ITV Racing Tips: Saturday Double at Haydock

William Haggas has saddled the winner of this race for the last two years, but he might have to settle for minor honours on this occasion behind the rapidly-progressive NIGHT SPARKLE (best price 13/2), who is taken to go one better than her fine reappearance second at York.

Having won her only previous start at this course, she rattled off a sequence of four consecutive victories last year and made a pleasing comeback when she finished second in a Group 3 race last time out at York. That should have sorted out her fitness ahead of this task. 

There was lots to like about the way she went through that race being the last horse off the bridle, and she battled very well all the way to the line to only be touched off by three parts of a length. That is among the best piece of form in the field, so she looks like a massive player. 

Lots with chances in the Group 3 Betfred John Of Gaunt Stakes. However, the reliable servant that is POGO (best price 7/1) can regain his crown after winning this race two years ago. 

Charlie Hills’ eight-year-old still has what it takes to compete at a higher level and comes here on the back of a good second in a Listed race, having finished fourth in a hot renewal of the bet365 Mile at Sandown on his return. 

He beat a top field in this race two years ago, including the high-class Kinross, and there’s no opponent of that quality in this field. He is a very solid horse who likes it here and will love the ground, so he should make a bold bid. 

Tom Clover doesn’t send many runners to this venue, but with the limited batch that he has sent, he’s had decent success, with two winners from just nine representatives. With this in mind, Tom’s filly OVER SPICED (best price 8/1) could be set to play a prominent role in the outcome of the Hilary Needler Trophy EBF Fillies' Conditions Stakes. 

Her close-up debut fourth at Brighton was eye-catching, and she would have probably finished even closer with a clear passage. Nonetheless, she comfortably made amends with a dominant success at Leicester, and with further progress likely from a handy draw in stall four, there’s a good chance she will make a good fist of it late into the race. Four places widely available.

George Scott is another trainer who warrants respect at this course, especially with his strike rate here in the last five seasons reading 31% (4-13), and his only runner on the card is MADEMOISELLE (best price 9/1).

This filly by Blue Point shaped with some promise when she was a never-nearer sixth on debut at Newmarket, and despite not being able to hold off the late thrust from Maw Lam at Thirsk last time out, this course should see her in a better light. 

She’s not drawn the best in stall 12, but she has plenty of tactical speed, so David Egan might be able to tack across to the main body of the field and get into a prominent pitch. If able to, then this filly could run very well. Four places generally on offer. 

Joe Fanning has seemingly chosen to ride Knightswood, but I fear he may have picked the wrong one, with preference for stablemate STRUTH (best price 12/1) at a bigger price. 

He is turned out quickly having disappointed at Epsom just seven days ago, but in that latter race, it favoured to be off the pace, so a line can be put through that performance. 

This four-year-old came within a neck of winning the November Handicap at Newcastle off a mark of 94, so there’s no doubt he is capable of a similar showing on the turf off the same mark.

That was proven when he was marginally denied in the Shergar Cup Classic last August, and he’s previously run very well twice under Haydock specialist Richard Kingscote. 

The cheekpieces are removed, and the ground will be in his favour, so if he is able to rediscover his best form, then I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him exceed market expectations here. 

Two-year-old races often throw up a mixture of results, and the bet365 Two Year Old Trophy Conditions Stakes could do the same. The one I like is Tom Clover’s RAJETERIAT (best price 10/1), who may have been underestimated by firms, with David Egan taking over in the saddle.

He has made the frame in both starts to date, and while he has a little bit of ground to make up on Moving Force after finishing third behind that rival over course-and-distance last time out, I can envisage him bridging the gap this time around. 

The fact that he forfeited ground throughout the final furlong and a half and was still only beaten a length by Richard Fahey’s charge was a testament to his courage on his turf debut. With more to come, this son of Mehmas is fancied to outrun his odds.

ELIGIBLE (best price 8/1) is the most appealing candidate in the bet365 Handicap, the final ITV pit stop at Beverley. The eight-year-old has raced sparingly on the turf in recent years but looked on good terms with himself when a fair seventh of 20 at York when last spotted. 

With the exception of the winner, he fared best of those held up, as he made relentless progress through the pack to be nearest the finish, and the handicapper has dropped his mark a couple of pounds. Based on numerous pieces of his form, he is very well handicapped, off a mark of 77.

His last win on the turf came off this mark when he beat subsequent Thirsk Cup winner Titan Rock, who won that latterly-mentioned race off a mark of 82. In addition, the selection did really well to overcome major traffic jams to get his head in front, so there’s definite leeway in his mark on this surface. 

He carried a big weight to success on the all-weather earlier this year, off a two-pound higher mark, and this race should be run to suit. Joanna Mason gets a fine out of this horse, and should he encounter clear daylight, his customary late charge might transpire into success. Just in case, five places are generally available. 

The Julie Camacho-trained ZAPPHIRE (best price 7/1) also makes plenty of each-way appeal in the bet365 Handicap, with distinct improvement a possibility after just two previous starts on the turf, which have resulted in a runner-up effort and a win. 

This filly could only manage a sixth-place finish on her return at Newcastle on the all-weather, but she appeared to have needed the run and could do a lot better here. She’s done very little wrong in his two runs on the grass, and she won with more in hand than the margin suggested at Haydock last year.

She’s seven pounds higher in the handicap, and the form isn’t anything to get excited about, but this does seem like a bit of a plot by her handler, and with most firms paying up to five places, it is hard to see her not being there or thereabouts when it matters most. Five places are advised for back-up purposes.