Horse Racing: Musselburgh and Haydock - Preview & Tips - Saturday

The ITV cameras are in for a busy weekend with Musselburgh and Haydock Park taking centre stage on Saturday afternoon.

It’s a mix of flat and jumps action broadcast on ITV4 from 1.30-4.00pm with seven races in total.

So here’s our tipster Stefan Fellows with his selections for all the terrestrial action.

MUSSELBURGH

13:50 THE BETWAY MUSSELBURGH SILVER ARROW HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 3) 7f

Key Profile

Only the 3 previous running’s but interestingly all winners have come from stall 3 or 4 and carried between 9-3 and 9-7 to victory

Leading Fancies

Hayadah like a few in this field will be having their first start of the season but with form figures of 1-3-1 when returning from an absence you would expect him to be fully tuned up for this.

He`s also a dual course winner and looks hit the trends of the previous winners being berthed in stall 3 and set to carry 9-7.

Stone Soldier has been seen more recently so will have that race sharpness guaranteed, he was a good winner at Southwell last time and should go well once more if translating that form back to the turf (1 from 11 turf compared to 5 from 8 on the a/w).

Selection: Hayadh (NAP)

14:25 THE BETWAY ROYAL MILE HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2) – 1m 2y

Key Profile

All 5 winners carried 8-12 or less to victory, with a rating between 81-86
All 5 winners unexposed a won between 1-2 occasions
A low draw preferred

Key Trainers

Richard Fahey has trained the winner on 2 occasions

Leading Fancies

A field of lightly raced progressive 3 years olds. The top pair of Naamoos and Tornadic are both interesting runners but may just struggle to give weight all round to some similar types.

Mark Johnston also runs the handicap debutant Forest Falcon. He was a winner of a maiden at Yarmouth last September when last seen and is likely to have more to give this season.

Richard Fahey is another to be dual-handed here and given his record in the race both his runners warrant consideration.

Ventura Mutiny was a winner here over 7 furlongs when last seen and despite that just being a 4 runner field it`s a race that has not worked out too bad.

The one I have a marginal preference for though is stablemate Strike Red. He looked like this type of test would be needed in time when a comfortable winner over 6f at Pontefract last September and is open to plenty of improvement now switched to handicaps.

Selection: Strike Red

15:00 THE BETWAY SCOTTISH SPRINT CUP HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2) – 5f 1y

Key Profile

All 9 winners had won over the minimum distance
Likely to be race fit 7 of the last 9 ran in last 42 days
A high draw normally preferred, 7 of last 9 drawn 8 or higher

Key Trainers

Mick Appleby has trained the winner of the last 2 renewals

Leading Fancies

Given trainer Mick Appleby has won the last 2 renewals of the race his Caspain Prince has to be respected after showing himself to be in good form over at Meydan during the winter.

Another who has been seen running well recently is the Kevin Ryan trained sprinter Justanotherbottle.

He looked in need of his seasonal reappearance when 3^rd recently but prior to that was a good winner of a competitive Catterick handicap.

He’s only rated 2lbs higher for that success and he should go close once again with the race likely to run to suit.

Selection: Justanotherbottle

15:35 THE BETWAY QUEEN’S CUP (CLASS 2 HERITAGE HANDICAP) 1m 6f

Key Profile

4 of the 5 winners failed to find the winners enclosure last time
4 of the last 5 had course experience
4 of the last 5 aged between 5-7 years old

Leading Fancies

Alright Sunshine has had a couple of runs over hurdles recently so we know he won’t be wanting for race fitness.

The Keith Dalglish runner is 4 from 4 here at Musselburgh under both codes and has slipped down to a mark below 100 for the first time in a good while.

He ran respectably in some of the top staying handicaps last season and will find this task a little easier.

Nate The Great ended a losing run at Wolverhampton he should run well again but this is tougher back up in the weights.

King’s Advice did not have a great season last year but as a result, has dropped to a fair mark for the start of this campaign and headgear is applied.

Selection:Alright Sunshine (Each Way)

HAYDOCK PARK

14:05 THE CHALLENGER TWO MILE HURDLE SERIES FINAL HANDICAP HURDLE RACE 2m

Key Profile

Just the 4 renewals but no winning favourite to date
3 of the 4 winners carried 10-4 or less and rated between 115 and 119
Likely to have shown good form recently finishing in money recently

Leading Fancies

The lightly raced and progressive-looking Vision Du Puy is likely to be popular after her success at Stratford recently. She should have more to offer and should go close again for the in-form Skelton team.

Shantou Express is a dual winner over hurdles and bounced back to form when runner-up in a Wetherby handicap last month. He is 6 lb higher now though and will need to find more once again.

Dino Velvet has shown glimpses of returning to form recently and has not been beaten to far on his last 2 runs in similar handicaps to this.

He struggled with his handicap mark for a while now but a mid-120 rating looks like something he can be competitive off and with the cheekpieces added this time around I can see him going close

Selection: Dino Velvet (Next Best)

14:40 THE CHALLENGER STAYING CHASE SERIES FINAL HANDICAP STEEPLECHASE 3m 1f

Key Profile

Again, just the 4 renewals and once more no winning favourites to date
All 4 winners did not win last time out and will have only won between 0-2 occasions over the larger obstacles
All 4 winners ran within the last month

Leading Fancies

Debece shaped very well when making his first run the Skelton team recently he was keen that day and if settling better today should go close.

A winner of his last 2 starts Checkitout this bold jumping front runner should go close again but this is tougher once more and has a further rise in the weights to contend with.

At bigger prices, It would not be a surprise to see Innisfree Lad be competitive once more. He’s been in good form over the last year or so and ran another solid race when third not beaten too far under testing conditions at Sandown recently.

This drier ground could just be a bit more to his liking at this type of trip and he looks over-priced given his solid recent profile.

Selection: Innisfree Lad

15:15 THE CHALLENGER STAYERS HURDLE SERIES FINAL HANDICAP HURDLE RACE 3m

Key Profile

The trend continues, no winning favourites in the 4 renewals to date
All 4 winners aged 6 or 7 years of age
All 4 winners carried 11-4 or less to victory

Leading Fancies

Small Present is sure to be popular here being an unexposed progressive type. The Sue Smith yard is in good form at the moment with a 24% strike rate in the last month and another good run is likely.

Regarding Ruth was a good winner at Newbury last time, she should run her race once more but is off an 8lb higher mark and the one who appeals who finished behind her that day is Outonpatrol.

The Alan King runner shaped better than the beaten distance suggests that day and prior to that had been running consistently well in handicaps over shorter trips.

He still has scope for improvement over staying trips and if getting a better trip on this occasion should go close.

Selection: Outonpatrol