Haydock Horse Racing Tips for Saturday

The first Grade 1 of the British jumps season takes place at Haydock on Saturday in the Betfair Chase, which has attracted an unusually large field of nine.

The meeting is of high quality from start to finish and the Racing Post's Keith Melrose has picked out three bets on the card.

Saturday's Haydock Horse Racing Betting Tips and Odds

12:40 Haydock - Xcitations @ 10/1
15:05 Haydock - Grey Dawning @ 9/4
15:40 Haydock - Credo @ 7/1

12:40 Haydock - Xcitations @ 10/1

This 2m handicap chase has to compete with a £100,000 event over a similar trip at Ascot and it shows in this field. It is a 0-140, but the topweight Xcitations is rated 11lb below that ceiling.

He is nonetheless well handicapped, won a similar class of race from a significantly higher mark around a year ago, and deserves more respect in this race than the market is giving him.

In short, the leading contenders deserve to take out a majority of the market. Galunggung and Home Free can be backed at around even money if coupled, but as a single selection, Xcitations contains more obvious value as he is the main danger to the market leaders.

Xcitations is coming into his time of year. Six of his seven career wins have come in November, December and January, when just over half of his runs have been in those months.

He has won first time up, jumps well and is consistent. In a race like this, he is a dangerous horse to send off at double-figure odds.

15:05 Haydock - Grey Dawning @ 9/4

The Betfair Chase is the first Grade 1 of the season in Britain and it has attracted Britain's only viable winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup as the market currently sees it.

Grey Dawning won what would be the final running of the Turners Novices' Chase as a Grade 1 in March and has the look of a top-class staying chaser.

Dan Skelton's seven-year-old is bred to stay, he is by Flemensfirth and many of his relatives stayed 3m. He has a serious engine, but that does not mean he will not stay and the ability to travel is a prerequisite at Haydock to a greater degree than is often discussed. 

The competition today is not great. Most of the other British runners are nearing the veteran stage and The Real Whacker, while clearly in good form having won the Charlie Hall, has had his limitations exposed.

The overseas challenge is similarly tier two. Capodanno is rarely ready this early, Hewick's bid may be scuppered by the forecast rain, Gold Tweet has probably never been up to this level and Limerick Lace is a Grade 2 horse but her 7lb sex allowance does at least bring her close to the required level.

If Grey Dawning is to be a Gold Cup horse, he should be winning this.

15:40 Haydock - Credo @ 7/1

The closing race is another where the top two in the betting can be taken on. Take Your Time is promising, but it would be brave to back a Paul Nicholls horse on their reappearance this season given all that's gone before. Le Milos is also trying the patience of his fans, of which I am admittedly one.

Credo is a solid option who can be backed at attractive odds as a result. She was second in this race last year, beaten only a length by a horse that won the Tommy Whittle back here the following month.

She has had a similar prep this time, her reappearance third at Wincanton had plenty of promise and the form has a strong look.

With trainer Anthony Honeyball chugging along nicely, she can go one better than a year ago.

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.