ITV Racing Tips: Classy Cox sprinter can dominate at Haydock

Another fabulous Betfred-sponsored afternoon at Haydock Park beckons in front of the ITV cameras, and the channel are spoiling us as per by adding a couple from York's fabled Knavesmire, and one from Chester's similarly historic Roodee.

SEVEN tip-top contests then, the first of which kicks in at 13:48. It's sure to be on the right side of epic and I hope you enjoy a superb afternoon's sport.

Horse Racing Odds

Today's Horse Races

Full ITV Schedule;

Haydock
13:48 Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Reverence Handicap (Class 3) 6f
14:23 Betfred ‘The Classic Bookmaker’ Achilles Stakes (Listed) 5f
14:58 Betfred Nifty 50 Lester Piggott Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3) 1m 4f
15:33 Betfred John of Gaunt Stakes (Group 3) 7f

York
14:40 More Top Prices Handicap (Class 2) 5f
15:15 Bronte Cup Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3) 1m 6f

Chester
14:10 Roman Day Handicap (Class 2) 7f

Rationale;

13:48 Haydock - Fine Interview @ 7/2

Wathnan Racing has made a huge impression as an ownership vehicle in the last couple of seasons and they are represented here by a four-year-old Havana Grey gelding, trained by Hamad Al Jehani at HQ.

Fine Interview reappeared at Donny on Lincoln weekend and was narrowly denied by a neck in a similar affair. It looked an even hotter race than this in truth though at the same Class 3 level, and the race has produced winners and near-misses in subsequent weeks.

Will Buick has been booked to ride, with James Doyle at Lingfield to ride another for the owner (the unraced juvenile filly Shine On Me). I'll be watching that one with great interest (Queen Mary aspirations?), but in the meantime our selection has a great chance of a fourth career win (same mark, 91, as last time) on start number 13.

14:10 Chester - Bobby Bennu @ 5/1

Silvestre De Sousa rides for Roger Varian - always a potent combination and one worthy of the closest inspection.

Bobby Bennu races in the famous Middleham Park Racing silks and is a four-year-old gelded son of Philip Of Spain. He's won here before interestingly, over a few yards further that this 7f, but hasn't appeared for 145 days - since a decent effort at Wolves on the Tapeta.

He's in the Wokingham at the Royal meeting and I'm guessing he'd need to win and get penalised to have a a chance of lining up. In any event, I like the entry and you might want to consider each-way as we're paying four places.

Three wins from eight starts so far - certainly has ability.

14:23 Haydock - Jasour @ 10/3

Classy-sprinter time, as we head in the direction of Clive Cox's four-year-old Havana Grey colt out of a Bahamian Bounty mare.

Regular pilot Jim Crowley is once again on board for this one's seasonal reappearance, and we've got a genuine Group-class performer in Listed company today.

The fox is in the hen-house, and I expect feathers to be flying around accordingly as his rivals feel the heat. Jasour goes well fresh, taking a G3 on his return in 2024 for example, and has a couple of pounds and more in hand on official marks.

He's entered up in two at the Royal meeting, plus the July Cup, (all at G1), so he needs to be running well and preferably taking this 5f dash if those ambitions are to be realistic.

14:40 York - Loom @ 5/1

Over to York, and experienced 5f sprint handicappers.

My selection Loom looks to go one better than 15 days ago here, but in a slightly higher grade this afternoon. It's only the three-year-old Kodiac gelding's sixth career start and just his third handicap - rated 93 now, after two fine and progressive efforts.

Billy Garrity rides for top trainer Richard Fahey, who has winners for fun on the Knavesmire year after year and this could well be another. Loads of scope for improvement - and what a scintillating contest for a handsome £30k+ prize.

14:58 Haydock - Shaha @ 2/1

Talented older fillies go 1m 4f for this G3 contest celebrating the career of Lester Piggott, arguably the most famous and significant figure in the history of British racing.

My selection Shaha is a four-year-old daughter of Cracksman and reappeared for 2025 with a win at Goodwood in a Listed heat 29 days ago. She takes the step up to G3 and it looks entirely warranted for this progressive and unexposed type, with only four runs to her name thus far.

She's an early-closing entry for the Arc which shows the esteem in which she's held. Cracking race.

15:15 York - Sueno @ 3/1

Team Gosden reach out to Ryan Moore for this four-year-old Camelot filly, carrying the legendary George Strawbridge silks.

Sueno is all about promise, after just three starts so far. Last time at Goodwood 29 days ago she was a running-on fourth (beaten 3.75l) in Listed company but in a clear career-best; she steps up to a G3 now, with the quite brilliant Moore booked, and I'm happy to take the hint.

Loads to find on official figures of course - but the potential could be considerable and connections evidently have faith. Love seeing these colours - memories of Selkirk and others taking high rank down the years.

15:33 Haydock - Alyanaabi @ 7/2

Another G3 from the north-west (the John of Gaunt) and an absolute humdinger. This wouldn't be out of place at the Royal meeting, York in August, Goodwood - anywhere. Just terrific.

Alyanaabi, at four years of age, is arguably the one among the more likely types with some improvement left to come. The gelded son of Too Darn Hot equalled his best-ever Racing Post rating last time on seasonal reappearance, here, in taking a Listed heat readily under Shadwell's regular pilot Jim Crowley.

Audience and Kinross are the headline acts for this, but neither are bomb-proof these days at six and eight respectively, but of course they've been there and got some very prestigious T-shirts along the way.

Audience is well clear on official marks but is he still a 122-rated performer? Kinross has been amazing - would he like more cut? I'm hoping the 'young' pretender can muscle his way past the older brigade in a fascinating clash of the generations over this 7f trip.

 ITV Racing Tips with Betfred Insights.