ITV Racing Sunday Preview
MORE ITV RACING ON SUNDAY! We’re in for a treat on Sunday with every race at Haydock live on the channel plus the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes from Ireland at the Curragh.
Make sure you scroll right down to the bottom to see any multiples we are placing. These can be added direct to your bet365 bet slip.
ITV Racing Preview Sunday Schedule
3.55 Haydock Sky Bet Sunday Apprentice Training Series Handicap (Class 4) 5f
4.10 Curragh Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Group 1) 6f
4.25 Haydock Sky Bet Sunday Series Sprint Handicap (Class 4) 6f
4.50 Haydock Sky Bet Sunday Series Newcomers’ EBF Maiden Stakes (Class 4) 6f
5.20 Haydock Sky Bet Sunday Series Nursery Handicap (Class 4) 7f
5.45 Haydock Sky Bet Sunday Series Fillies’ Handicap (Class 4) 1m
6.15 Haydock Sky Bet Sunday Series Middle Distance Handicap (Class 4) 1m2f
6.40 Haydock Sky Bet Sunday Series Stayers Handicap (Class 4) 2m
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Haydock 3.55 Sky Bet Sunday Apprentice Training Series Handicap (Class 4) 5f
The Sunday Series continues from Haydock on Sunday and we kick off with a fiercely competitive apprentice handicap. I’m going to take two against the field given it is 5/1 bar at the time of writing. I do think BUY ME BACK has strong claims at the top of the market. This Lethal Force filly has taken her form to a new level this season winning by a length at Windsor in June before following up with a bit to spare at Brighton last month. She was denied a neck under a 5lb penalty at Sandown last time as she attempted to land a hat-trick but lost little in defeat and still has scope off a mark of 81.
The other one I like in here is the hat-trick seeking BOUDICA BAY for Eric Alston. This mare has been running well all season and she caught the eye going down just half a length to Lord Of The Glen at Musselburgh in May. That showed she is effective in soft ground and that could count for a lot here. She then backed it up going down a length at Thirsk before recording back-to-back wins at Nottingham and over track and trip last time. She beat Haveoneyerself who is a very good horse at this level and made all convincingly here last time. She is versatile regarding both tactics and ground so there is lots to like. Dangers include Under Curfew who is on for a five-timer and Prince Of Abington who has some strong form in defeat.
Curragh 4.10 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Group 1) 6f
I don’t think this is the best Phoenix Stakes field but GO BEARS GO is the one to be on. He beat half the field over course and distance last month in the Railway Stakes. I can’t see why any of those would reverse the form with the selection who is a neck away from being 3 wins in 3 runs. He handles the forecast softer ground and there looks to be plenty to come still. Connections have been speaking up his chances all week and anything but victory will be a disappointment.
The main danger for me is one of the horses the selection beat last time in Dr Zempf who ran a taking debut before the fourth here in June. He was keen that day and with it only being his second run he is likely to be better than what he showed on that occasion. Of the rest Ebro River might be better at this trip with a softer track so is worth keeping an eye on and could make up the top 3.
Haydock 4.25 Sky Bet Sunday Series Sprint Handicap (Class 4) 6f
Another handicap where it is hard to find the winner but if you do you’ll be rewarded at juicy odds. I’ve ended up taking three against the field as there are a couple in here I just can’t leave out at big prices. My main hope has to be DANZAN for Tim Easterby. This horse has been running to a very good level all season and ran a cracker at York on penultimate start where the form has worked out really well since. Capote’s Dream won the race and has since followed up at Windsor like a progressive sprinter. The second Mr Wagyu won the Stewards’ Sprint (consolation for the Stewards’ Cup) next time too. He backed that run up with a gutsy effort up to 7f at Musselburgh last time and the drop back down to 6f will suit so I think he has a massive chance with soft ground holding no fears.
At a double-figure price ILLUSIONIST catches the eye. This 4yo has a big one in him and has shaped much better than the bare result the last twice. The step up to 7f looked to count against him at York and I thought he came with his effort too soon at Hamilton where it paid to be held up off the pace. He is just 1lb above his last winning mark now and I can see this track playing to his strengths. Finally PHOENIX STAR looks to have gone under the radar a bit. He forced a dead heat with Hurricane Ivor at Sandown last month even though it looked like the latter won on the first print but that is still excellent form. Back up to 6f if he handled soft ground he could run much better than his odds are suggesting. Dangers include the thriving East Street Revue and at a huge price Rayong who needs the headgear to spark him back into life. Jordan Electrics would be a big danger but the softer ground asks a different question of him.
Haydock 4.50 Sky Bet Sunday Series Newcomers’ EBF Maiden Stakes (Class 4) 6f
Not an easy race to find a selection in with none of these having run previously plus they are making their debuts on a soft track. A small bet on VINTAGE CHOICE is the way I am going. He cost over 300,000 guineas which is nearly 10 times the average purchase price of plenty of his rivals. More importantly he is related to quite a few first time out winners and horses that have done well over this trip.
