, but is 7f his optimum trip? How bad is the injury that kept him out last weekend? He’s obviously a fine equine but has failed to land the spoils in the Queen Anne and the Sussex Stakes when he should have, now comes into a race where the failures of those two races would surely be even more of a concern on dropping back in trip. You simply have to swerve at the quoted prices. Quinalt, Audience, and Qirat will probably be having their own race up front. But Never So Brave could capitalise on a pace collapse with his fine finishing style. 3/1 looks like a sound alternative.

CT: Good race - will be run at a good tempo with Quinalt in. I suspect they will go hard with Qirat again, too, but he won’t be given an easy time this time. Never So Brave for me, thought improving and won very well last time.

Any other bets at York taking your eye?

SD: Cape Breton should be suited by the step up in trip in Melrose.

AS: Bowmark was thought good enough to go from Novice win to French Derby earlier in the year. He's bred to be very good, and a mid-season break should have worked well for him. He's my idea of the Strensall (1:50) winner.

HF: In the 4:45, I like Revival Power, a good second last time at Goodwood behind only Spicy Marg, who runs in the Nunthorpe. This quick 5 furlongs, like at York, will suit, and I’m unsure about the Godolphin market leaders.

DN: I think the opening race, the Strensall Stakes, is quite a good contest. I also think it’s telling that Fox Legacy wasn’t declared here for Andrew Balding, despite being a revelation since switching yards and going further than a mile. You would have thought this race was perfect for him. Instead, they bring Gladius, who makes the leap up into Group company for the first time. It catches the eye against some credible opposition. 9/1.

CT: Commanche Falls EW in the 4.10 pm rates as a decent wager for me.

Any bets elsewhere on Saturday?

SD: Yes, but wait till Saturday morning, when they will appear on the Races Now X feed as always.

AS: Nothing else for me on Saturday. I do like Comical Point on Friday in the Gimcrack.

HF: Twilight calls in the 4:10 at York, has been on a losing streak; however, that has caused the mark to drop. 5th last time in the stewards cup but won his side and looks like another big run coming.

DN: I just have to give one last chance to Billyjoh in the 2.05 at Goodwood on Saturday.

CT: Our horse, Prince Quattro, in the Cartmel Cup. Also, Restandbethankful is a well handicapped horse in the 2.45 that finally gets his ground.

Who wins the Celebration Mile on Sunday at Goodwood?

SD: I have been droning on about Arsaig all week and hope she’s declared. She’s a weapon around Goodwood.

AS: On the basis that the ground doesn't get any quicker between now and Sunday, I'd be all over Persica if declared.

HF: I can’t say it’s overly strong, but I do think Jonquil back to the mile will see him to best effect. His career best came in France behind Henri Mattisse, and whilst last time wasn’t great, it was a very messy race over 7.

DN: I can see this race cutting up a little bit, and there are more holes in some of this form than Swiss cheese. I think Volterra, who is relatively lightly raced, ran well in the John of Gaunt and can appreciate the step up to 1m. 12/1 ante-post price.

CT: Volterra EW is a big price if it is ready to go after a few months' absence.

Will the blank day of UK racing on September 10th lead to an improved long-term financial outlook for the sport?

SD: I don’t know, but a united front helps. The government is skint and deaf, the chancellor is a ghastly woman, and we need to hope for divine intervention. It doesn’t help that they’ve wheeled that loser Gordon Brown out, who sold all the gold and skint us last time.

AS: Probably not. The organisers have done well to get national news coverage this week. But it's moving the deck chairs as usual. Surely it's 1.01 that this skint government raise the tax for an easy Treasury win?

HF: I really do hope so, it wouldn’t be good for our sport if this does go ahead. The government are trying to get any money they can as they are skint. Racing needs to come together against it.

DN: No. The government didn’t even reverse the winter fuel allowance for pensioners last year after national outrage, so what makes racing think they will force their hand? It might have the reverse effect, however, and offer a welcome day off for those embedded within the sport.

CT: I really hope so. The racing tax is a huge worry for everyone connected to racing and must not happen.