With Ludlow not scheduled to stage another meeting until October 11, you may be wondering what to do with yourself between now and then.

However, there are a ton of top-class sporting events taking place in the United Kingdom and Ireland which should keep you fully occupied. For instance, there are several major football games to be played in the UK including the FA Cup Final and the English Football League Play-Off Finals.

The summer schedule in Ireland is largely dominated by Gaelic Athletic Association events including the prestigious football and hurling championships. Plenty of punters will be accessing the latest Boylesports GAA odds to wager on the tournaments which attract massive interest across the Emerald Isle.

If you are horse racing fan who would rather stay loyal to the Sport of Kings, the next few months are packed with meetings you simply cannot afford to miss.

Read on as we look at what is on the agenda in horse racing this summer, starting with a meeting which could be a fairly poignant affair.

Royal Ascot – June 20-24

UK horse racing lost an iconic supporter of the sport in 2022 when Queen Elizabeth II sadly passed away on Thursday, September 8.┬áThis yearÔÇÖs Royal Ascot meeting will undoubtedly pay tribute to Her Majesty with its unique mix of pageantry, fashion and top-class racing.

The good news is that the Queen Consort, Camilla, has taken responsibility for all the King’s horses, and is showing a keen interest in both Flat and Jump racing.

There are a host of Group races on each of the five days, all of which will attract top horses from the UK, Ireland and further afield. Royal Ascot presages a regular visit nowadays from Wesley Ward, the first American trainer to sustain success at the Royal meeting from year to year.

One of the highlights of the meeting could be a potential rematch between 1000 Guineas 1-2 Mawj and Tahiyra in the Coronation Stakes.

Newmarket July Meeting – July 13-15

The eyes of the racing world will be focused on Newmarket during the height of summer as the three-day July Festival is staged in the leafy surrounds of Newmarket’s summer course.

The meeting starts with Ladies Day, where high-class fashion provides a stunning backdrop for some truly thrilling equine action. The aptly-named Festival Friday on the second day is headlined by the Group One Tattersalls Stakes for fillies and mares over one mile.

Day 3 is all about the July Cup, which is one of the most prestigious sprint races in the world and often crowns the champion European speedster.

Galway Summer Festival – July 31 – August 6

Ireland gets in on the act in late July and early August, with the week-long Galway Summer Festival providing punters with a plethora of betting opportunities. Those that attend need plentiful stamina; many of those pooh-poohing the idea of a five day Cheltenham Festival have tried to stay the distance of seven days at Galway and been found wanting.

More than 150,000 people attend the Festival, which features a heady mix of flat and jumps action ÔÇô regardless of your passion, there is something to suit every taste, and the party continues long into the night in the centre of town.

The highlight of the meeting is the historic Galway Plate, a two-mile six-furlong chase which is one of the biggest betting events of the year in Ireland.

With plenty of entertainment options also available to suit every age, the Galway Festival is the ideal summer event to visit for families.