Horse racing betting tips for August 2023

The 2023 flat racing season continues apace in August, with several major meetings scheduled to take place next month.

The Goodwood Festival takes centre stage during the early part of the month, with the five-day meeting packed with top-class action.

All roads lead north a few weeks later as the prestigious Ebor Festival is staged at York Racecourse. Read on as we preview some of next month’s standout races.

Gregory has attracted plenty of support in the ante-post market for the Goodwood Cup and he could be tough to beat on the opening day of the meeting.

Stablemate Courage Mon Ami was initially installed as the favourite for the race, but is expected to be saved for other targets later in the season.

Gregory was an impressive winner of the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot and should relish the step up to two miles at Goodwood.

Aidan O’Brien’s Emily Dickinson will be competitive if the ground is soft and could challenge for a place at a decent each-way price.

Paddington has enjoyed a rapid rise up the ranks this season, progressing from a handicap to become a multiple Group-race winner.

His most notable victories include the Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh and the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Paddington completed a five-timer on his most recent outing, beating Emily Upjohn over ten furlongs to win the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.

The step back to a mile in the Sussex Stakes is unlikely to be a problem and Paddington is a banker bet to make it six wins on the bounce this season.

A high-class field of fillies and mares will line up in the Nassau Stakes on Thursday and picking a winner is no easy task.

French filly Blue Rose Cen is the ante-post favourite for the race and could be tough to stop in her bid to win another Group 1 event.

However, 2022 Nassau Stakes winner Nashwa should give her plenty to think about after producing a dominant display in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket earlier this month.

Nashwa’s previous experience at Goodwood could help to offset the eight pounds she is giving to Blue Rose Cen and she is fancied to run a big race.

Dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin faces a couple of dates with destiny over the next few weeks, starting with the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on July 29.

The horse will then be aimed at the Juddmonte International at York, which could set him up nicely for a tilt at the Breeders’ Cup Classic later in the season, making that event one of the must-stream sporting events of 2023.

O’Brien has made no secret of how highly he rates the son of Japanese superstar Deep Impact and the next few weeks will tell us whether his confidence is justified.

The drop back to ten furlongs at York is unlikely to trouble Auguste Rodin and he is fancied to cement his status as the top middle-distance three-year-old in the world.

Savethelastdance strengthened her bid to be called one of the best three-year-old fillies in training with a gritty victory in the Irish Oaks at The Curragh in July.

She previously finished second behind Soul Sister in the Epsom Oaks and there will likely be little to choose between them if they meet again in the Yorkshire Oaks.

Soul Sister has subsequently finished third in Group 1 at Longchamp and may find it difficult to regain the winning thread at York.

While Soul Sister won the Musidora Stakes on this track earlier in the season, Savethelastdance is fancied to lower her colours on this occasion.