Racing Preview – Wednesday 26 August 2026 - Three selections on a more interesting day.
No luck yesterday in what turned into a messy race, with things simply not falling our way. That's racing — we move on.
Today looks more interesting, with three selections across Catterick, Newbury and Kempton. Liquidity is still extremely low at the time of writing, so the prices quoted below should be treated with caution. As always, price matters and there is no need to chase a horse below our tissue.
4.15 Catterick – Canon's House
1 Point Win – 6.0 or bigger
Our Tissue: 6.0
Current Price: 5.8
Canon's House looks an interesting proposition around Catterick, where his draw and prominent racing style should both be positives.
He is a close-coupled gelding who stays 6f and has shown himself effective on Tapeta, good to firm and good to soft ground. Importantly for this particular 5f test, he is happiest either making the running or racing prominently, and that can be a significant advantage around Catterick when a horse is able to secure a good early position.
He won for Robert Cowell at Lingfield in March before rather losing his way, but his first start following a stable switch represented a major return to form.
At Redcar 18 days ago he went down by just a nose in a five-runner 5f handicap on good to firm ground. It was a much more encouraging performance and suggested his new surroundings may have freshened him up.
He runs from the same handicap mark today, and a reproduction of that Redcar effort should put him firmly in the mix.
Our tissue price is 6.0. He is currently trading around 5.8, but there is very little money in the market at this stage.
BET: 1 POINT WIN – 6.0 OR BIGGER
6.30 Newbury – Accademia
1 Point Win – 4.5 or bigger
Our Tissue: 4.5
Current Price: 4.8
Accademia is a progressive filly who looks capable of taking another step forward.
She has an attractive pedigree, being a half-sister to several winners including the useful Troia, a winner up to a mile, and juvenile 6f winner Honest Desire. Her dam is also a sister to the very smart Dubai Prince.
More importantly, her performances on the track are beginning to match that pedigree.
She returned from her break with a victory in a 7f handicap at Doncaster early last month and followed that up over today's course and distance at Newbury just under six weeks ago.
That latest performance deserves marking up.
The race was far from strongly run, yet Accademia was ridden patiently and still managed to overcome a positional disadvantage. Horses coming from behind in steadily-run races can often be better than the bare winning margin suggests, and there was plenty to like about the way she got the job done.
She remains relatively lightly raced and gives the impression there should be more improvement to come.
The hat-trick is very much on the cards.
Our tissue is 4.5 and she is currently available at around 4.8, although once again liquidity is extremely low and we will get a much clearer picture as the market develops.
BET: 1 POINT WIN – 4.5 OR BIGGER
7.21 Kempton – Ribenska
1 Point Each Way
Our Tissue: 8.0
Current Price: 8.8
Our final selection comes on the Kempton Polytrack, where Ribenska looks attractively handicapped if everything falls into place.
She is a tall filly who stays a mile and is proven on both Polytrack and Tapeta. She won her maiden at Lingfield last season and has posted some solid efforts in handicaps this year.
Two of her three runs this season have resulted in good placed efforts over 7f at Southwell, including her latest appearance when finishing third of ten in a race that has subsequently worked out well.
She returns from a ten-week break today and has first-time cheekpieces applied.
There are several reasons to be interested.
Firstly, she is very well drawn, giving her rider the opportunity to obtain a good position without having to use too much petrol early.
Secondly, there is enough evidence in her previous performances to believe she can win from her current handicap mark. She is still relatively unexposed and today's conditions should be perfectly suitable.
Our tissue price is 8.0, compared with a current market price of around 8.8.
There is, however, one note of caution.
We would not want to see Ribenska drift significantly in the betting. She is returning from ten weeks off and wearing first-time cheekpieces, so the market could prove informative. She is definitely capable of winning from this mark, and consequently any positive market move should be respected.
At the prices currently available, she makes plenty of appeal each way.
BET: 1 POINT EACH WAY – RIBENSKA
Today's Bets
4.15 Catterick – Canon's House
1 Point Win at 6.0 or bigger
6.30 Newbury – Accademia
1 Point Win at 4.5 or bigger
7.21 Kempton – Ribenska
1 Point Each Way
Tissue: 8.0
Total advised stake: 4 points
The early markets are particularly thin today, so don't put too much emphasis on the prices showing at the time of publication. We are happy to wait for the markets to mature and, particularly with Canon's House and Accademia, there is no reason to take shorter than our required price.
Three runners, three very different profiles — but all three look capable of being competitive from their current marks.
Good luck if you're joining us.
