Today’s FREE horse racing tips: Sandown and Haydock
Steve Mullen guides you through Saturday's live ITV racing at Sandown and Haydock, plus tips for Leicester, Nottingham, Carlisle, Chelmsford and Beverley
KOEMAN looks a huge price for the Old Newton Cup at Haydock (1.45).
Mick Channon’s handicapper is an honest performer, who is regular on the podium in this sort of race.
He ran a cracker at Ayr last time out, when he was up with the pace in a hot race. He came home fourth, less than two lengths off the lead, as horses came from behind.
That was over 1m5f and that trip may have stretched him slightly as his best recent efforts have come over today’s distance.
He landed a game win at Lingfield in March and followed up with a second in good company at Ascot.
He’s off the same sort of mark today and, with prices of around 25-1 on offer, he can reward each-way support.
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Golden Wolf has been backed after a run of placed efforts. It’s interesting that trainer Richard Hughes puts a 3lb claimer on board today, which could just help in a tight contest.
Atty Persse is coming back from 10 months off. He won the red-hot King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot last season and would be a massive threat if anything like fully fit.
MUTHMIR may not be the force of old but he’s still more than good enough to take Sandown’s 12.20.
William Haggas is adamant that the eight-year-old still has plenty of spark about him and he didn’t do a lot wrong when winning a Haydock Listed contest last time.
It could just be that it takes a bit longer to come to the boil at his age, which could explain a couple of modest runs running into that victory.
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At his best he’d be an odds-on shot for this and he’ll take plenty of stopping over a trip that suits and on ground he likes.
Dream Of Dreams catches the eye in a big way dropping back to the minimum trip for the first time in a long while. He won in Listed class last season and may have needed the run at Newcastle last time.
He goes on any ground and Sir Michael Stoute must have seen something at home to be taking this chance at the age of four.
RAISING SAND had the door slammed in his face a couple of times in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot and can make amends in Sandown’s 12.55.
He was already snookered by the draw but travelled strongly and looked to be coming with a good run before traffic problems kicked in. He was forced to pick his way through the field and did well to beat 23 rivals home.
That was his first run over a mile for a while and it seemed to suit him well. He looks well handicapped and has a better draw here. He should be a double-figure price and would be right there given a bit more luck.
Daira Prince is taking a step up in class after good wins at Nottingham and Ripon last time out. This is a much tougher assignment but he looked a cut above his rivals latest and is clearly progressive.
HORSEPLAY found 1m2f on the short side when second at York last time and will be much happier up in distance for Haydock’s Lancashire Oaks (1.10).
That run came in this Group 2 level and she looked well up to it, staying on strongly before the line came a few strides too soon. Fast ground suits and trainer Andrew Balding has his string in good nick.
Precious Ramotswe had plenty in hand when winning a York Group 3 last time out. That was over a longer distance but she has pace and can handle this drop back.
Flattering wasn’t disgraced in the Oaks at Epsom when fifth and got her head in front nicely at Cork latest. This is a tougher race but she’s progressive and, coming from Ballydoyle, is respected.
God Given is another in with a chance in a classy line-up. She battled to win over course and distance last month and will be right there again.
SANDOWN
12.20 Mutmir
12.55 Raising Sand
1.30 Awesometank
2.10 Roaring Lion
2.45 Lethal Lunch
3.20 Platitude
3.55 Bajan Gold
HAYDOCK
12.35 Ghostwatch
1.10 Horseplay
1.45 Koeman
2.20 Mobsta
2.55 Buridan
3.30 Yeah Baby Yeah
4.05 Exhort
LEICESTER
1.50 Smooth Sailing
2.25 Smashing Lass
3.00 Railport Dolly
3.35 Poets Society
4.10 Jurz
4.40 Gripper
5.10 Spanish Mane
BEVERLEY
2.00 Prince Elzaam
2.35 Thriving
3.10 Shaheen
3.45 Kalagia
4.20 Bit Of A Quirke
4.50 Winged Spur
5.20 Queens Gift
CHELMSFORD
1.35 Izvestia
2.05 Sunsprite
2.40 Nine Below Zero
3.15 Labrega
3.50 Bullingdon
4.25 Ventura Crest
4.55 Lucifugous
5.25 Dark Side Dream
NOTTINGHAM
5.40 Bollin Ted
6.10 Red Balloons
6.40 Meshardal
7.10 Sula Island
7.40 Michelle Strogoff
8.10 Ventura Gold
8.40 Cheeky Rascal
CARLISLE
6.00 Extrasolar
6.30 Amazing Alba
7.00 Tylery Wonder
7.30 Zoravan
8.00 Mesquite
8.30 On A May Day
9.00 Arcadian Cat