ITV Racing Tips Today: Best Bets From Ascot, Haydock & Kempton

This Saturday, ITV Racing will broadcast nine live races from Haydock Park, Ascot, and Kempton Park.

The feature race of the day is the prestigious Group 1 Sprint Cup Stakes at Haydock. Our horse racing expert Steven Mullington takes a look through all nine televised races:

1.25 Haydock – 1m Superior Mile Stakes (Group 3) 

Course and distance scorer FONDO BLANCO looks well overpriced in our horse racing betting for the ITV opener.

Trained by Roger Varian, the four-year-old bounced back to form with a solid second-place at Goodwood last Saturday and is clearly in good heart. An each-way interest is advised.

1.40 Ascot – 7f Handicap

GHOST MODE, trained by Andrew Balding, can be followed with a fair degree of confidence on Saturday.

Having bounced into the winner’s enclosure a couple of runs ago, this three-year-old remains dangerous off a competitive mark, and Balding’s horses are very much in form at present.

1.55 Haydock – 1m Ascendant Stakes (Listed)

Representing the formidable Charlie Appleby and Godolphin operation, FIRST LAW (NAP) holds a top chance going into the race.

Ridden by William Buick, he’s the class act of the field and will be heavily supported in our sports betting markets.

2.10 Ascot – 1m4f Handicap

Trained by Marco Botti, ARCHERS BAY won over this track 28 days ago. While he has to carry a lofty 9st 9lbs, his affinity for the Ascot turf makes him a live competitor.

Sired by Wootton Bassett, punters should get a solid run for their investment.

2.20 Kempton – 1m Handicap

NIKOVO has had a successful career, particularly on all-weather surfaces, and has managed to win seven races so far.

The seven-year-old can go well again today under top jockey Oisin Murphy.

2.30 Haydock – 1m6f Handicap 

Roger Varian’s REEM RAK (NB) arrives at Haydock as an unexposed, fast-improving stayer who loves a stamina test.

At Doncaster on 26th June, she absolutely dominated by 16 lengths when stepping up to 1m6f for the first time, and she could easily have them all strung out here.

2.50 Kempton – 1m4f William Hill September Stakes (Group 3) 

I certainly won’t get carried away here with all the Constitution Hill razzamatazz, as I am firmly in the PRIDE Of ARAS camp.

Winner of the Dante Stakes and Great Voltigeur Stakes in his three-year-old season, he recently ran a belter in the Group 2 York Stakes at the Ebor Festival. He’s the class act in this line up for sure.

3.05 Haydock – 1m6f Old Borough Cup Handicap

The four-year-old Masar-filly FINALISE has an incredibly consistent overall record (never out of the first three across five lifetime starts).

Last seen running in the 1m6f Hoppegartener Steherpreis in Germany, she’s a strong candidate to finish in the frame here too.

3.40 Haydock – 6f Sprint Cup Stakes (Group 1) 

The Clive Cox-trained COPPULL is highly progressive and enters following a career-best victory in the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes over seven furlongs at Newbury.

Dropping back down to six furlongs shouldn’t be a problem as he won the Pavilion Stakes over that very trip. If he handles the ground then he’s going to be a force to be reckoned with in this Group 1.

*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*