NOW that I’ve had time to calm down after the rollicking roller-coaster that was the Derby last Saturday, there’s more non-stop action on ITV this weekend with racing from all over the UK.
I’ll be heading up to Haydock with the ITV team, but there’s also cracking fare from Goodwood and Newmarket.
Let’s get straight into the events at Haydock, where the live coverage kicks off with the 2.15pm, a handicap over an extended 1m3f. Despite a small field, this is definitely wide open. I’ll be having a few quid on PODEMOS, who has yet to win for Ralph Beckett but pulled clear of most of the field last time out. Richard Kingscote takes the ride and he loves it here at Haydock.
Next up at the northern venue is the 2.50pm, a Group 3 Pinnacle Stakes for fillies and mares. GOD GIVEN would prefer softer ground, but she’s easily the best of these on ratings and she should take all the beating for Luca Cumani. The trainer needs a winner as he’s only had two this year!
The 3.25pm is the Listed Achilles Stakes over 5f and I want to be with speedster ALPHA DELPHINI each-way for Bryan Smart. He has a bit to find with Muthmir, but ran well at Newmarket last time and might be more reliable than his opponent.
The last of the live coverage at Haydock comes in the form of the Group 3 John of Gaunt Stakes, over an extended 7f at 4.00pm. I’m hoping Derby hero Charlie Appleby can get the misspelt D’BAI into the frame. My each-way hope ran well behind The Tin Man at Windsor last time and shouldn’t have any worries with this step back up in distance.
Matt Chapman's TV Tips
1.55 Musselburgh – Reverend Jacobs: ‘he’s up 8lb in the weights now, but should still be good enough after a fine success at York last time’ (add to your betslip)
2.15 Haydock – Podemos: ‘has yet to win for Ralph Beckett but pulled clear of most of the field last time’ (add to your betslip)
2.30 Musselburgh – Move In Time: ‘facile winner at Newmarket last time off 83 and while he’s up to 90 now he’s still chucked in on old form’ (add to your betslip)
2.50 Haydock – God Given ‘would prefer softer ground, but she’s easily the best of these on ratings and she should take all the beating’ (add to your betslip)
3.05 Newmarket – Georgian Manor ‘this will be much harder, but it would be no surprise to see him improve fast’ (add to your betslip)
3.25 Haydock – Alpha Delphini ‘he ran well at Newmarket last time and might be more reliable than his opponents’ (add to your betslip)
3.40 Newmarket – Golden Wolf ‘he keeps finishing second, but it might just be he’s been crying out for this longer trip’ (add to your betslip)
4.00 Haydock – D’bai ‘ran well behind The Tin Man at Windsor last time and should not have any worries with this step back up in distance’ (add to your betslip)
Over at Newmarket, the first race on the ITV schedule is the 3.05pm, a handicap over 7f. I like the keen-going GEORGIAN MANOR for Sir Michael Stoute, who has been left on a mark of 87 after landing a maiden at Beverley last time. This will be much harder, but it would be no surprise to see him improve fast.
The 3.40pm at Newmarket is a 1m6f handicap. I’ll be having a few quid each-way on GOLDEN WOLF for Richard Hughes. The problem with this animal is he keeps finishing second, but it might just be he’s been crying out for this longer trip.
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At Musselburgh, ITV show the 1.55pm, a handicap over an extended 1m4f. In-form front-runner REVEREND JACOBS should take some pegging back here for William Haggas. He’s up 8lb in the weights, but should still be good enough after a fine success at York last time.
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Finally, the 2.30pm at Musselburgh is the Sprint Cup over 5f. Former Group 1 winner MOVE IN TIME was a facile winner at Newmarket last time off 83 and, although he’s up to 90 now, he’s still chucked in on old form. He can score for the canny Paul Midgley.
So best of luck and hope for Yeeehaaas. You Betcha!
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