Racing Review: Recapping the weekend's action including a horse for your notebook

In his latest Racing Review column, Races Now’s Harry Fowler reflects on a quieter weekend of racing, with the Shergar Cup at Ascot, Haydock’s long-awaited return and Group-race action from Newmarket and the Curragh all coming under the microscope.

Harry also casts an early eye towards next week’s eagerly anticipated Ebor Festival at York before revealing his latest eye-catcher to add to your notebooks…

Racing Review – August 11th 2026

A quieter weekend compared to most of those we have enjoyed recently, but there were still plenty of talking points and Group races to reflect on.

With the Ebor Festival also just around the corner, the Flat season is showing no signs of slowing down.

Desert Castle makes his mark at Newmarket

On Friday night, we were treated to some promising types at Newmarket.

In the opening race, Desert Castle became the new joint-favourite for the 2,000 Guineas after an impressive three-and-a-half-length maiden success.

He looked green, as you would expect at this stage of his career, but undoubtedly showed that he possesses a frightening engine. It will be fascinating to see where connections go with him next.

Later on the card, a novice contest featured two horses looking to enhance their Gimcrack credentials in Nabati and Tawakel.

It was the Godolphin-owned Nabati who just about got up by a head, although the immediate reaction afterwards was that the winner may ultimately need further and therefore might not be Gimcrack-bound after all.

As for Tawakel, I don't think he did anything wrong in defeat and he remains of real interest to me if taking his chance at York next week.

Shergar Cup continues to divide opinion

The Shergar Cup is an event that certainly divides opinion in racing. Plenty aren't fans but, to be honest, I'm not entirely sure why.

It's a card full of competitive handicaps with good prize money and we get to see top-class riders travel from across the globe to compete at one of Britain's premier racecourses.

I know plenty of people dislike the team element, but I'm not really sure what difference that makes. The jockeys are still trying to win for themselves. It's not like the other two members of the team are going to start hampering rival horses so their side can win.

Wait, that sounds familiar…

Sallaal delivers as racing returns to Haydock

Perhaps the best story of the weekend was simply seeing racing return to Haydock.

Saturday's feature was the Group 3 Rose of Lancaster Stakes, which unfortunately attracted a disappointing field of just four runners.

Sallaal, the short-priced favourite, continued his winning run, although in truth he didn't need to improve much on his previous Listed success at Sandown.

It was a real shame to see Convergent finish last of the four. He had promised so much earlier in his career, but I do wonder whether his experience at Epsom has left a mark on him.

In the very next race, the Listed Dick Hern Stakes over a mile, Fallen Angel had been the big talking point beforehand.

She was an even-money favourite and miles clear of the field on ratings, but we know she isn't at her best on quick ground. She was also making her first appearance since May and ultimately could only manage third.

The winner, Calendar Girl, hadn't been seen for ten months but produced a convincing performance on her first attempt over a mile.

She could now be a very interesting one for the Sun Chariot at Newmarket, particularly as I suspect that race may cut up considerably compared to the ante-post market we're looking at now.

READ MORE: Ante Post Analysis: A first look at this year's Yorkshire Oaks

Sugar Yes Please springs Sweet Solera surprise

Over at Newmarket on Saturday, attention turned to the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes.

Graceful Song had been a strong favourite throughout the week in the ante-post markets, only to drift significantly before the off and eventually start at 9/4.

Nuit D'Eclair was then well supported for Amo Racing, but ultimately neither market fancy could get the job done.

Instead, it was Eve Johnson Houghton's Sugar Yes Please who relished the step up to seven furlongs, seeing out the trip strongly to score by half a length at 11/1.

Sun Goddess shines in first juvenile Group 1

Sunday's racing in Britain was a pretty sorry situation, but thankfully there was much better action across the Irish Sea at the Curragh.

Before the day's feature, we had the Group 3 Phoenix Sprint Stakes, where Big Mojo bounced back from his July Cup disappointment.

His defence of the Haydock Sprint Cup crown is now next on the agenda and it will be interesting to see whether this performance proves the catalyst for him returning to his very best.

Then came the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes for two-year-olds, where Sun Goddess was sent off a short-priced favourite for Aidan O'Brien and duly obliged.

The way the race developed was particularly interesting. Carry The Flag set a strong pace while Sun Goddess sat at the rear of the field, a long way off the leaders.

At one stage, I didn't think she was travelling particularly well. But the way she swept around the outside and moved into contention with such ease was seriously impressive.

She eventually won by a length and three-quarters and certainly shapes like a filly who will have no problem stepping up in distance as her career progresses.

READ MORE: Ante Post Analysis: A first look at York's Juddmonte International

Fowler's eye-catcher of the week – Marco Polo

We finish this week's Racing Review with my latest horse for the trackers.

This week's selection comes from Ireland on Sunday and the opening maiden at the Curragh.

Marco Polo, a son of Night Of Thunder and full-brother to Saber Strike, represented Aidan O'Brien but was very much the stable's second string in the betting and drifted significantly before the off.

He travelled in midfield during the early stages before making his move into contention with real ease.

Marco Polo couldn't quite finish the job and eventually had to settle for second, but the combination of the market weakness and what we saw on the track makes him particularly interesting to me.

Given the betting suggested he may not have been fully wound up for his debut, I'd expect significant improvement when we see him for a second time.

Marco Polo is definitely one for the notebook.

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