ITV Racing Tips: Doyle has his hands full at Haydock

This is a sensational time of the year for sport in general, and there's no denying that racing is stepping up to the plate on Saturday. Gloriously, we've got TEN live races coming our way courtesy of the ITV cameras, with the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas at 15:40 providing an entirely fitting, high-octane crescendo.

We're at Haydock, Goodwood and York too - three of the nation's premier racetracks. Venues will no doubt have huge on-course screens for patrons, showing the FA Cup Final, but most of the telly heats take place before the battle of Manchester at Wembley, so armchair viewers can have their Eccles cake and eat it. Dine out in style with ITV Racing, then settle down to watch one of our great traditional showpiece occasions - if that's your cup of tea. Mine's strong with no sugar, please.

Saturday's full ITV schedule;

13:15 Haydock Betfred Silver Bowl Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo) 1m

13:30 Goodwood William Hill Harroways Handicap (Class 2) (3yo) 7f

13:50 Haydock Betfred Temple Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo+) 5F

14:05 Goodwood William Hill Height Of Fashion Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) (3yo) 1m 2f

14:25 Haydock Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Sandy Lane Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo) 6f

14:45 York William Hill Extra Place Races Daily Handicap (Class 2) (3yo+ 0-105) 5f

15:00 Haydock Betfred Hattrick Heaven New Boston Handicap (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-90) 7f

15:20 York William Hill Bronte Cup Fillies' Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (4yo+) 1m 6f

15:30 Haydock Betfred Nifty 50 Hell Nook Handicap (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-100) 7f

15:40 Curragh Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (Group 1) (3yo) 1m

Rationale;

13:15 Haydock - Candonomore each-way @ 8/1

We're paying four places e/w, and in an ultra-competitive heat that's absolutely the way I'm leaning here.

Candonomore has a lovely racing weight of 8st 5lb, and scored over this course-and-distance 28 days ago on soft ground, which is anticipated to be the case once again on Saturday.

The three-year-old Almanzor colt takes a huge step up from that but did perform creditably last term at higher levels, at two. His shrewd trainer Tim Easterby is just the fella to take out a £50k pot of this kind and Duran Fentiman is on board.

The horse looks to be an improver and has plenty going for him.

13:30 Goodwood - Blue Prince each-way @ 17/2

We're paying five places - you know the rest.

Blue Prince is an experienced raider from Dave Evans' Monmouthshire yard and will be ridden by Tom Marquand, on board once previously at York last summer.

He's gone very close off this mark of 90 and thereabouts of late including last time, once again at York, in a Class 3 at this 7f trip. He's up a notch in grade today but was finishing with power and purpose on the Knavesmire, so Goodwood's much stiffer track could suit beautifully.

Terrific e/w shout for me, and a mid-pack draw (6) should give Marquand no great headaches early doors.

13:50 Haydock - Rogue Lightning @ 9/2

The Group 2 Temple Stakes - and some very speedy types who may be blunted ever-so-slightly given that there's likely to be juice in the ground.

Rogue Lightning was only beaten just over a length in the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp in October, and enjoyed a most successful summer/early autumn in 2023.

The four-year-old Kodiac gelding makes his seasonal reappearance after some 237 days away from the track, but his Newmarket handler Tom Clover has been among the winners of late.

This is a serious horse on the upgrade and the brilliant James Doyle has been booked to ride. The horse has Royal Ascot and July Cup entries, and it could be a very big year for him and the yard. It was good-to-soft in Paris and he finished powerfully.

14:05 Goodwood - Francophone @ 3/1

A Charlie Johnston-trained three-year-old filly, in the famous silks of Miss Kirsten Rausing.

The Johnston's love Goodwood, and send plenty of talented horses to race there. Francophone arrives after a close-up second in York's G3 Musidora last week, keeping on well at around this trip (10f). That was a career-best and this Listed contest, on that evidence, should be well within her compass.

