Today's Horse Racing Tips: Kaizer to rule at Haydock

There are five bets for today’s racing at Haydock. The feature there is the Grade 1 Betfair Chase, but with just five runners and a rock-solid favourite, I have left that race alone. Enjoy today’s racing and good luck if you have a bet.

Haydock Tips

13:50 – 2m3f Betfair Racing Only Bettor Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) 

FIX SUN (1 point win bet at 20/1) had made a promising start to his career, recording form figures of 2111 prior to a defeat at odds of 1/6 at Fakenham back in February. He subsequently had a wind operation and returned to action at Cheltenham last month. Sent off at 17/2 for that competitive handicap hurdle, he travelled well before weakening quickly on the run in. He may well have needed that run but it was also reported post-race that he had suffered wounds to two of his legs. A line can therefore be put through that run and he is taken to bounce back today for top connections.

At a bigger price, I am also taking a chance on KAIZER (0.5 point win bet at 25/1), who took his record to 3-8 over hurdles with a comfortable success at Carlisle last time out. This will be tougher, but he should relish the soft ground and step up in trip.

14:25 – 3m½f Betfair Exchange Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Plenty of eyes will be on Main Fact, who has won his last eight races (five over hurdles and three on the Flat), but I fancy three at big prices to go well.

The lightly-raced Paul Nicholls-trained improver HIGHLAND HUNTER (NAP - 1 point win bet at 10/1) gets in off just 10-4 today and can take advantage of that feather weight. He showed his stamina for this trip when winning over 3m2f on his final start of last season and made a pleasing seasonal reappearance at Ayr three weeks ago. He finished a staying-on second that day (11/4 favourite) and arrives here in preference to a race at Ascot, for which he was also declared.  

WHOLESTONE (0.5 point win bet at 33/1) is at the other end of the weights but has been a class act in the past with three Grade 2 wins over hurdles before embarking on a chasing campaign. He made his seasonal reappearance at Wetherby last month and should be much sharper today. It is interesting that connections are keeping him over the smaller obstacles.

My final selection is FLASHJACK (0.5 point win bet at 33/1), who has race conditions to suit. He is a course and distance winner and all eight of his career wins have been on soft or heavy ground. He too should be fitter following his first run of the season a fortnight ago.