Racing Preview – Friday 28th August 2026 One Bet at Thirsk – and Two Fascinating Races to Watch
There are plenty of interesting horses on show this afternoon, but from a betting perspective we are keeping things relatively simple.
Anyasi at Thirsk is our one selection, while Majestic Dane goes firmly into the notebook. Later at Sandown, the 3.35 looks an excellent two-year-old maiden containing several horses who could develop into smart performers.
4.00 Thirsk – ANYASI
2 POINTS WIN – 4.0 OR ABOVE
We like the look of Anyasi for Roger Varian.
This very lightly raced three-year-old has created an excellent impression in winning novice events at both Yarmouth and Leicester this summer and looks the type who could have considerably more improvement to come.
His pedigree certainly offers encouragement. A 150,000 yearling, he is the first foal of a mare who was placed over 7f and a mile and is a half-sister to smart performers Molatham, winner of the Jersey Stakes, and Perfection.
Anyasi has so far looked all speed himself and six furlongs appears ideal at this stage of his career.
What really interests us is the manner of his two victories. He won comfortably on soft ground at Yarmouth before showing his versatility by following up on good-to-firm ground at Leicester.
That Leicester form also has a very nice look to it from our perspective because he beat Two Commanders, who subsequently did the business for us last week.
Anyasi now steps into much deeper waters and there is an obvious question surrounding his lack of experience. Big-field handicaps are very different from novice races and he will need to cope with plenty more happening around him.
However, he is well drawn, has already shown he can handle contrasting ground conditions and, most importantly, we don't think we have yet seen anything like the limit of his ability.
Roger Varian has handled him patiently and this looks like the point where we find out just how good he might be.
Our price discipline remains important.
ANYASI – 2 POINTS WIN IF 4.0 OR BIGGER
If the market takes him significantly below that figure, we don't chase.
4.38 Thirsk – MAJESTIC DANE
NO BET – ONE FOR THE NOTEBOOK
This is not a betting selection today, but Majestic Dane is a horse we are very interested in following.
The Karl Burke-trained three-year-old has been seen only twice and has been gelded since his last appearance.
He is a 120,000-euro yearling and a half-brother to two-year-old winner Magic Mild, while his dam is a half-sister to the smart sprinter Laugh A Minute.
Majestic Dane looked potentially useful on the all-weather at Newcastle earlier in the year. He won on debut over seven furlongs and then ran another very good race when second under a penalty on his only subsequent appearance.
There should be plenty more to come.
The combination of being gelded, having had time to strengthen and now moving into handicaps makes him particularly interesting. His turf debut adds another unknown, however, and this is not the day when we want to pay to find out the answers.
He could easily run a big race, but we're more interested in what he shows us for the future.
NO BET – but put Majestic Dane firmly into the notebook.
He looks a sure-fire improver to us.
3.35 Sandown – A RACE TO WATCH VERY CLOSELY
NO BET
This could be one of the most informative races of the afternoon.
There are several potentially smart youngsters involved and we don't see enough of an edge at the prices to justify a bet.
Thunder Home is the obvious starting point.
He is the horse involved in that extraordinary Sandown finish last month when Rossa Ryan appeared to ease down close home only for Thunder Home to be caught on the line.
Ryan was initially handed a 28-day suspension for failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to obtain the best possible placing, although that suspension was subsequently reduced on appeal.
Whatever your view of the incident, Thunder Home effectively returns here having shown himself capable of winning a race of this nature.
New Oxford finished fourth in the same race and is another who could take a significant step forward.
But perhaps the most intriguing horse in the field is Algaihabane for John and Thady Gosden.
This beautifully bred Dubawi colt is out of a Kingman mare and possesses the pedigree to become a very smart horse.
His seventh on debut at Kempton tells us very little about his eventual ability.
He was slowly away, failed to settle properly, was hampered shortly after the start and still had plenty to do three furlongs from home. When asked for his effort he hung to the right, looked green and inexperienced, but still made some late headway.
In other words, almost everything that could go wrong for an inexperienced juvenile did go wrong.
There are some very positive noises surrounding him from Clarehaven, and the fact that he holds a Group 2 Royal Lodge entry gives another indication of the regard in which he is held.
He could leave that Kempton form a long way behind.
Then there is Netherstream, with Oisin Murphy booked.
The 100,000-euro Pinatubo colt has plenty about him physically and shaped with considerable promise when third on debut at Newmarket over seven furlongs.
He was beaten just over five lengths but that type of Newmarket maiden frequently produces good horses, and normal improvement from first to second start would put him right into the argument here.
Thunder Home.
New Oxford.
Algaihabane.
Netherstream.
There could be some very useful horses amongst them.
We don't have a betting angle strong enough to get involved, but this is definitely a race to watch closely and make notes from afterwards.
NO BET
TODAY'S BET
4.00 Thirsk – ANYASI
2 POINTS WIN – 4.0 OR ABOVE
HORSE TO NOTE
4.38 Thirsk – MAJESTIC DANE
NO BET – strong notebook horse
RACE TO WATCH
3.35 Sandown
NO BET – potentially a very informative two-year-old maiden
As ever, the price is part of the selection. Anyasi is a bet at 4.0 or bigger – not at any price.
