How’s it going?

The dark nights are creeping in, and there are just six weeks left of the 2026 Flat season.

Before you know it, all talk will revolve around the C-word – no, not Christmas ... Cheltenham; their first meeting is on October 24.

Racing Things To Know 🗞️

👉 On Saturday, there are seven races live on ITV – five at Newmarket, two from Haydock. 

👉 Newmarket stage two Group 1s along with the Cambridgeshire.

👉 Newmarket’s Cambridgeshire (3.40) is the first leg of the Autumn Double – the second leg is back here in a fortnight (the Cesarewitch). 

👉 Newmarket’s Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes (2.27) sees Sun Goddess, Senorita Bonita and Libertango all clash.

👉 Newmarket’s Group 1 Middle Park Stakes (3.00) could provide 2,000 Guineas clues – it was won last year by Bow Echo.

👉 Saturday is the final day of Listowel’s seven-day Harvest Festival – they go over jumps where Messrs. Mullins and Elliott have runners.

👉 Sunday’s Irish Cesarewitch takes place at the Curragh. 

👉 Sunday’s Jump Jockeys Derby takes place at Epsom – champion jumps jockey Sean Bowen rides Crooked Path. 

Saturday’s Edges 📐

It was another decent performance from our Edges last Saturday, including winners at 16/1 (24/1 Betfair SP) and 12/1 – making it 10 winners in two weeks.

Here is this week’s serving...

1. Saffie Osborne (Jockey) 
✅ +£49 Profit — NEWMARKET (ROWLEY)

ℹ️ Osborne’s rides at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile Course in 2026 produced 5 wins from 12 runners for a +£49 profit to £1 level stakes.

Saturday’s runners:

  • Marsala (1.22 Newmarket)

  • Wild Thoughts (3.40 Newmarket)

  • Aquila d'Oro (4.15 Newmarket)

  • The Fingal Raven (4.50 Newmarket)

2. Ralph Beckett (Trainer) 
✅ +£9 Profit — HAYDOCK

ℹ️ Beckett’s runners on Haydock’s corresponding Saturday card (at 10/1 or shorter) returned 3 wins & 2 placed from 7 runners for a +£9 profit to £1 level stakes (last five years).

Saturday’s runners:

  • Centigrade (1.35 Haydock)

  • Angel Gabriel (3.15 Haydock)

  • Dancing Dudes (4.35 Haydock)

3. Nigel Tinkler (Trainer) 
✅ +£15 Profit — RECENT FORM

ℹ️ Tinkler’s last seven runners finished 1200114 for a +£15 profit to £1 level stakes.

Saturday’s runners:

  • Harry Akoya (1.44 Ripon)

  • Paddy’s Day (5.20 Southwell)

  • Fidelius (5.55 Southwell)

4. Colin Keane (Jockey) 
✅ +£51 Profit — CURRAGH

ℹ️ Keane’s rides at the Curragh in 2026 returned 14 wins from 70 runners for a +£51 profit to £1 level stakes.

Saturday’s runners:

  • Heralds March (1.30 Curragh)

  • Keke (2.35 Curragh)

  • Excellent Believe (3.45 Curragh)

  • Critical Reason (4.20 Curragh)

  • Big Jake (4.55 Curragh)

  • Emberelle (5.25 Curragh)

5. 7f Handicap, Newmarket (Trend) 
✅ +£27 Profit — 3YOs, NO HEADGEAR

ℹ️ 3yos with no headgear in Saturday’s 7f handicap at Newmarket (4.50) returned 4 wins & 4 placed from 20 runners for a +£27 profit to £1 level stakes (last five years).

Saturday’s runners:

  • Five Ways (4.50 Newmarket)

Super Trends 🦸

Featuring the latest big-race roll of honour alongside ten-year trends analysis, our ‘Super Trends’ reveal the key stats for all the big races.

Use these trends to find your own selections, or if you’re short of time and can’t access a formbook, check our short-list of selections below each race.

Some of you asked for us to cover more of Saturday’s big Group races, so this week your wish is our command.

1.55 Newmarket – Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes, 1m (2yo)

Who fits all the trends?

🏅 Haffner

2.27 Newmarket – Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes, 6f (2yo)

Who fits all the trends?

🏅 Sun Goddess

3.00 Newmarket – Group 1 Middle Park Stakes, 6f (2yo)

Who fits all the trends?

🏅 Push The Boat Out

3.40 Newmarket – Cambridgeshire (Handicap), 1m1f (3yo+)

Who fits the trends?

🏅 Indalo
🏅 Harmonics
🏅 St Anton

The Purist

There’s a brief – kind of – message from The Purist ahead of Saturday’s bets. 

Steady El Puro, you’ll be writing a book next 🖊️

Here’s what The Purist has to say... 

Well, that was a strange Saturday last week. 