She's beautifully-bred by a French Derby winner out of a Frankel mare, and is entered up in Royal Ascot's Ribblesdale. She's showing every indication of being far better at three years of age than two, and her official rating gives further cause for optimism in that she's quite well treated by the race conditions.

14:25 Haydock - Vandeek @ 4/6

Another G2 sprint, 6f this time, and we've got a hot-pot.

Vandeek is very skinny at time of writing, and it's unsurprising given that the three-year-old Havana Grey colt is well clear on official ratings.

He's unbeaten (in four races, including two at G1), and is another with Royal meeting and July Cup entries/aspirations. Goes on the soft, too - but we've not seen him for 238 days and he's making his three-year-old bow, for the Crisfords, in a very warm heat. James Doyle rides.

If he's straight, and has wintered well, it's his to lose in my view on known form. I can't oppose him, but he's one for accas and not brave singles until I've seen the 2024 vintage. He might just be very, very smart indeed.

14:45 York - Vintage Clarets @ 6/1

A typically trappy, classy York sprint handicap. We're paying four places each-way, so that might be an attractive option.

My selection Vintage Clarets has a York season ticket, having raced there on six previous occasions. He's a five-year-old gelding in the care of Richard Fahey in North Yorkshire, a man so often at the sharp end of York's leading trainer of the season contest.

'Clarets' is a high-quality performer and went extremely close at Chester 16 days ago, which should put him spot on for this. I doubt he's stopped improving just yet and off a lofty mark of 97, up 2lb for that Chester effort, he can strike for his brilliant trainer.

David Nolan rides - interestingly, for the first time.

15:00 Haydock - English Oak @ 9/4

Four-year-old colt, decent handicapper, who reappeared pleasingly at HQ 22 days ago.

English Oak ran very well on that occasion in a Class 2, and this is a notch below (same mark today of 90). Tom Marquand was in the plate that day and Oisin Murphy now takes over. This is the horse's seventh career start and a certain RL Moore has also been on top previously.

I'd say the horse was very well regarded by connections, and to see he's entered up in the Wokingham is no surprise whatsoever. Big chance here.

15:20 York - River Of Stars @ 5/2

The deadly duo of trainer Ralph Beckett and jockey Rossa Ryan combine, in this staying test (1m 6f).

River Of Stars is a five-year-old Sea The Stars mare who hasn't been seen for 274 days, since finishing just over 5l behind Coltrane in the Lonsdale here at the Ebor meeting. That was a Group 2, this is a Group 3 - and the horse has a history of running well (and winning) after lengthy breaks.

If the going has the word 'soft' somewhere in the description that shouldn't be an issue, and with both trainer and jockey among the winners she's got a very bright chance - borne out by official ratings.

15:30 Haydock - Nothing To Sea @ 9/2

If we're having a successful afternoon this could be yet another winner for The Doyler!

Ralph Beckett trains this four-year-old convert to the staying ranks, but we've not seen him since last July - a cracking win at Sandown (1m 6f) in a Class 3 handicap.

Nothing To Sea is up a grade here, and must travel a further 2f, and on Sandown evidence (finishing well up that unforgiving hill, on soft ground), there's every reason to be hopeful that he'll stay.

This will only be career start number five and there's any amount of improvement that could be in the locker, if he's fit and straight for this demanding test.

15:40 Curragh - Rosallion @ 10/11

In the English 2000 Guineas at HQ three weeks ago Rosallion ran a blinder to be second to Notable Speech, and it was nearly 2l back to the third.

He's got great prospects then in this Irish equivalent at the Curragh for trainer Richard Hannon and jockey Sean Levey. He's officially rated the best horse in the race and that Guineas form is about to receive its first big test, although the Newmarket eighth Ten Bob Tony was beaten less than 2l in the German equivalent.

Rosallion is plenty short enough for both today and the St James's Palace Stakes at the Royal meeting, but this son of Blue Point out of a New Approach mare does seem to be the real deal. Travels, quickens, job done - fingers crossed.

If you're playing, have fun, take care, and the very best of luck.

ITV Racing tips from Betfred Insights.