ITV Racing Tips for Musselburgh and Haydock on Saturday 19th April
1:50 Musselburgh
The opener in Scotland is the trappy Royal Mile handicap.
It is hard to get away from WILTSHIRE LAD (11/4) here for the in-form Andrew Balding yard. The yard can do little wrong this week, this horse has strong 2 year-old form and looks set to improve at 3 this year. He’s been gelded over the winter, and he’s bred to get better with age. He’s the one they have to beat.
2:05 Haydock
We head to Haydock for three live races. The 2:05 is a. 2 mile handicap hurdle with 7 runners set to go to post.
The one I like in LUTTRELL LAD (5/1). The nine-year-old of Tom Lacey’s returned to winning form two starts ago when winning at Taunton. He then went to Aintree on Grand National day and ran a lot better than his winning position suggests. He finished 7th that day but came there with a winning chance before faltering late on. He’s still well handicapped on previous form and one of his career best runs came here at Haydock last year when 4th in the competitive Swinton Hurdle. This is easier and he holds a decent chance.
2:25 Musselburgh
The 2:25 is the Silver Arrow handicap is next up over 7f.
I’d be given GWEEDORE (5/1) NAP a great chance in this. This four-time course winner returned to form last week again here at this unique track when finishing a good second at the Sunday Series meeting. A mark of 90 is well within his range if he can build on that effort. Connections reach for the cheekpieces which may just be what he needs to get his head back in front again here at his favourite track.
2:40 Haydock
The 2:40 from Haydock is a 3-mile handicap hurdle with 7 set to go to post.
It’s THANK YOU MA’AM (9/2) for me here. A really consistent sort for Grace Nicholls that appears to be going from strength to strength. He was a well-backed winner from the front at Ascot in December and went in again last time out at Doncaster showing a willing attitude. He’ll go from the front again here and may just get an easy time of it. I think he’s solid.
3:00 Musselburgh
It’s back to Musselburgh for the 3:00, the Scottish Sprint Cup Handicap over the minimum 5f trip.
It is AMERICAN AFFAIR (3/1) NB for me here. He was a really progressive sprinter last season for Jim Goldie and there’s no reason that he cannot continue this season at the age of 5. His 2024 was excellent winning three times from eight starts. He’s only blip came in the competitive Ayr Gold Cup on his final start last season where he got no run at all. A winner at this meeting last season, I’d expect him to be ready to go. He ought to be going close.
3:15 Haydock
Our final race from Haydock is a Veterans final, this one for the middle distance sorts as it’s over 2m4f.
I’d be happy to chance SPYGLASS HILL (10/1) EW off a mark of 126 as that looks very lenient on the best of his Irish form. Recently moved to the Barry Brennan stable, he shows enough on his second start for the yard last time out when just touched off at Exeter. He’s likely to improve for that effort and this previous course winner can go close with Jonjo O’Neill booked for the ride.
3:35 Musselburgh
The final race is the 3:35 from Musselburgh, the Queens Cup over 1m6f.
It is WILD WAVES (3/1) for me, who I have no doubt is well handicapped off a mark of 100. He won twice in the summer before running a close 4th in the competitive Melrose handicap at York back in August. That’s a race that always works out to be strong and the winner Tabletalk has already run a cracker this season on his return last week. Wild Waves was last seen running in the Group 1 St Leger and was far from disgraced. I expect him to make a winning return for the red-hot Andrew Balding yard.
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