ITV Racing Tips: Saturday Double for Sprint Cup Day at Haydock

In the ITV opener, the Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Superior Mile Stakes, I think this is an excellent opportunity for the consistent LIGHT INFANTRY (best price 15/8) to get his head in front by making most of the ease in grade. 

A winner of both his first couple of starts in 2021, including the Group 3 Horris Hill, this four-year-old has not yet added to those wins but incidentally, all of his eight starts efforts since have been in either Group 1 or Group 2 events. 

He has placed in six of them, including the last three times, and after finishing third in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, he reversed the form with the winner Triple Time when filling that same position in the Jacques le Marois last time. 

He didn’t get the best of runs either, as he was sandwiched between the winner Inspiral and Triple Time at the worst possible time and was forced to switch, in which he rallied to take third. Otherwise, he would have finished even closer to the front pair. 

His consistency has earned him four seconds and two thirds at the highest level and he will undoubtedly find this easier plus he should get the ideal setup with confirmed pacesetters in the field such as Chindit and Point Lynas. 

David Simcock’s charge has plenty more to come, is the highest-rated runner on the field, and has less to prove at present than the majority of his opposition. It will be interesting to see how Sir Busker performs but the former gets a confident vote.

In the next race on the card, the Get Daily Rewards With Betfair Handicap, Denmark will have his supporters and I liked his second in the Melrose at York when I tipped him but preference this time is for the William Haggas-trained and Tom Marquand-ridden NAQEEB (best price 5/2) who could prove to be a lot better than this initial mark. 

This three-year-old has a stunning pedigree, who is closely related to top-class pair Baaeed and Hukum, as well as being a son of Nathaniel, and absolutely trounced his rivals at Kempton when last seen, which marked him down as a horse who’s best days are to come with improvement firmly on the cards. He now has his attentions turned to a handicap. 

Previously, he was only just denied by a nose to subsequent Melrose winner Middle Earth on his third start at Newmarket and was sent off 4/7 favourite that day too. The winner subsequently beat Denmark by even further next time despite being in receipt of weight. To my eye, Denmark didn’t hit the line as strongly as the selection did at Newmarket, who gets two pounds from Aidan O’Brien’s participant here. 

He has so far left the impression he will be suited to an even longer trip and that could actually unlock further progress. Tom Marquand has picked him over Lordship, who he rode to finish fourth behind Denmark at York, and an opening mark of 100 could turn out to be lenient with all the evidence up to this point giving an inclination that he is a Group horse running in a handicap. He can continue his rise up the ladder and take this. 

Extra Tips for Saturday's ITV Racing

The bet365 Handicap at Ascot also takes my interest, where HICKORY (best price 6/1) must have leading credentials with up to four places available if able to replicate his latest course-and-distance second in the International Stakes.

That was by far a career-best performance and his effort can be elevated as he didn’t get much cover and raced a touch freely but travelled well and kept on stoutly to be nearest the finish, beaten just half-a-length. 

It was clear the first-time visor improvised a better display than his previous disappointment at Goodwood, though the soft conditions were to blame in that latter race, as he hated the ground and his mark has only gone up two pounds from last time. 

His record on the turf when the ground is good or quicker reads 122 from three starts and he must have more to come for his in-form handler, James Fanshawe, who has bagged three winners in the last three days. 

The Lavazza Stakes is also a race I want a bet in and the one who stands out on form is TRUE LEGEND (best price 11/1). This horse was ridden far too aggressively at York last time, as with two furlongs to go, he looked like he was going to win by half the track when he shot clear of the pack but floundered in the closing stages when the petrol gauge emptied. 

A drop in trip here will suit on that evidence and a mark of 85 isn’t excessive as he chased home a 95-rated horse on his penultimate start at Glorious Goodwood. If ridden more conservatively here, there’s a good possibility he will go close to beating these. His low weight coupled with Thore Hammer Hansen back in the saddle (has won on him) are further essentials towards his chances. 

As ever, the Betfair Exchange Old Borough Cup Handicap is typically competitive but I am going to take a chance on one of the outsiders of the field, LA PULGA (best price 33/1) who is likely to be up with the early pace and could outrun his odds off a low-weight with Joe Fanning reunited and five places on offer.

Charlie Johnston’s charge has incautiously been below form the last three times but was progressive beforehand over various staying trips and is only three pounds higher than he returned an all-the-way winner at Hamilton back in June. He should also avoid any possible in-running carnage from his high draw.

He was only tenth at York last time but was in the process of running well until he was badly squeezed out of things at a crucial point. I am aware of the fact he was losing his position at the time but he did show more spark and, with Joe Fanning doing the low weight, he could return to form and run well.