ITV Racing is live from three tracks on Saturday 8 August 2026, with nine races across the afternoon headlined by the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup at Ascot.
Coverage runs from 1:10pm to 5:00pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with Group Three action at both Newmarket (the Sweet Solera Stakes) and Haydock (the Rose of Lancaster). Below are our selections for every live race on the card.
Saturday’s ITV Racing at a Glance
| Date | Saturday 8 August 2026 |
| Tracks | Ascot (Shergar Cup), Newmarket, Haydock |
| Live races | Nine |
| TV | ITV1 / ITVX, 1:10–5:00pm (Opening Show 9:30am, ITV4) |
| Feature | Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup (team event) |
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The ITV Racing cameras are back in action on Saturday with nine races live throughout the afternoon. The cameras are at Ascot for the Shergar Cup meeting, while elsewhere at Newmarket there is Group Three racing with the Sweet Solera Stakes.
Completing Saturday’s line-up is Haydock which features Listed and Group Three action on a busy afternoon for TV punters.
13:35 Ascot — Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Dash (Handicap) Cl2 (3yo+ 0-105) 5f
ALL WAYS GLAMOROUS is on a hat-trick of wins after earlier successes at Ffos Las and over C&D most recently. The latter was a good performance by the Cable Bay gelding as he was keen going to post and then fly jumped the start. However, he cut out the bulk of the running and held on well to land a pretty valuable handicap and a 5lbs rise for that victory may not prevent a repeat.
He had a couple of these rivals behind that day and the horse which finished seventh in the contest has gone on to finish a very creditable eighth in last week’s Stewards’ Cup so the looks decent and Chris Mason’s charge can go in again here.
13:55 Newmarket (July) — Newsells Park Stud Sweet Solera Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies) Cl1 (2yo) 7f
NUIT D’ECLAIR was am inpressive debut winner at Newbury at the start of July after which the Night Of Thunder filly was thrust into a Group Three at Ascot where she ran well to finish fourth.
Kevin Phillpart De Foy’s charge was only beaten around one length that day by Moorise, fading only late in the day having challenged. However, her debut form looks very solid with the second, third and eighth horses all winning next time out.
Her breeding suggests she’ll improve for this extra furlong and she’s worth sticking with here to get back on the scoresheet.
14:10 Ascot — Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Stayers (Handicap) (GBBPlus Race) Cl2 (4yo+ 0-100) 2m
HERMETIC might be worth chancing here for the Ian Williams team given he turned in a solid performance to finish fourth in the Northumberland Vase and the Sea The Stars gelding will have no issue with this distance.
Twice a winner in France, including at this trip, he’s lightly raced for his new yard with three starts so far since joining. Two of those has seen him finish fourth, firstly at York and then most recently at Newcastle where he was beaten less than three lengths.
His run at Goodwood can be overlooked as he may not have appreciated the ground that day or handled the track. However, his Newcastle performance looks decent on paper with a few subsequent winners coming out of the race and he can remain competitive off this mark.
14:25 Haydock — Betway Rose Of Lancaster Stakes (Group 3) Cl1 (3yo+) 1m2f
NAHRAAN perhaps just needed his reappearance in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot back in June and the Gosden runner could improve now on the back of another short break.
A winner of his first three races last term which included victory in the Glasgow Stakes, he ran well in ground perhaps too soft for him at Longchamp on his final start, eventually finishing third behind Croix Du Nord.
The Make Believe colt wasn’t seen out again until Royal Ascot where he finished in midfield behind Map Of Stars, hampered late on. That race has thrown up a number of subsequent winners however and he could be the latest if building on that return to action having had plenty of time to recover.
14:45 Ascot — Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Challenge (Handicap) (GBBPlus Race) Cl2 (4yo+ 0-100) 1m4f
This will be only his second start at this distance but FANTASY BELIEVER showed up well over the trip here last time and the Make Belive gelding can resume winning ways.
