ITV Racing Tips: Murphy can make ITV hay in the north-west

Today's Horse Races

Here we are again dear reader - a cracking ITV Saturday chock-full of equine delight. The Coral Eclipse from Sandown is the standout, while there's action from Haydock Park featuring some of their oldest and most renowned events.

We kick in at 13:50, and take in seven live races in all. Here then are our ITV Racing tips for July 6 - new month, new government, and after tipping up last week's Pitmen's Derby winner (9/1, returned 12/1), plenty of hope!

Horse Racing Odds

Full ITV Racing schedule, Saturday July 6

Sandown
13:50 Coral Charge Group 3 5f
14:25 Coral Challenge Handicap 1m
15:00 Coral Distaff Listed Race 1m
15:35 Coral-Eclipse Stakes Group 1 1m 2f

Haydock Park
14:05 Bet365 Handicap 1m 6f
14:40 Bet365 Lancashire Oaks Group 2 1m 4f
15:15 Bet365 Old Newton Cup Handicap 1m 6f

Rationale;

13:50 Sandown - Desperate Hero @ 4/1

Live In The Dream is on something of a retrieval mission after an uncharacteristically modest performance at Haydock 28 days ago, so I'm siding with Jack Channon's Desperate Hero. 

The Captain Gerrard four-year-old produced an astonishing performance at Hamilton just over a month ago (5f Class 2 handicap) and connections have every right on the back of that to have a tilt at this 5f Group 3. Don't blink, you might miss it - what an opener for our Saturday entertainment.

Callum Rodriguez is again in the plate.

14:05 Haydock - Wild Waves @ 5/1

Oisin Murphy takes the mount on this three-year-old Crystal Ocean colt for Andrew Balding, and the former champ has a fantastic book of rides in the north-west.

Wild Waves marked himself as a young stayer of promise by going in at Donny in a similar affair five weeks ago, and is lightly-raced. This will only be career start number six and now he's clicked at the trip (1m 6f) there could be plenty more to come.

14:25 Sandown - Classic each-way @ 11/2

This looks super-tricky, as evidenced by a glance at the 9/2 the field or thereabouts betting. I'm looking at a Richard Hannon charge, nicely weighted (8st 12lb), in the colours of one of the yard's longest-standing owners, Mrs Julie Wood.

The four-year-old Dubawi colt Classic ran a blinder here three weeks ago (similar test, beaten a neck) and is a lovely each-way price (we're paying four places). Looks ready to strike.

Pat Dobbs is the only jock to have ridden him in public, and that continues today.

14:40 Haydock - Queen Of The Pride @ 7/2

The Gosdens, Murphy up, and a Roaring Lion filly out of a Park Hill-winning dam, Simple Verse, in the famous Qatar Racing silks. Wow.

Got plenty of ability and guts, too, taking a Group 3 here narrowly and bravely four weeks ago. It's Group 2 action now, but Queen Of The Pride looks well worth it.

This will be career start number five, and she's improved so far for every outing. Sensational race this for the Lancashire Oaks, and I can't wait. Highlight of the day for me.

15:00 Sandown - Soprano @ 2/1

Soprano sensationally took the Sandringham at the Royal meeting at 14/1 with a huge career-best. The three-year-old Starspangledbanner filly bids to back that up just 15 days later and I guess that's the slight worry - it's not long ago that she put in such a fantastic effort to come out best in a 30-strong field.

If she's straight, she's nicely clear on official marks thanks to Ascot, and should be a very tough nut to crack. She's run here once before over 7f, going down by 1.5l, but that was on soft ground and she's a completely different filly now.

Billy Loughnane again is on board.

15:15 Haydock - Chillingham each-way @ 13/2

The Old Newton Cup now over a mile-and-a-half, and another that's white-hot in terms of competition. We're paying five places each-way, and that's definitely the way I'm leaning.

Ed Bethell trains Chillingham up on Middleham Moor in North Yorkshire. He's an experienced five-year-old Ulysses gelding who is arguably trying to escape the grip of the handicapper right now but for me has a very bright e/w shout.

Ran a fine race in a similar contest at York's Dante meeting and has had a nice 52-day freshener since. The fourth that day has come out and won a Listed race so the form looks strong - typical of so many warm handicaps on the Knavesmire.

15:35 Sandown - City Of Troy @ 1/3

The Eclipse - won by some amazing superstars over the years like Dancing Brave and Sea The Stars. This field is for me a shade disappointing, but it's attracted one genuine headliner at the very least - Betfred Epsom Derby hero City Of Troy.

He's a nominal selection because the price will be tiny, and it's one to watch and savour for me. If he gets beat there will be some epic head-scratching going on but hey, it's a horse race, and you just never know.

With the glorious benefit of hindsight it's probably where Ambiente Friendly should have been aimed rather than the 1m 4f Irish Derby, but his Epsom conqueror should have no trouble stepping down to this 10f trip and will surely be exceptionally hard to beat.

Have a brilliant afternoon's racing, take care, and as always have fun.

ITV Racing tips, from Betfred Insights.