Racing advice: Consider these underdogs who might upset the bookmakers in Saturday's competition
Horse Racing Preview for August 16, 2025
SUN Racing has compiled a list of predicted winners for the exciting races taking place this Saturday. Here are our top picks for the day.
Pocono Downs: Always B Miki Pace ($100,000; race 14)
The Invitational pacing group at Pocono Downs promises an exciting race, with several key contenders vying for the top spot. Among them, Ken Hanover (post three, driver David Miller, trainer Roland “Polie” Mallar) stands out as the form horse of the group, boasting an impressive six wins in eight 2025 starts, including a previous Pocono victory. He is undoubtedly the horse to beat.
Another strong challenger is Captain Albano, last year's Hempt Pace winner, who is expected to make a strong showing. The inside horses, Abuckabett Hanover and Maximus Miki, also appear as major dangers.
Ascot: La Vita Nova (2.10)
La Vita Nova is set to race at Ascot and showed promise with a good fourth-place finish in a competitive race at The Curragh when tackling this trip.
Meanwhile, Dramatic Star is set to race at 2.45 Ascot, but further information about its performance or form is not available at this time.
Thirsk: My Friday NAP
Templegate's Tips have suggested My Friday NAP as a strong contender for Thirsk. This horse drops in class and has a big shout for the race.
Haydock: Liamarty Dreams (4.10)
Liamarty Dreams has been lowered in weight and has previously scored over this trip and track. This could potentially make it a strong contender for the race.
Interestingly, A Shergar Cup jockey, who gained fame in a Netflix show, is seeking advice from Frankie Dettori ahead of the races.
In the consolation races for 3-year-olds, top competitors like Champagne Problems (the 2024 divisional champion) and Lady Landia (last year’s Breeders Crown winner) are set to make their appearances in the early races of the day.
Three longshots that could potentially hammer the bookies on Friday were mentioned in the Fiver Flutter section, but further details are not provided in this article.
Lastly, there were rumors about Kieran Shoemark being ditched, but it appears he will continue to ride for Juddmonte.
[1] Further details about Champagne Problems, Lady Landia, and the Fiver Flutter longshots can be found in their respective sections.
For the horse racing enthusiasts, don't miss the thrilling racing action in the sports arena this Saturday.
Pocono Downs: Captain Albano (race 14), given his impressive past performances and the recent form, could challenge Ken Hanover for the top spot in the Invitational pacing group.
Ascot: La Vita Nova (2.10) might make a strong showing, having displayed promise in a competitive race at The Curragh, despite finishing fourth.