Ed Walker’s veteran has been no stranger to success throughout his career, but wins have become somewhat sparse and he hasn’t tasted victory since registering a win at Doncaster last September off this mark.
Three starts this term haven’t set the heather alight although his latest outing saw him finish a creditable fourth of six over C&D behind Al Azd and a reproduction of that can see him in the mix here.
15:00 Haydock — Irish Stallion Farms EBF Dick Hern Stakes (Listed Race) (Fillies & Mares) Cl1 (3yo+) 1m
This is a significant drop back in class for FALLEN ANGEL who can land a confidence-boosting victory.
Karl Burke’s charge won three Group One races last term, including the Sun Chariot Stakes where she beat Blue Bolt and the race was probably one too many when she disappointed on her final run of the campaign here in the QEII on Champions Day.
She was disappointing on her return to action in the Middleton Stakes at York back in May, but she probably needed the run and given she’s not been seen out in three months since might suggest all may not have been well.
Given plenty of time in the wake of that run, she’s entitled to prove an entirely different proposition now and this looks a good opportunity for her to get back on the scoresheet with 9lbs and more in hand of this field on official ratings.
15:20 Ascot — Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint (Handicap) Cl2 (3yo 0-100) 6f
JEL PEPPER (EW) has been out of sorts this term, but the Inns Of Court gelding might be worth chancing now he’s been fitted with a hood and the headgear might help Stuart Williams’ charge produce a better performance.
A Newmarket winner last term when wearing a tongue-tie he hasn’t shown his best in four ruins this campaign, most recently finishing fourth of seven in a Class 3 handicap at Salisbury behind Fleetwater. That was a decent race for the grade however and it has thrown up a couple of subsequent winners.
The handicapper has dropped him 3lbs following that last run and he’s joined a shrewd yard which immediately reaches for headgear. If he can put his best foot forward here then a big run wouldn’t come as a surprise.
15:55 Ascot — Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Classic (Handicap) (GBBPlus Race) Cl3 (3yo 0-95) 1m4f
HOSEKI is unbeaten in three starts this season and the Saxon Warrior filly can go in again.
William Haggas’ charge has aimproved for the step up in trip having campaigned at one mile in her debut season, winning at Redcar and Chester prior to a C&D victory latest when gaining a short-head verdict over Nochebuena.
The pair pulled a couple of lengths clear and although there wasn’t much at the line between the front two she gave the impression that there was still more to come from her. Her earlier victory at Chester looks solid with the third horse home since filling the same spot in a French Listed race, while the fourth won a decent York handicap next time.
Unexposed at this trip and entitled to improve further, she can maintain her unbeaten record this campaign with another victory.
16:30 Ascot — Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Mile (Handicap) Cl2 (4yo+ 0-105) 1m
POP MASTER (EW) doesn’t win too often, his last victory coming on the all-weather back in February; but Ed Walker’s charge often shows up well in these races and the Gutaifan gelding can make his presence felt again.
The veteran has finished fourth in each of his last two starts, only beaten around two lengths by Mister Winston in a valuable contest at Epsom prior to being beaten a similar margin by Indalo latest at Sandown where he just failed to grab third.
He reopposes Mister Winston here with a 6lbs pull at the weights in his favour which can see him turn the tables assuming he can run up to his best form.
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Several of these are handicaps with big fields, so a bookmaker offering Best Odds Guaranteed is worth using — you’re paid at the starting price if your selection drifts. For more from the day and the rest of the week, see our ITV Racing tips hub.
More Racing Tips and Betting
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Selections are the opinion of the author and are not guaranteed. Odds were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change. 18+. Please gamble responsibly. Never bet more than you can afford to lose. GambleAware.org · GamCare.org.uk.
Andy Clark is a British betting analyst and the founder and editor of Thatsagoal, a UK sports betting comparison site operated by Thatsagoal Media Limited. He has over 20 years of betting experience across football and horse racing, and personally tests every bookmaker account reviewed on the site.