Saturday Racing Cheat Sheet: Best bets for ITV Racing at Haydock and Musselburgh

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Tips Summary

Please Note: Prices quoted in table below were correct at time of each writer/tipster's column being published on Betting.Betfair.

Race	Tipster	Tip/Runner	Odds
13:55 Musselburgh	Alan Dudman	A War Eagle E/W	9/110.00
14:12 Haydock	Katie Midwinter	Tashan E/W	12/113.00
14:46 Haydock	Paul Nicholls	Jakar Du Moulin	7/24.50
15:05 Musselburgh	Katie Midwinter	Shadow Dance E/W	33/134.00
15:42 Musselburgh	Sam Turner	Jer Batt E/W	6/17.00
15:55 Haydock	Timeform Verdict	Count Adhemar	9/43.25
16:45 Musselburgh	Katie Midwinter	Pop Star E/W	18/119.00

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Saturday horse racing tips and insight

13:55 Musselburgh - Alan Dudman: Eagle ready to go into battle

The opening of the Flat season at Musselburgh on Saturday will likely be staged on ground with soft in the description, and some rain is forecast over the next two days from Friday.

The Silver Arrow Handicap commences our double quest for Mick Easterby - and the lightly raced sort (the horse not Mick) A War Eagle might drift a little more for our each-way bet. He was at 9/110.00 as of Friday morning and he might be worth taking a chance on as the three rated 100 and above are not exactly rock-solid.

Midnight Gun's two runs at Doncaster last term give him a more than solid chance, but the 2/13.00 looks a little on the short side for quite a competitive race. A War Eagle clearly has to improve a fair bit but I rated his performance when winning at Beverley last season - taking a handicap in tidy fashion over 7f from 74 and went onto finish placed soon after at Hamilton and Kempton from higher marks.

They went a good pace at Beverley on the quick going and the 7f with a strong pace to run at suited him and his prominent racing style. Soon after his two subsequent efforts were both over 1m, at Kempton and the stiff Hamilton, and while he stayed well, the 7f trip could be his best option.

This will be his first run for Easterby having left Ed Bethell and with Shay Farmer claiming 7lb for the yard, he's off a very low weight to hopefully make a bit of an impact.

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14:12 Haydock - Katie Midwinter: Unexposed Tashan looks a decent price

Emma Lavelle-trained Tashan may be overlooked in this field and could represent value at double-figure odds under Harry Cobden. He remains unexposed in only his seventh career start, having already won three of his six hurdling outings to date.

On debut for former trainer John Butler, the son of Golden Horn was only narrowly denied by a promising, sadly ill-fated youngster in Aotano, who went on to frank the form, before winning his first two starts for his current yard beating Denzil on both occasions.

Following a 302-day break, Tashan returned with a fourth-placed effort at Chepstow in October and was able to take a step forward to return to the winners' enclosure at Exeter in his penultimate start when rated only 2lb lower. He was reported to have bled when pulled up at Ascot when last seen, having a reasonable excuse for the disappointing effort, and, if over his ailments after a mid-term break, could return to form.

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14:46 Haydock - Paul Nicholls: Jakar my best chance of the weekend

He went up 8lbs for winning a uncompetitive race at Doncaster last time but he won nicely and seems progressive. He qualified for this £40K race so we thought we would let him take his chance. It will probably be his last run before he goes chasing, unless we send him to Ayr in a couple of weeks, and he will need to up his game again here.

He is fit and well, will love the ground and wouldn't want too much more rain. He is probably my best chance of the weekend.

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15:05 Musselburgh - Katie Midwinter: Big-priced Shadow fancied to run well

At huge odds, Rebecca Menzies-trained Shadow Dance could put in a competitive effort under Kaiya Fraser, capable of faring better than in recent outings for the yard. He was far from disgraced behind Whitcombe Rockstar in his penultimate start, but failed to make any impression at Lingfield when last seen and does need to bounce back.

Now 5lb lower than when making his return this year, the six-year-old grey is 3lb below his last success and 8lb lower than when narrowly denied by the sadly ill-fated Faylaq in a competitive staying handicap at Doncaster.

Well treated at the weights with proven form over the trip, Shadow Dance could put in a bold showing, stepping back up in distance. He was sent off at odds of 9/110.00 when rated 100 for the Ebor last year, finishing seven-and-three-quarter-lengths behind Ethical Diamond.

Although he failed to see out his race strongly enough to have a major impact at York for former trainer Roger Varian last summer, these are calmer waters and he's on a much lower mark as he bids for a third career win.

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15:42 Musselburgh - Sam Turner: Batt can hit Sprint Cup rivals for six

History has revealed that Jer Batt faced a near impossible task trying to win last year's renewal of this feature sprint.

Not only did the six-year-old bump into subsequent Group 1 winner American Affair, hero of the King's Stand at Royal Ascot, but the presence of Jm Jungle, himself a Group 2 winner at Goodwood later in the summer, stamped the 2025 contest as a marquee renewal.

Connections of Jer Batt were probably a little disappointed that their gelding couldn't get the job done 12 months ago, especially as he hit the front travelling nicely a furlong out.

Unfortunately, the length defeat set the tone for the remainder of the season as the son of Dragon Pulse failed to confirm the promise of his Musselburgh performance by ending the campaign winless, despite some valiant attempts.

The one positive from a blank season is some respite from the handicapper who has eased the selection 7lbs to a mark of 85, while a wind operation may help Jer Batt to finish his race off a little better.

There is some talent in today's field, however there doesn't appear any rival of the quality of American Affair or Jm Jungle so Jer Batt is fancied to go two better under Saffie Osborne.

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15:55 Haydock - Timeform Verdict: Count on Adhemar to score

Count Adhemar has started well over fences and this good-jumping type can gain a first win in this sphere at the chief expense of Imperial Bede who is fancied to bounce back from a lesser effort at Hereford after a break. Both Heads Or Harps and Bonza Boy can't be discounted either in this competitive handicap.

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16:45 Musselburgh - Katie Midwinter: Pop fancied to Star in finale

Iain Jardine-trained Pop Star has dropped to a workable mark of 70 following a few below par efforts. He has to show improvement in this 5f sprint, but has good course-and-distance form from a much higher rating when narrowly denied here last summer, and could be capable of a resurgence under Andrew Mullen.

The six-year-old, who was previously trained by Aidan O'Brien before showing some potential for former trainer Alice Haynes, is back on his last winning mark which may allow him to return to form as he returns to the Turf. He could be worth keeping onside and is one to note each-way.

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