ITV Racing Tips: Three Selections from Haydock and Newmarket on Friday

The ITV Racing cameras are at both Haydock and Newmarket on Friday for an end of the week treat for racing fans. Plenty of racing's biggest names have entries or rides and we've enlisted Billy Grimshaw to take a look through the cards to pick out his best bets...

14:25 Newmarket - Princess Royal Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Stakes

William Haggas has had a stunning season so far and it could get even better tomorrow with another Group 3 success as he saddles the favourite for this contest SEA SILK ROAD. She was a disappointing fourth when last seen as favourite at Deauville but she had excuses that day and her Ribblesdale second is the stand out piece of form in this contest. She just about has the beating off second favourite Eternal Pearl after triumphing over Charlie Appleby's charge back in May at Goodwood in a Listed contest and can once again finish ahead of the Godolphin filly here. 

Ryan Moore is aboard Peripatetic for Roger Varian and she looks an interesting outsider for this race, while Poptronic for Karl Burke is also respected after some good performances this season, although she was outclassed when finishing last in the Yorkshire Oaks last time out. None of the entrants have as strong claims as the favourite, however, and Tom Marquand's mount can take this prize.

14:40 Haydock - Haldane Fisher Handicap

One race up at Haydock caught my eye for a bet on this card and it is this one, with Sir Mark Prescott's SEA KING looking worth another go on his first run since a gelding operation. He disappointed as 11/10 favourite last time out at Newcastle and before that ran another poor race at Haydock when well fancied, in the end finishing seventh. The yard have a good record with horses first time out after gelding and Sir Mark has opted to give this son of Sea The Stars the operation in the hope he can return to the sort of form which saw him cruise to a handicap victory at Doncaster earlier in the campaign. He ran Irish Derby winner Westover close back in his juvenile days and if the gelding has done the trick to revitalise him he has the class to win this race.

Speycaster is favourite at the time of writing and is interesting with blinkers applied for the first time. He ran better than his finishing position of fourth last time out over course and distance and with the ground in his favour he rates the main danger. Baltic Bird represents the Gosden team and if excusing his poor run in the Queen's Vase would have a chance even off top weight. Post Impressionist was another of interest now tackling a trip surely to be more suitable, but it's Sir Mark Prescott's runner that gets the nod. 

15:35 Newmarket - Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Joel Stakes

The last race of the day being broadcast on ITV is a Group Two over a mile which sees some classy sorts clashing. Potapova heads the market for Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore and she put in a great display when winning at Sandown last time out, coming from last to first in impressive fashion. She faces a stiffer task today against the boys and to my eye looks a skinny enough price. Tempus is just behind Potapova in the market and he comes here in the form of his life off the back of Group 3 wins at Salisbury and Deauville. As well as these two victories he finished a cracking third in the Royal Hunt Cup earlier in the season at Royal Ascot and is rated the main danger to the selection.

The horse I am siding with is POGO who can go one better than last season when he finished a close second to the high class Benbatl. Pogo has been in brilliant form once more this season and clearly acts around the course and distance, and his front running style could suit a race like this one. Charles Hills' veteran is as tough as they come and could be hard to pass if hitting the front early so is worth backing at current prices.