The Weekend Wager: Tips from Kempton, Haydock and Ascot this Saturday

This week's edition of The Weekend Wager will visit three Flat meetings, and we have tips for Kempton Park, Haydock Park and Ascot, as we look to point you in the right direction of some winners on Saturday afternoon...

14:05 Kempton - Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Sirenia Stakes 

Some smart juveniles have been victorious in the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes down the years, and the next batch of aspiring two-year-olds will line up at Kempton Park at 14:05, and the one that catches the eye is the Clive Cox-trained WINGS OF WAR, who will make his all-weather debut this weekend.

Having finished third on debut, the Dark Angel colt improved significantly on his second start as he went on to win a Nottingham maiden by over two lengths in the middle of July. Handed a much stiffer test by Cox on his third career start, Wings Of War ran an absolute corking race to finish third in a valuable and competitive sales race at York's Ebor Festival. A meagre neck and head behind the smart-looking Ever Given and Atomic Lady that day on the Knavesmire, Wings Of War was just reeled in in the shadow of the post, as he was narrowly denied victory.

That trio pulled over four lengths clear of the rest of the field that day, and they could prove to be three smart performers going forward, and while Wings Of War will have to show that he can produce his best form on the all-weather, he could have a lot more potential than most of his rivals, with the eye-catching Scot's Grace looking the main danger after impressing when winning on debut.

14:20 Haydock - 'My Odds Boost' On Betfair Handicap

There are two hat-trick seekers in the 14:20 at Haydock on Saturday with Andrew Balding's Valley Forge and Hughie Morrison's Vino Victrix bidding for their third win on the bounce, and unsurprisingly, the pair are at the head of the betting, at the time of writing.

It could come down to that pair fighting out the finish, but the preference is most certainly VALLEY FORGE, who was a fine winner of the Melrose Handicap at York's Ebor Festival, and he can duly defy a 7lb rise in this event. Having won a Ffos Las maiden in July, Balding sent the Dansili colt to the Knavesmire, and at 10/1 he was an excellent half-a-length winner of the 22-runner event.

That success came off a mark of 83, and he will need to deliver off 90 on Saturday, but he showed tremendous battling qualities that day and appeared to relish the marathon distance, and this weekend's 1m 6f should be ideal for him, as he looks to continue on his meteoric rise up the ratings.

A winner over two miles last time out at Kempton, Vino Victrix will need to defy a 4lb rise, and he may just struggle to live with Valley Forge, who can bag the hat-trick at the Lancashire venue.

14:55 Haydock - Betfair Exchange Old Borough Cup Handicap

We turn to arguably the toughest betting heat of the day, as the devilishly difficult conundrum that is the Old Borough Cup will take place at 14:55 at Haydock. Twelve are declared at the 48 hour stage, with the Charlie Appleby-trained Global Storm carrying top weight and he has to be one of the leading contenders if producing his best form,

However, one that catches the eye at double-figured odds is a horse slipping down the handicap, who can make the most of an eye-catching mark of 85 and that is the Ian Williams-trained INDIANAPOLIS, who could outrun his lofty odds. The six-year-old hasn't got his head in front since October 2019, where he was victorious at Leicester, but that win came off a mark of 97 and he will line up on Saturday off 85.

Last seen finishing sixth in the Shergar Cup Stayers Handicap, Indianapolis had previously ran another solid race at Newbury on quicker ground, and while it's certainly a speculative selection, he has shown he can deliver off a much higher mark, so he could be worth taking a chance on. Williams has opted to apply the visor for the event, which could focus him a lot more, and in such a tough betting heat, it could be worth siding with proven quality.

15:45 Ascot - Careys Foundation Supporting The Lighthouse Club Handicap

A winner of this race 12 months ago, Documenting will line up off the same mark of 101 in what looks a thrilling renewal of the 15:45 contest at Ascot, and he has to be considered one of the leading contenders.

But, it's the Charles Hills-trained BAASHIR that is the selection as wins at York and Doncaster this season have shown him in his best light, and while he flopped at York last time out, he is worth taking another chance on here. Both those aforementioned victories came over seven furlongs, and his win two starts ago at Doncaster was hugely impressive, as he bound over a length clear of Gifted Ruler off a mark of 92, and looked like he could be a 100+ horse come the end of the season.

Unable to land any sort of blow at York off a mark of 97, Baashir will line up off the same figure on Saturday afternoon, so he will need to produce a career best, but with a less competitive field appearing to line up at the Berkshire venue on Saturday then Hills' charge can bounce back to winning ways with aplomb.