Of the rest Jakks Groove is worth keeping an eye on in the market with Karl Burke’s newcomers doing well this year so I wouldn’t be surprised if he was up to the task on debut. As always the market will be worth keeping a close eye on especially in the run up to the race.
Haydock 5.20 Sky Bet Sunday Series Nursery Handicap (Class 4) 7f
A wide open nursery now with it 6/1 the field at the time of writing. Liamarty Dreams is favourite and looks a nice colt by Oasis Dream but he dictated when winning at Newcastle a fortnight ago and it won’t be as easy to execute those tactics here. He is open to improvement though and deserves plenty of respect. I prefer PENYWERN TAVERNER for William Haggas. This colt by Slade Power showed promise on debut at Yarmouth and built on that to finish third at Chepstow. He ran his best race to date up to this trip at Salisbury last month and that looks strong form so if he improves now handicapping off a lenient mark with 5lb claimer Adam Farragher booked he is going to go close here.
The other horse I like is BASTOGNE for David Evans. This horse toughed it out gamely to open his account at just the second time of asking at Leicester in June and had excuses getting caught wide when third at Ayr. I thought he ran a very good race when beaten just half a length on handicap debut at Goodwood and with more to come and experience on side looks a big danger to all here. Of the rest Sharp Riposte impressed dead-heating at Newcastle and can progress but the form might not be worth much which makes him opposable on the balance. Sovereign Prince is bred to be better than a mark of 78 so also deserves a second look.
Haydock 5.45 Sky Bet Sunday Series Fillies’ Handicap (Class 4) 1m
Another wide-open handicap with plenty of these having the potential to improve significantly. I am going to side with VOICE OF WISDOM who is a bigger price than I thought she would be. She really stepped forward on a slower surface at Bath last month before failing to give her best running on the all-weather at Chelmsford. Back on turf she should take another big step forward and can outrun her odds (around 7/1 at the time of writing).
Star Seeking is the main danger after winning on debut and then following that up with a close second at Nottingham when carrying a penalty. Into handicaps a mark of 85 could underestimate her and don’t be surprised if she is popular in the market. Of the rest Deep Sigh’s chance will increase with the more rain that falls. If it comes up heavy she will be right in the mix and will probably be backed in the market.
Haydock 6.15 Sky Bet Sunday Series Middle Distance Handicap (Class 4) 1m2f
Fairmac has been running well all season and he was rewarded for that winning at Ayr last month. I do think he likes to find one or two too good though and might be opposable in a field as competitive as this. I’m going to chance three again in the hope of landing one at a big price. LADY RESET looks nailed on to give her running near the top of the market. She was back to winning ways in a seller at Leicester in May and backed that up in handicap company at Doncaster next time, staying on well to get up late. She was beaten at Beverley and Sandown but ran very well on both occasions and got her head in front over hurdles at Stratford last month which is encouraging. Laura Pearson is booked for the ride and with the emphasis on stamina given the ground she has real likeable claims off an unchanged mark.
At the bigger prices STARFIGHTER was very much back to form when keeping on for fourth at York last time and if things fall right he has potential in a race like this off a mark of 79. He needs to see daylight so if he avoids trouble in-running I can see him lengthening nicely in the closing stages and going close. MASCAT also might be worth a few quid each way. His losing run has mounted up but again he showed promise in defeat on the AW last month and down to a mark of just 85 now he is sure to return to form at some point. The veteran in this field Croeso Cymraeg has been in terrific form and has to be feared while Tommy G is also having a profitable season and has the right attitude for the job so can’t be dismissed.
Haydock 6.40 Sky Bet Sunday Series Stayers Handicap (Class 4) 2m
The Stayers Handicap caps off the Sunday card at Haydock and it is 6/1 the field at the time of writing which just shows they all have a fair chance. GHADBBAAN has been holding his form well at this trip and is a tad unlucky not to have a win with two close seconds at York. He has only been raised 1lb for his neck defeat last time out and with the ground being no concern for him I think he is a solid bet in the race.
The danger is Goobinator who beat the selection last time out and is unexposed on the Flat. He is slightly worse off at the weights but I still expect him to be thereabouts. At a bigger price Contrebasse is worth a look back up to 2 miles off a mark of 63 with his runs earlier in the season off a higher mark suggesting he has a decent chance at a good price.
ITV Racing Each Way Trixie
With the Sunday Series returning from Haydock this afternoon (as well as a Group 1 from the Curragh) we have a couple of multiples for you. Firstly we have an Each Way Trixie which combines three of our strongest bets.
ITV Racing Each Way Trixie
Haydock 3.55 Buy Me Back
Haydock 4.25 Danzan
Haydock 6.40 Ghadbbaan
Pays 233/1!
ITV Racing Each Way Double
I’ve also decided to include an Each Way Double given some of the big prices we’ve put forward on Sunday.