ITV Racing Tips: I’m a believer

More excellent racing courtesy of the ITV cameras on Saturday June 8. We're at Haydock Park for a quartet of races on a big Betfred-sponsored raceday, and also take in three from Beverley in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

It's the sprinters I'm most looking forward to seeing, but really there's plenty to accommodate all tastes. Seven races, seven ITV Racing tips, and a bit of chat.

ITV schedule in full;

13:50 Haydock - BETFRED PASSIONATE ABOUT SPORT ACHILLES STAKES (CLASS 1) (Listed Race) 5f

14:05 Beverley - HILARY NEEDLER TROPHY EBF FILLIES' CONDITIONS STAKES (CLASS 2) 5f

14:25 Haydock - BETFRED NIFTY 50 HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2) 1m 4f

14:40 Beverley - bet365 TWO YEAR OLD TROPHY EBF CONDITIONS STAKES (CLASS 2) 5f

15:00 Haydock - BETFRED LESTER PIGGOTT FILLIES' STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 3) (formerly known as the Pinnacle Stakes) 1m 4f

15:15 Beverley - bet365 HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 4) 7 1/2 f

15:35 Haydock - BETFRED JOHN OF GAUNT STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 3) 7f

Horse Racing Odds

Rationale;

13:50 Haydock - Believing @ 9/2

One of the races of the day for me - a Listed 5f sprint that's attracted a cracking field.

Live In The Dream will be a very short order in all likelihood, but I'm opposing him with Believing. George Boughey's four-year-old Mehmas filly was only just denied in the Group 1 Betfair Sprint Cup here over 6f last autumn, and I'm hoping she can pick up the favourite in the closing yards.

She's entered up at the Royal meeting and if able to take this would go to Ascot with bags of confidence.

14:05 Beverley - Nad Alshiba Snow each-way @ 10/1

One of Beverley's hardy annuals - the Hilary Needler, 5f flyers once again, but two-year-old fillies this time.

Nad Alshiba Snow is a sporting e/w selection in what looks to be an extremely open heat. We're paying four places, so that's exactly where I'll be heading.

She's a February foal by Oasis Dream who ran very well here 25 days ago, being narrowly held by the colt Moving Force, who is well fancied for the next race on this card (The Two Year Old Trophy).

Ali Rawlinson rides for Mick Appleby, and she has a reasonable mid-div draw in box seven. That course familiarity can prove vital and I'm hopeful she can get very competitive.

14:25 Haydock - Knightswood @ 5/1

A mile-and-a-half handicap, and an experienced Charlie Johnston inmate.

Knightswood was a close-up third last time at Donny off this mark of 86 so is in decent nick, but steps up a couple of notches to Class 2 here. In terms of Racing Post ratings it was just about a career-best in South Yorkshire, and I wonder if in true Johnston style they'll perhaps allow this fella to stride on and say reel me in if you can?

He's been both held up and used prominently in the past, and from stall one it might just be the ideal opportunity to try to pull off a Johnston stable 'special.'

14:40 Beverley - Moving Force @ 9/2

One we mentioned earlier - Moving Force is one-from-one in both career and course starts, is another Mehmas product, and hails from the mighty Richard Fahey yard. Retained pilot Oisin Orr takes the mount.

He's got to give 7lb to the unraced Shareholder (James Doyle), but I hope his experience offsets that on this quirky track. He's drawn four, but in such a small field that shouldn't really have any great bearing on the outcome. A race to watch back for clues, going forward.

15:00 Haydock - Queen Of The Pride each-way @ 8/1

One trained by the Gosdens now, a Qatar Racing Roaring Lion filly, with Oisin Murphy on board.

Queen Of The Pride is a very lightly-raced four-year-old having career start number four today. She ran well 35 days ago on seasonal debut at Goodwood, showing her inexperience, and the performance at least surely vindicated connections for keeping the faith.

Bags of improvement could be available, and as we're paying four places e/w in this Betfred-sponsored contest (it's a Betfred racecard from first to last), that's the way I'm going to play it.

15:15 Beverley - Tropez Power @ 4/1

Five places each-way for this trappy-looking affair, so we'll take full advantage of that.

The selection is a five-year-old gelding in the care of John and Sean Quinn in North Yorkshire, about 25 miles north-west of this beautiful course. He's been busy this year, including taking an all-weather contest at Southwell at the end of April, and ran well in a warm race at York three weeks ago off 82.

Same mark today, and same Class 4 category - but this would for me be a lesser event than the one he contested on the Knavesmire. Surprisingly I think this is his first visit to Beverley but with a decent draw in six he can make it a memorable one, fingers crossed.

15:35 Haydock - Ramazan each-way @ 7/1

A 7f Group 3 and another famous old race - the John of Gaunt, commemorating a heroic and respected 14th century statesman. We're paying four places, and once again I'm in on that front.

Ramazan is a four-year-old Kodiac gelding, trained by Richard Fahey. He's a course-and-distance scorer who ran a blinder in a higher grade at Ascot 28 days ago.

The mean old handicapper has put him up a couple of pounds for that but it was a career-best effort in a huge field. Any repeat on Saturday and surely he goes mighty close at the very least. Billy Garrity's on top with the stable jock elsewhere.

Ramazan's in next month's Bunbury Cup at HQ and while this is an ultra-competitive affair it's a fantastic way to bring the curtain down on the afternoon's TV excitement.

If you're playing take care, good luck, and above all enjoy!

ITV Racing tips from Betfred Insights.