ITV Racing Tips for Easter Saturday at Haydock

The very lightly-raced PLAYFUL SAINT (tipped at 4/1) is fancied to emerge as the winner of the Two Mile Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle over at Haydock. 

The forecast soft ground will be in the nine-year-old’s favour, and he’s entitled to strip fitter from his promising comeback second at Stratford, where he was only just denied by a neck to the reopposing Milldam. 

He was conceding the race-fit winner and co lumps of weight on heavy ground, and the handicapped has only reacted lightly by putting him up 3Ib to a mark of 134 from 131. 

That was undoubtedly used as a preparatory run for today’s contest, and last year’s Imperial Cup third has lots going for him, with more to come for his in-form handler. I like his chances. 

I have a strong opinion about PICANHA (tipped at 10/1 - NAP) in the Stayers Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle, who I suspect is absolutely thrown in here off a mark of 122 based on what he’s shown when we have seen him in action. 

The 10-year-old has been limited to just seven starts under rules and has clearly had his issues, but he’s won three of those seven starts, and his defeat of Kyntara at Warwick in December 2021 is a standout piece of form. 

For instance, the runner-up ran a huge race to finish second in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival earlier this month from a mark of 131, so the selection is very well treated off a mark of 122.

Finn Lambert can claim an additional 3Ib and his mount should be sharper from his eye-catching return at Newbury seven weeks ago, when he was fourth of 10, which has worked out well. With more to come, I think he’s been underestimated. 

Four places are widely available and advised. 

RIDERS ONTHE STORM (tipped at 5/1) returned to form with a fine second at Doncaster four weeks ago following wind surgery and has been left on the same mark for the Unibet Middle Distance Veterans' Handicap Chase Finale. 

This former Grade 1 winner is more than capable of winning off a mark of 130, and the return to this longer trip will suit. He’s now 6Ib lower than when he won the Grade 2 Old Roan Chase on his return last season and is weighted to stamp his class on this field.