Newbury produced 20+ non-runners because of ‘good to firm’ ground – despite the 48-hour declarations being made on good (good to firm in places) with a dry forecast – and then Ayr’s puddles holding up proceedings!

All of which left me with two of my bets being non-runners, and the afternoon’s highlight coming with Fine Interview in the Ayr Gold.

The writing was on the wall before the off, unfortunately, as both the Bronze and Silver Cups winners emerged on the far side, and the draw certainly did our lad no favours on the near side. However, I was relieved to see him grab fourth for the each-way money at 33/1. 

Hope some of you also collected on that part – it covered fish and chips plus curry sauce for the family last Saturday night.

I’ve only recommended two ante-post bets since we launched Paddock Report in February, with Indalo (14/1 into 9/1) and Fine Interview (33/1 into 12/1) both placed from bad draws. Hopefully, Fine Interview can do what Indalo did in gaining compensation next time out.

At least with the upcoming jumps next month there’ll be no sweating on the draw with any ante-post bets!

Onto this Saturday...

Haydock 1.35 Mister Winston

Liam Neeson said in Taken that he had a ‘particular set of skills’ – and Mister Winston is also effective when given a ‘particular set of conditions’, namely a mark of 100 or lower in 1m handicaps away from a right-handed track; his form-figures with these conditions read 4111. He’s been held in handicaps since winning the last of those on soft ground at Epsom in June, but is already back to a mark of 100, and showed encouragement at Doncaster last time for the Andrew Balding yard, which just keeps churning out winners.

Haydock 3.15 Proof

Proof lost his way after winning on the all-weather in April, but had his tackle removed in July and showed the benefits since. His first run back after losing the crown jewels saw him come from another county for a career-best win at Epsom last month, before again being given too much to do at Chester last Saturday when motoring down the outside into fifth. He has a more galloping straight to get going on Saturday, and is drawn near several front-runners amongst the low stalls – hopefully, David Probert can tuck him in behind for a swooping late run.

Newmarket 3.40 Indalo

After watching a replay of last year’s Cambridgeshire, I can’t resist dancing one more time with my old mate Indalo. This incredibly consistent performer always turns up in the big races and was gaining with every stride when runner-up in this 12 months ago. Although he is over a stone higher this time, he has also improved in the meantime, while the ground is drying out by the hour in his favour. He was also said to be working very well in a recent gallops report, and deserves to win one of these big handicaps – hopefully the draw will be kinder (some bookies are paying more than five places for each-way purposes).

Southwell 5.55 Hypnotised

Hypnotised remains something of a bridesmaid this season with two runner-up finishes and a third from his last three runs, but the return to an artificial surface could see him back in front. That was the case 12 months ago when he won over this course and distance, and there was plenty to like about his third of 16 at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting a few weeks ago from a modest draw in stall 4 – those around him were drawn 9, 14, 12 & 13.

Will The Purist be as happy as The Indalo Man on Saturday night?

Horses To Follow 📝

Looking for horses that prefer softish ground for the upcoming weeks is very much the theme when watching replays of the previous week’s action, and we have two who fit that profile.

Goldilocks Cen (4yo)

The fellow remains lightly raced with just nine career outings, with four of those coming in France where he won over 1m3f on heavy ground. He’s yet to face such conditions in the UK, and caught the eye at Newmarket last week, staying on into fourth (wide away from the main action) on good ground. We’re waiting for him over 1m2f+ in the mud.

Law Of Design (4yo)

The action on Redcar’s straight track last week offered a draw advantage to those on the far side (low stalls) for the majority of races, and Law Of Design did well to finish 3rd of 13 from stall 12 – those around him came from stalls 7, 3, 1, 4 & 2. He’s shown more on his last two efforts since being fitted with a visor, and with all his best efforts coming in the mud, he could cash in from a career-low handicap mark soon.

Stable Talk 💬

A couple to look at this week.

First, John Butler told At The Races he has an interesting runner for the Cesarewitch in a fortnight, if the ground softens.

Second, if you’re looking to get ahead with the jumps, then Jamie Snowden revealed some key info on his stable stars to Racing TV.

We Almost Forgot…

📌 You’ve no doubt worked out that we’re a big fan of trends, and not afraid to go for big prices – why not?

Therefore, the application of several simple trends when taking a quick peek at Sunday’s declarations for the mammoth 33-runner Irish Cesarewitch – middle-to-high draw, 3yo or 4yo, and a top-three finish last two runs – pinpointed just one qualifier: Truth Be Told, at around 25/1.

Quick Saturday TV Guide 📺

► ITV: Newmarket: 1.22, 1.55, 2.27, 3.00, 3.40; Haydock: 1.35, 2.10.

Next week it’s back to HQ for Newmarket’s Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes, plus the Challenge Cup at Ascot.

Until then…

…keep ‘em peeled 👀

The Paddock Report Team.

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