ITV Racing fans have a feast of action to look forward to on Saturday afternoon. Goodwood and Sandown feature on a stacked schedule, which includes three pattern races and a handful of excellent handicaps.
I'm away this weekend, so I'm getting my selections in early. Here are my best betting tips for Saturday's ITV races.
ITV Racing Schedule
| Time | Track | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1:25pm | Goodwood | British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies' Restricted Novice Stakes (Class 2) 1m |
| 1:40pm | Sandown | Tattersalls £40,000 EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes (Class 2) 7f |
| 2:00pm | Goodwood | Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap (Class 2) 7f |
| 2:15pm | Sandown | Zyn Frontrunner Finish Handicap (Class 2) 1m2f |
| 2:35pm | Goodwood | Virgin Bet A Good Bet Handicap (Class 2) 1m4f |
| 2:50pm | Sandown | BetMGM Atalanta Stakes (Group 3) 1m |
| 3:10pm | Goodwood | Virgin Bet Celebration Mile Stakes (Group 2) 1m |
| 3:30pm | Sandown | BetMGM Solario Stakes (Group 3) 7f |
| 3:45pm | Goodwood | Darley EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes (Class 2) 1m2f |
ITV Racing Tips - Saturday 29th August
2:00pm Goodwood - Money Back Handicap Tips
I've backed Ghost Mode and Addison Grey ahead of their recent victories, and it's tempting to go in again. Darkness and Rhoscolyn have won this handicap previously for David O'Meara, and both offer value in the each-way market.
Instead, I'm going to chance my arm with IRONWILL (9/1), who sneaks into this contest near the bottom of the weights. Stuart Williams' colt bolted up in a soft-ground maiden at Beverley last autumn, and has performed consistently well in big handicaps throughout this season.
After catching the eye at Newmarket, Goodwood and Sandown, Ironwill made it fourth time lucky in handicap company with a narrow victory on the July Course in July. John Egan's mount was then badly inconvenienced when second to Ghost Mode here during Glorious Goodwood, and didn't find any luck in running on his most recent outing during the Ebor Festival.
Six of the last seven winners of this contest have carried 8-13 or less, and Williams' bottom-weight is proven on a juicy surface. If Egan can navigate a smooth trip from stall 11, Ironwill is classy enough to win.
2:15pm Sandown - Zyn Frontrunner Finish Handicap Tips
Much like Goodwood, there's loads of rain in the forecast for Sandown over the coming days, and I'd be surprised if the going wasn't at least soft for their ITV Racing card. Such conditions would suit GONNA FLY (12/1), who is yet to produce his best since entering handicap company.
Ralph Beckett's colt won his maiden on soft ground at Newbury, and won another maiden at Windsor in June, having started this season in the Greenham Stakes. Gonna Fly still looked green as he finished fifth on his handicap debut at Chester in July, and never really featured behind Ciarrai Abu on his most recent start during Glorious Goodwood.
I'm hopeful that soft ground will bring about an improvement in form for Gonna Fly, who seems well suited by this ten-furlong trip. A low draw in stall three should be helpful too.
2:35pm Goodwood - Virgin Bet A Good Bet Handicap Tips
Gary and Josh Moore's Flat horses often come into their own on soft ground around either Epsom or Goodwood. TOO SOON (3/1) was last seen scoring during the Epsom Derby Festival, and could still be well treated off this fresh mark of 94.
Too Soon won his maiden on heavy ground at Epsom, and ended a long losing run with that commanding victory in the card-closer on Epsom Derby day. Moore's four-year-old has been well beaten in a couple of Pattern races at this venue, but did run respectably when beaten only five lengths by 108-rated Royal Playwright in a Confined Conditions Stakes run off level weights last September.
Warren Fentiman gave Too Soon an excellent ride at Epsom, and he'll take three pounds off his back again on Saturday. Moore's star goes well fresh, and looks to have a leading chance on suitably soft ground.
2:50pm Sandown - Atalanta Stakes Tips
Ralph Beckett's runners usually prosper when the rain arrives. I've already backed Gonna Fly at Sandown, and I fancy SECRET OF LIFE (9/2) could make it four-from-four by winning this excellent Group Three.
Like Gonna Fly, Secret Of Life won on her sole juvenile start in a maiden at Wolverhampton. Beckett's filly returned to action with an impressive novice win at Haydock, before rewarding her many backed with a fine front-running victory in the Coral Distaff here at Sandown.
I feared the ground would be too quick for Rossa Ryan's mount that day, but the well-backed favourite handled the conditions well, stacking the field up behind her before kicking two lengths clear in the final two furlongs. Secret Of Life seemed to relish softer conditions when scoring on her turf debut at Haydock, and similar conditions on Saturday could see Beckett's filly take her form to a whole new level.
3:10pm Goodwood - Celebration Mile Tips
Read our full guide to the 2026 Celebration Mile to find out who we've backed in Saturday's feature.
Visit our Celebration Mile Live Stream page to watch any of Saturday's races via a mobile or tablet.
3:30pm Sandown - Solario Stakes Tips
The superpowers that are Godolphin and Coolmore have runners in Saturday's feature at Sandown, and Sonic Angel should run well for Ed Crisford. KODIAC CITY (20/1) is an interesting runner for Richard Hughes, and could represent value at 20s.
Kodiac City made a winning debut over a mile at Southwell earlier this month. Hughes' newcomer travelled well behind a decent pace, before surging two lengths clear of odds-on favourite Baarberini, clocking a decent time in the process.
Jamie Spencer's mount showed a decent turn of foot that day, so I can't see this slight drop in trip causing him any issues. Kodiac's progeny usually handle all kinds of going, and Hughes' runners often appreciate a bit of dig in the ground. Kodiac City looks to be a promising gelding.