Haydock Horse Racing Tips for Saturday

Haydock’s Saturday meeting has something for everyone, with a mixed card of jumps and Flat action, including the competitive Swinton Handicap Hurdle and the Listed Spring Trophy.

Racing Post tipster Harry Wilson provides his best horse racing selections for Saturday’s meeting at Haydock.

Saturday’s Haydock Horse Racing Betting Tips and Odds

13:35 Haydock - Dance And Glance @ 10/1
15:20 Haydock - Bajan Bandit @ 10/1
15:55 Haydock - Alyanaabi @ 11/4

13:35 Haydock - Dance And Glance @ 10/1

The position of the Swinton Handicap Hurdle in the racing calendar almost makes it feel as though it is the last major handicap of last season, rather than the first of the current one. It is always a competitive race, too, and this year is no different.

There are two things that stand out when looking at the history of this race: it is hard to concede lumps of weight, and front-runners have found life difficult.

Just one winner since 2012 has carried more than 11st 2lb – the first two home in each of the last four runnings have borne 10st 9lb or less – while Pickanumber last year became the first horse to make all or most in the Swinton since its inception in 1978.

None of that bodes well for Givemefive, Our Champ, Ooh Betty and Welsh Charger. They are carded to carry 11st 7lb or more and all like to get on with it, which could set this up for a closer.

One who catches the eye at the bottom of the weights who is sure to benefit from a good gallop is Dance And Glance, who gets the services of Harry Cobden for the first time.

He was unlucky on his handicap debut at Bangor last time, as the enterprisingly ridden Bareback Jack had already kicked and gone clear when Dance And Glance got daylight, having had to wait for room round the bend.

He closed all the way to the line that day, so should be suited by Haydock’s long straight, while the better ground will suit as well, given he’s 3-3 on ground described as good.

Cobden is a fantastic judge of pace and has a 26 per cent strike-rate when teaming up with Anthony Honeyball, so there is a lot to like.

15:20 Haydock - Bajan Bandit @ 10/1

Haydock can be a front-runner's delight on the Flat track when the ground is quick and one who can take advantage of that is Bajan Bandit.

He has run well on the all-weather this year, winning two handicaps at Southwell over a mile and over seven furlongs, and he posted his best Racing Post Rating of the spell when going down by just a length back at that track last month.

He can be excused for a poor showing on Good Friday at Lingfield, as that came over a mile and a quarter, and he must be of interest back at this track, given he won over course and distance on fast ground in June 2023.

He has only been back to this track once since, finishing a close fourth off this same rating having looked unlucky under different tactics, so it’s clear he’s suited by Haydock, and he can boss this handicap from the front off what looks a workable mark.

15:55 Haydock - Alyanaabi @ 11/4

The classiest contest on the Flat at Haydock is the Spring Trophy, in which every runner but Jersey Stakes runner-up Kikkuli has won a Group race.

He should have more to come this year, while course-and-distance winner Tiber Flow is respected on his reappearance, but Alyanaabi has been gelded ahead of his return and will be hard to beat if anywhere near his best.

Alyanaabi looked an exciting prospect as a juvenile, winning a Group 3 before chasing home multiple top-level winner City Of Troy in the Dewhurst on his final start as a two-year-old.

He matched that form when fifth in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on his first two outings at three but ended the campaign with below-par efforts over further.

The gelded operation should elicit more improvement from him this season and this looks the perfect start to get his career back on track.

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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.