Horse Racing Today – Friday 4 September 2026: The Big Picture

It's a cracking Friday card for racing fans, with five UK venues and 35 races spread across flat and National Hunt action. The headline meeting is arguably a split one — Ascot Racecourse stages both a flat card and a jumps card simultaneously, making it the busiest venue of the day. Meanwhile, Goodwood Racecourse serves up some mouth-watering EBF fillies' novice action on soft ground, and the evening cards at Hexham Racecourse and Wolverhampton Racecourse round things off nicely for those with an eye on the night-time markets. Whether you're searching for today's horse racing UK tips or simply want to know what's running where, we've got you covered.

Goodwood – Soft Ground Fillies' Fare and Apprentice Action

Goodwood Racecourse hosts seven flat races from 13:30, with the going reported as Soft, Good to Soft (in places) — conditions that will suit those with a preference for cut in the ground and could catch out a few runners bred for faster surfaces. The top prize on offer is £40,000, making this a meeting of genuine quality despite the autumnal feel to the ground.

The Tattersalls £40,000 EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes (Class 2) (GBB Race) is the standout event, carrying the biggest prize fund of the day at Goodwood and likely to attract some exciting youngsters from the top yards. Complementing it nicely is the Lee Thomas Christy Memorial EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes (Class 3) (GBB Race), which gives connections of slightly less exposed fillies a chance to shine. Both races will be watched closely by breeders and owners given their GBB Race status. Earlier in the card, the Thomas Armstrong Group Haydock Park Training Series Apprentice Handicap Stakes (Class 5) — part of the Racing Excellence Series — provides a platform for the sport's rising riding talent. Keep an eye on the lighter-weighted runners as apprentices can claim valuable pounds on a soft-ground track that rewards patient, well-judged rides. Check out our full Goodwood Racing Preview for selections and detailed race-by-race analysis.

Ascot – A Double Header of Flat and Jumps

Ascot is uniquely busy today, staging two separate cards — a seven-race flat meeting and a seven-race jumps meeting — giving punters a total of 14 races at the same venue. The flat card kicks off at 13:55 on going described as Good, Good to Firm (in places), though officials have noted that following recent track renovations, recovery has been a little slow with some patches of young grass and a less dense sward in places. Worth bearing in mind when assessing ground preferences.

The Ascot Events EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes (Class 2) (GBB Race) tops the flat bill with a prize fund of £45,000 — the richest race of the entire day across all five venues. The Charbonnel et Walker EBF Maiden Stakes (Class 3) (GBB Race) is another to note, and the Racing to School Celebrates 25 Years Lady Amateur Jockeys Handicap Stakes (Class 4) adds a wonderful celebratory dimension to the day, honouring a quarter-century of Racing to School's outstanding educational work.

On the jumps card, which gets underway from 13:40 on Good ground, the Goffs Yorton Sale 10th September Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 2) (GBB Race) carries a top prize of £22,500 and is the feature race. With the Yorton Sale just days away, connections will be keen to impress here. The North Wales Business Day Novices' Hurdle (Class 4) (GBB Race) and the Genesis Wealth Management Novices' Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 5) complete a strong jumps supporting card. For our full verdict on both meetings, see the Ascot Racing Preview.

Hexham – Evening EBF Novice Bonanza

The northern flat contingent has Hexham Racecourse to look forward to, with seven races from 17:21 on a Standard to Slow surface. The top prize is £12,000, and while this may be the more modest card of the day in prize money terms, it's packed with interest for those who follow novice and breeding-related races closely.

Three EBF-related novice events dominate the card. The Unibet/British Stallion Studs EBF Restricted Novice Stakes (Class 4) is open to horses in Bands B, C and D, while the Unibet/EBF Restricted Novice Stakes (Class 4) is restricted further to Bands C and D — both carrying EBF Restricted Race Qualifier status and GBB Race designations. The Irish EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes (Class 3) (GBB Race) rounds off the novice treble and is likely to be the most competitive of the three. The Standard to Slow going at Hexham could throw up some surprises, so check our Hexham Racing Preview for track-specific pointers.

Wolverhampton – Summer Chase Series and NH Flat to Close the Day

Wolverhampton Racecourse brings the curtain down on the day's action with seven jumps races from 16:30, the going measuring Good (SMM 54%). With a top prize of £10,000, this is a grassroots National Hunt card that nonetheless carries real significance for summer chase enthusiasts.

Both the Copybet Overnight Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 4) and the Kevin 'Nasty' Turner Memorial Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 5) carry ARC Summer Chase Series Qualifier status, meaning there's more at stake than just the day's prize money. The Copybet for Premier League Profit Boosts Open National Hunt Flat Race (Class 5) (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race) will be a fascinating watch for bumper aficionados looking for future stars. See the Wolverhampton Racing Preview for our pick of the card.

Today's Racing at a Glance – Key Facts for Friday 4 September 2026

  • Goodwood (Flat): 7 races from 13:30 | Going: Soft, Good to Soft (in places) | Top prize: £40,000
  • Ascot (Flat): 7 races from 13:55 | Going: Good, Good to Firm (in places) | Top prize: £45,000
  • Ascot (Jumps): 7 races from 13:40 | Going: Good | Top prize: £22,500
  • Hexham (Flat): 7 races from 17:21 | Going: Standard to Slow | Top prize: £12,000
  • Wolverhampton (Jumps): 7 races from 16:30 | Going: Good (SMM 54%) | Top prize: £10,000

Conclusion – A Friday to Savour

Friday 4 September 2026 is a genuinely varied and exciting day of UK racing. From the soft-ground fillies' novice action at Goodwood to Ascot's remarkable double-header, and from Hexham's EBF novice evening to Wolverhampton's summer chase qualifiers, there is something for every type of punter. The richest single race of the day is the Ascot Events EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes at £45,000, but in terms of sheer variety and breadth of interest, it's hard to look past Goodwood's card on testing ground as the meeting of the day. Make sure you've read all of our course previews before placing a bet, and remember to always gamble responsibly. Good luck today!