| Friday, July 7, 2023 6:30 PM

Saturday’s Horse Racing Tips: Sandown, Haydock July 8th

Stephen Harris

Today’s Racing Tips – July 8th

Saturday’s ITV cameras bring the very best of the flat action from Haydock and Sandown, with the Esher venue sure to be packed for the top class Eclipse meeting. The big race is at 3.40pm, with a cracking Group 1 field assembled over the 1m2f trip (always produces memorable finishes up the stamina sapping final hill). Elsewhere, the Lancashire Oaks at 2.40pm provides a terrific opportunity for fillies and mares, while the Old Newton Cup at 3.15pm is a handicap with a long history of producing progressive middle-distance performers.

In this article:

Today’s Daily Nap
Today’s Value Angle
Saturday’s ITV Racing Tips

Today’s Daily Nap

Magical Sunset

Sandown 3:00 (UK time)

Richard Hannon has his team in blistering form, with 10 winners in the last fortnight, and this useful filly is strongly fancied to land this valuable listed prize under the red hot Ryan Moore. She shaped as though coming back to the boil last time out on the wrong side of the track at Royal Ascot (in a very competitive renewal of the Sandringham handicap), and her turn of foot will be a potent weapon as the ground continues to dry out.

Odds: NA

Today’s Value Angle

Sir Rumi

Haydock 3:15 (UK time)

Charlie Hills dual all-weather winner caught the eye in a small field listed prize at Newbury last time out, refusing to settle under restraint in the early stages and gradually fading before the final furlong. He is just the sort to do a lot better in a big field of handicappers, and can swoop late here off a fast pace under Jim Crowley (with plenty of scope to improve after just two runs on the turf previously).

Odds: NA

Odds are best odds available as at 9am July 8th 2023. Odds may now differ.

ITV Racing Tips – Saturday July 8th

Time (UK)	Track	Horse	Analysis
1:50	Sandown	Equilateral	Charlie Hills sprinter has been running really well in warm company all season, and shaped really well when fifth behind Bradsell in a huge field for the Kings Stand at the Royal meeting. The stiff five furlongs at Sandown should suit ideally, and he can weave his way through late under Jamie Spencer if seeing any daylight in the closing stages.
2:05	Haydock	Banderas	Michael Bell’s unexposed 3-y-o was only workmanlike in losing his maiden tag at Chester last time out, but that has done his opening handicap mark no harm at all and he can improve past these rivals under Neil Callan. There is loads more improvement in the tank after just four career starts, and this increased test of stamina over 1m6f is likely to really suit.
2:25	Sandown	Ouzo	Jamie Osborne’s globetrotter has been making hay in Meydan over the winter months, and he returned to these shores with a cracking sixth in the Royal Hunt Cup last time out. Saffie Osborne is booked who is well aware of all of his quirks, and she will be looking to weave her way through late at a track where he has run really well in the past.
2:40	Haydock	Poptronic	Karl Burke’s useful sort shaped well over this course and distance last time out behind Sea Silk Road in a warm Group 2, and he looks overpriced here with a positive ride from the front on the cards from regular rider Sam James.
3:00	Sandown	Magical Sunset	Richard Hannon has his team in blistering form, with 10 winners in the last fortnight, and this useful filly is strongly fancied to land this valuable listed prize under the red hot Ryan Moore. She shaped as though coming back to the boil last time out on the wrong side of the track at Royal Ascot (in a very competitive renewal of the Sandringham handicap), and her turn of foot will be a potent weapon as the ground continues to dry out.
3:15	Haydock	Sir Rumi	Richard Hannon’s consistent sort was not seen to best effect last time out at Goodwood, dropped out initially and never getting involved, but that form now looks a lot stronger after the subsequent Gold Cup success of Courage Mon Ami. He should relish the demands of this big field handicap up the long Haydock straight, and Kevin Stott replacing Pat Dobbs in the saddle is a big positive to his chances.
3:40	Sandown	Paddington	Aidan O’Brien’s high class performer is typically thriving on a really busy campaign this summer, taking his form to another level when an impressive winner of the St James Palace Stakes at the Royal meeting. He has now won 5 of his 6 starts so far at upto a mile, and this step up to 1m2f promises to unlock more improvement under Ryan Moore.