ITV Racing Tips for Saturday: Best Bets from Haydock, Ascot and Kempton

The ITV Racing cameras head to Haydock, Ascot and Kempton on Saturday 6th September for a cracking afternoon of Group action and competitive handicaps. The highlight is the Group 1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock, but there’s strength in depth across all three venues. Billy Grimshaw has taken a deep dive into the card and has picked out two confident selections to help guide your punting ahead of tomorrow’s broadcast.

With the Sprint Cup serving up a stellar renewal and the all-weather providing a fascinating Group 3 clash at Kempton, there’s plenty to get stuck into for racing fans and punters alike!

14:40 Ascot – Schweppes Handicap

Twenty line up for the classic Ascot seven-furlong burn-up—you need rhythm, track craft and a finish. The going is soft, which often turns this into a stamina-tinged test at the trip. With pace scattered and a fair few with something to prove, I’m siding each-way with LEADMAN, who has the right blend of track form, travelling style and recent figures.

He shaped much better than the bare result at York last time after a cracking second at Newbury, and this stiffer seven should suit a strong traveller who can lay up handy and quicken late. The draw looks workable and he’s on a mark that still gives him room to land a big one. He’s operated well in double-figure fields and gets conditions that play to his strengths.

Native Warrior is feared—he finished off well in a red-hot Goodwood 7f and returns to a course that suits. Great Acclaim is flying in blinkers and has to be on any shortlist, while three-year-old Strong Warrior is the lurker with upside dropping back into handicap company. But for me, at the prices, Leadman is the bet to have running for us.

15:00 Haydock – Betfair Exchange Old Borough Cup

This is a proper staying handicap with depth—pace on from a few habitual forward-goers and a long Haydock straight that exposes anything short on stamina. The profiles of the main contenders stack up well, but THE REVEREND makes the most appeal as an improver who still hasn’t hit the ceiling.

He arrives off a tidy win with a bit up the sleeve and now gets a return to the sort of trip that should show him to even better effect. The draw looks fine for a stalking ride, and with the ground good (good to soft in places), he won’t be caught out if they go a proper gallop. His form ties in neatly with a few of these and the handicapper hasn’t been brutal—this looks the logical next step.

Obvious dangers are Caballo De Mar, who’s been ultra-consistent and travels like a horse who’ll relish a strong-run 1m6f, and the thriving Paddy The Squire, who keeps knocking on the door in these staying heats. Dancing In Paris is another who pops up on the shortlist thanks to solid course efforts. But on balance of pace set-up, scope for more, and where he’s landed in the draw, The Reverend is the bet