Northern racing takes centre stage on this Saturday’s TV Racing schedule, with eight races on offer from the Merseyside venue of Haydock and beautiful Beverley in East Yorkshire. Fans of fast and furious action are well catered for, with four pedal-to-the-metal sprint contests on the menu, headlined by the Listed Class Achilles Stakes from Haydock and the valuable Two-Year-Old Trophy at Beverley. The pick of the events from a class perspective comes from Merseyside, in the shape of the Group 3 double act of the Lester Piggott Stakes and the John Of Gaunt Stakes.
Here we pick out our best bets ahead of what looks set to be another excellent afternoon for armchair racing fans.
1:15 Sky Bet Achilles Stakes
Listed, 5f
We have a cracking sprint affair to kick off the action, with the Charles Hills runner Equilateral currently heading the betting. Last sighted running a blinder to finish second to the talented Dramatised in the Temple Stakes, he boasts rock-solid claims with Frankie Dettori in the saddle, and we wouldn’t put anyone off.
Course and distance winner Raasel is another who can be expected to go well from towards the head of the market, but the horse who looks to be overpriced is Anthony Brittain’s Mondammej. A winner of two of his three starts over this track and trip, his only defeat came when enjoying no luck in running in the 2022 edition of the Temple Stakes. Significantly, he also bettered the standard time in each of his two successes here. Thoroughly at home on quick ground – which seems likely here – he arrives at the top of his game, having flown home for second in a big Saturday handicap at York at the back end of May. At odds of 18/1, he looks a big price to at least hit the frame here.
1:50 Sky Bet Reverence Handicap
Class 3, 6f
We move up a furlong in trip but drop down into handicapping company in what looks a fiendishly competitive affair. The nicely bred All The King’s Men heads the market for George Boughey, with Ryan Moore being an eye-catching jockey booking. We may not have seen the best of him yet, but with career form figures of 8365 over this trip, he doesn’t look the most obvious winner on paper. Course and distance winner Mister Wagyu makes more appeal, having finished a solid third at Epsom last time out, but we again prefer an each-way punt.
Rank outsider Fools Rush In is tempting at huge odds, considering his form figures of 1512 at this track and 2136 in 6f events on good to firm ground. At 40/1 he may be worth a small interest, but our main bet in the race is Julie Camacho’s Raatea. Only two pounds higher than when successful over this trip at Newcastle at around this time last year, he put in an eye-catching effort when fifth in a similar contest at Newmarket last time out. Likely to strip fitter for what was his first run in 155 days, he can go close in the first-time cheekpieces.
2:05 Hilary Needler Trophy Fillies’ Conditions Stakes
Class 2, 5f
The first of the day’s two-year-old contests is up next, with plenty of promising sorts on show. Alfa Moonstone, Never Fear, and Ziggy’s Phoenix are the only three fillies with a previous win to their name, with the last named in particular looking dangerous, having won two of her four career starts.
Whilst the above-named trio are respected, we fancy the two to focus upon are the Dark Angel fillies, Flora Of Bermuda and Midnight Affair, with a preference for the latter. Going in the Clipper Logistics silks, this one made a hugely promising debut when second in a decent maiden at Newmarket, and may well have made a winning start but for being shuffled back and having to switch right around the field. Trainer Richard Fahey took this in 2018 with Kodyanna and looks to have another likely sort on his hands here.
2:25 Better Betting With Sky Bet Handicap
Class 2, 1m4f
Last time out winners Cumulonimbus and Good Show have made their way to the head of the betting for what looks like one of the most wide-open contests of the day. Both have sound form claims but could be worth taking on at the prices. Front runner Cumulonimbus may face competition for the lead, whilst Good Show isn’t certain to be suited by the forecast quick ground, having raced exclusively on good or softer to date.
Kevin Ryan’s Forza Orta is slipping down towards his last winning mark and rates a danger, whilst Onesmoothoperator caught the eye when finishing well for third behind Good Show at Hamilton. However, the one to just get out each way vote is the George Scott runner, Prydwen. This son of Camelot ran a cracker on his only previous outing over this course and distance when defying a welter burden of 10st4lb to finish well on top at the line back in September. He’s eight pounds higher here, but that is partially offset by the three-pound claim of the excellent Billy Loughnane, and he’s fancied to mow these down late.
2:40 bet365 Handicap
Class 4, 7½f
Three-time course and distance winner Ugo Gregory makes obvious appeal for Tim Easterby here, but hasn’t been missed by the market and is now three pounds higher than when run down close home over this track and trip last time out. He likely won’t be far away but makes little appeal at the current prices.
United Front should go well, having finished second in a decent event at York last time out, whilst Outrun The Storm seems set to make his usual bold bid from the front, but the one to get the vote is the Michael and David Easterby trained, Min Till. This one has been a little in and out on the all-weather of late, but his most recent turf outing would give him every chance. That run came at Ayr back in September, when forging clear in the final furlong to score by a widening one and a half lenghts. He’s seven pounds higher here, but that is wiped out by Lewis Chalkley’s seven-pound claim, and this slight step up in trip seems likely to suit.
3:00 Sky Bet Lester Piggott Stakes
Group 3, 1m4f
Just the six go to post in the first of the day’s Group class contests, as a field of four-year-olds tackle the 1m4f course. Roger Varian’s hattrick-seeking Modaara looks a likely contender but needs to prove as effective on turf as the all-weather, whilst Peter Schiergen’s Group 2 scorer Nachtrose adds a nice international flavour to proceedings.
Mimikyu is another to note for the Gosden’s, with Frankie Dettori in the saddle, having gone down by just a short head in this grade at York last time out. However, the one they all have to beat could be Time Lock from the Harry and Roger Charlton operation. This one went down by just a neck to Mimikyu at this track last season but is fully 11 pounds better off with that rival under these conditions. Her second to subsequent Group 3 scorer and St Leger fourth, Haskoy, also reads well, and she’s fancied to get the job done under Ryan Moore.
3:15 bet365 Two Year Old Trophy Conditions Stakes
Class 2, 5f
Juvenile sprint action concludes the day’s entertainment from Beverley, with little to separate last-time-out winners Bombay Bazaar, Cuban Slide and Room Service, and Richard Hannon’s Fusterlandia at the head of the market. Overall, the winner looks most likely to come from this quartet.
Of the runners with a win to their name Bombay Bazaar impressed us most, but at a slightly bigger price, we suspect there may be more to come from the Ammo Racing runner, Fusterlandia. This son of the speedy Mehmas showed an excellent turn of foot to go clear over 6f at Leicester last time out, only to be run down in the shadow of the post. This drop in trip looks like a smart move on the back of that effort, and any improvement for his debut outing should see him go close.
3:35 Sky Bet John Of Gaunt Stakes
Group 3, 7f
A tricky-looking Group 3 to round off the day’s action, with the first two in the market having significant question marks against them. Leading the way is the Australian runner, The Astrologist. A tilt at the Royal Ascot Festival is reportedly on the cards for this one, but he needs to bounce back from a disappointing effort when seventh in a Group 2 at York. Second favourite El Cabello also bombed out in his most recent outing and will be tackling this seven-furlong trip for the first time.
The Wizard Of Eye and Jumby would appear to be more solid options on paper, with the pair dropping down in class, having contested the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes. It’s tough to split the pair, but Jumby may just hold the edge. Three times a winner over this distance – including in the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury last season – he has shown enough in two outings this year to suggest that he may be up to landing another big Saturday pot and it may well come here.