Saturday ITV Racing Tips: Best bets for Haydock, Goodwood, York and the Curragh on May 25

The Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes (1425) is the pick of five races from Haydock, there's two each from Goodwood and York, plus don't forget the Irish 2000 Guineas (1540).

Let's kick off with a quick run through our ITV tips, with the reasons why we've picked them further down the page.

If you fancy a punt or two, check out the Planet Sport race centre which will show you all the live odds, racecards and results.

Good luck and please gamble responsibly.

(Please be aware selections could become non-runners after article's first publication)

 

Saturday's selections in full:

13:15 (Haydock) Volterra

13:30 (Goodwood) Al Shabab Storm

13:50 (Haydock) Vadream

14:05 (Goodwood) Francophone

14:25 (Haydock) Vandeek

14:45 (York) Korker

15:00 (Haydock) English Oak

15:20 (York) Trevaunance

15:30 (Haydock) Nothing To Sea

15:40 (Curragh) Rosallion

 

13:15 (Haydock) Volterra

Volterra is the pick in the opening £100,000 Betfred Silver Bowl Handicap.

Kevin Ryan’s charge shaped well in each of his three starts as a two-year-old, finishing a promising fourth in the Convivial Maiden at York on his debut before placing third at Ayr and then opening his account at Redcar.

He made a mockery of an opening handicap mark of 82 when bolting up on his return at Newmarket’s Guineas meeting and a 9lb hike might not be enough to stop him following up.

 

13:30 (Goodwood) Al Shabab Storm

Al Shabab Storm has already won at Goodwood, which is a huge plus even though it was over a shorter six-furlong trip. 

That win last October, the only success so far in six attempts for Andrew Balding’s three-year-old, was in a lower-class affair, so Al Shabab does need to improve to win this, but he is well-drawn and meets most of the trends.

Monfrid has only had three runs, winning once in a Class 5 novice race, but his jockeys’ view was that the William Haggas-trained could well be better as a handicapper.

The young colt has scope to improve compared to some of his rivals, but he will need to improve several pounds to win this.

His jockey Adam Farragher has an excellent course record with a 33% strike rate from nine rides, so no worries on that front.

 

13:50 (Haydock) Vadream

Deteriorating ground conditions are expected to tip the scales in favour of proven mud lover Vadream in the Betfred Temple Stakes.

A quality field has assembled for the five-furlong speed test, with Adam West’s Nunthorpe hero Live In The Dream and Australian raider Asfoora the two headline acts in terms of pure sprinting ability.

When the ground was fast at the start of the week, it would have been difficult to look beyond that pair, but the heavy rain that has fallen on Merseyside in recent days cannot be seen as a positive for either, whereas it brings Vadream right into calculations.

The Charlie Fellowes-trained mare has a record of three wins from seven starts when the ground is soft or heavy, a record which includes big-race wins in both the Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster and the Palace House at Newmarket last season, beating Live In The Dream on the latter occasion.

Vadream came within a head of successfully defending her Palace House crown on her most recent outing, proving herself as good as ever, and she should be involved at the business end again on Saturday.

 

14:05 (Goodwood) Francophone

Francophone chased home a promising filly in the G3 Musidora Stakes at York last week.

The Charlie Johnston-trained filly holds proven form tackling this trip and is considered.

Main market rival Regal Jubilee finished runner-up attempting the G3 Fred Darling Stakes before struggling in the G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. Yet to tackle the 1m2f distance.

Talented yet quirky Beeley could do better now fitted with first-time cheekpieces.

Local Arms looks interesting now stepping up to 1m2f on her first outing since finishing fourth in a Class Two conditions event over seven furlongs here in September.

 

14:25 (Haydock) Vandeek

Vandeek is expected to stamp his class on the Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Sandy Lane Stakes.

The Havana Grey colt needs no introduction as one of last season’s leading juveniles, with an unblemished record of four wins all achieved over this six-furlong distance.

Simon and Ed Crisford’s stable star has proven himself ground versatile by winning the Prix Morny on very soft going and the Middle Park on good to firm, so it will be disappointing if he is unable to make a successful reappearance en-route to the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

 

14:45 (York) Korker

Korker caught the eye putting in some good late work over course and distance nine days ago.

This Karl Burke-trained five-year-old looks to be drawn around the pace in stall ten and could be up to defying top weight off the same mark in the William Hill Extra Place Races Daily Handicap.

Rabaah was disappointing at Newmarket on return. Remains unexposed in sprint handicaps and can easily do better back on this flatter track.

The G1 placed Starlust commands respect among handicap company. Hardly disgraced finishing sixth in the G3 Pavilion Stakes at Ascot beginning of the month.

Others to note with each-way claims include Vintage Clarets and Democracy Dilemma.

 

15:00 (Haydock) English Oak

English Oak showed plenty of ability three weeks ago when second tackling a higher level seven furlong handicap at Newmarket, so will be a leading contender in the Betfred Hattrick Heaven New Boston Handicap.

Zip brings solid placed form including a second among this handicap company at Newcastle over 7f two weeks back.

Persuasion was a good third in this event last year. Holds claims back down in standard, as does Baldomero who won a six furlong handicap at Goodwood three weeks back.

 

15:20 (York) Trevaunance

Not many trainers have their string in better form than Jessica Harrington at the moment and the leading Irish handler is backed to plunder the William Hill Bronte Cup with Trevaunance.

The five-year-old has run well in Pattern company on numerous occasions over the past couple of years, most notably enjoying back-to-back Group-race wins at Deauville in 2022.

She failed to add to her tally last season, but a comeback third at Cork last month suggested her winning turn is not far away and a step up in trip to a mile and three-quarters looks a wise move.

 

15:30 (Haydock) Nothing To Sea

Nothing To Sea bids for a hat-trick with a Newbury maiden success a year ago preceding a victory at Sandown last July. Able to stay and rates highly on return.

Law Of The Sea ran well at Chester two weeks back when a solid third tackling the more competitive 2m2f Chester Plate handicap. Was a smart second in this contest last year and holds every chance.

Emiyn showed ability attempting the Chester Cup finishing second and should be considered along with the consistent Divine Comedy.

 

15:40 (Curragh) Rosallion

Two of the last five Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas winners have been trained in Britain and Rosallion could be another conquering raider.

He was second-best behind Notable Speech in the Newmarket version three weeks ago, clear of stablemate Haatem (also runs here) and sets the standard on that effort, with the promise of more to come.

Ballydoyle trio River Tiber, Mountain Bear and Unquestionable will serve it up to him, though Aidan O'Brien 'only' has two wins in this contest since Gleneagles in 2015.

 

READ MORE: Curragh Irish Guineas Festival tips: Best bets for day 2 on Saturday, May 25