ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Lingfield, Ascot and Haydock on Saturday, May 9
Sports News Blitz horse racing expert Jeff Mexico ate a Tesco meal deal sandwich he found on the bus this week.
It was the imaginatively named ‘Just Ham’ sandwich – the go-to choice of dull people everywhere.
We would always advise against eating anything you find randomly on the bus, but Jeff was absolutely fine. If anything, he visited the toilet fewer times than usual for the rest of the week.
So, Jeff is in tip-top form for the bumper nine-race card on offer on ITV this Saturday afternoon.
Jeff Mexico’s racing tips
This week, a loud man in a suit asked me to look after a large leather suitcase, think he was called Nigel something or other.
He disappeared off to deal with some urgent business at something called a local election, where old white men pretend they are not racist.
I took a look in the bag and discovered it was full of cash. £5 million in cash. You’ll be surprised what you can fit in a suitcase nowadays.
As I was near my local turf accountant, I thought I’d have a cheeky dabble while I waited for Nigel to return.
Anyway you’d be surprised that five mil doesn’t get you very far when you’ve an afternoon of thrilling racing from Ffos Las, Hereford, and Ayr.
I do hope this bloke doesn’t want his cash back. I’m sure he’ll find someone else to give him another gift as he seemed like a very popular chap.
Hopefully, this Saturday’s tips will be a little more successful.
12:55 (Lingfield) – William Hill Epic Boosts Handicap
Main tip: Salamanca City
Travelled strongly and picked up decisively over this trip on his latest outing, suggesting he has come back stronger as a 5yo.
Has proven form over this distance.
Each-way tip: Morcar
Lingfield turf record is what immediately stands out – has repeatedly run well over this course and distance, including a previous win on quick ground.
Back in a Class 4 handicap under conditions he enjoys, he looks capable of outrunning market expectations and hitting the frame at minimum.
13:15 (Haydock) – Pertemps Network Swinton Handicap Hurdle
Main tip: Indemnity
Emma Lavelle’s 6yo has quietly developed into a very solid handicap performer this season.
His latest victory suggested he is still improving and is suited by genuinely good spring ground.
Current mark may still underestimate him because several of his earlier runs came before he learned to settle properly.
Each-way tip: Mr McLoughlan
Looks tailor-made for a strongly run spring handicap hurdle, even though his form figures do not fully show how well he has travelled in several races before getting slightly outpaced at key moments.
Back on a flatter, galloping track like Haydock, he can be more effective.
Handles decent ground well and stays further than two miles.
Looks capable of finishing in the frame.
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13:28 (Lingfield) – William Hill Oaks Trial Fillies’ Stakes
Main tip: Romantic Symphony
Small field so just one tip here and the current favourite Romantic Symphony is the filly that appeals the most.
The biggest positive is the manner of her two victories.
On debut, she travelled like a naturally classy middle-distance filly, but the follow-up success really caught the eye and she looked as though extra distance would unlock more improvement.
Charlie Appleby’s fillies often improve sharply at this stage of the season and William Buick is in the saddle, obvs.
13:45 (Ascot) – Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% British EBF Fillies’ Handicap
Main tip: Zgharta
Andrew Balding’s filly had some very strong form in races last season, particularly when mixing it in competitive handicaps and Listed company, where she repeatedly travelled like a horse capable of winning a race of this nature.
Disappointing efforts late in the campaign are easy enough to forgive because she often raced on softer ground, so we can expect a much sharper performance on sounder ground.
Oisin Murphy on board is another plus.
Each-way tip: Quamby
She has quietly built a very solid profile without yet getting ideal conditions in a race like this.
She has often shaped as though a truly run straight mile on fast ground would suit perfectly, and this contest could finally give her that scenario.
Has already proven she can cope with strongly run handicaps and race pressure.
Don’t rule out her getting seriously involved if the race collapses late on.
13:58 (Lingfield) – William Hill Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes
Each-way tip: Bay Of Brilliance
Another small field so just one tip and Bay Of Brilliance has plenty of appeal as an each-way play.
Unbeaten juvenile campaign looked impressive.
He travelled smoothly in both starts and shaped as though stamina would become his main asset at three.
Bay Of Brilliance has already shown a neat turn of foot that could help him secure a place even if one classier rival proves too strong late on.
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14:20 (Ascot) – Carey Group Victoria Cup
Each-way tip: Golden Mind
Cavalry charge of a race so I’m slapping a big each-way punt on Golden Mind.
Shaped extremely well on his latest start when finishing strongly after not getting the clearest passage at a crucial stage.
Travelled powerfully in a race run at a strong tempo and that could be key in this big-field handicap.
Booking of Warren Fentiman claiming 3lb is significant.
14:40 (Lingfield) – William Hill Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes
Main tip: Dash Of Azure
Dash Of Azure has the profile of a filly progressing into her best season, and this race looks set up for her strengths rather than a pure test of raw ratings.
Each-way tip: Havana Pusey
Brings battle-hardened consistency into a race lacking depth.
Proven specialist at 7f and usually races prominently, which is a plus here.
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14:55 (Ascot) – Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% Italy Handicap
Main tip: Al Wasl Storm
Already showed last season that he handles this sort of trip strongly and moves like a horse capable of operating above handicap level when things fall right.
Has enough tactical speed to hold position before stamina comes into play late.
Each-way tip: In The Breeze
Could massively outrun expectations.
Stays strongly at around 1m4f and his current handicap mark gives him room to be competitive if rediscovering last year’s best form.
15:15 (Lingfield) – William Hill Each Way Extra Handicap
Main tip: Back In Black
James Fanshawe’s gelding shaped much better than the bare result on his seasonal return, and this looks a very deliberate target second time up.
Has the profile of a strong 7f turf handicapper who still has upside off his current mark.
Still looks capable of progressing into a Class 2 horse later this summer.
Each-way tip: The Dragon King
Clive Cox’s 4yo has been running respectably in stronger races than this without everything dropping right.
His recent form figures do not fully reflect how well he has travelled in those contests before meeting trouble or getting caught too far back at key stages.
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