Saturday ITV Racing Tips: Mark Milligan with three to back at Haydock

• Skelton runner to build on reappearance

• National contender the day's best bet

• Royale Pagaille can win the big one again

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Timeform Superboost

Grey Dawning is the favourite to win today's feature race, the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock (15:05). Dan Skelton's star has finished in the top three in all of his 12 completed starts, and today the Betfair Sportsbook are super-boosting his price to finish in the top three again from 2/51.40 to 1/12.00.

To take advantage of this super-boosted price just click on the odds in the below bet banner to go directly to the pre-loaded betslip.

*Please Note: This superboost is promoted by the Betfair Sportsbook and not by any of our horse racing tipsters or writers.

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13:15 Haydock - Back Punta Del Este each-way

4

Punta Del Este (Fr)

• J: Harry Skelton
• T: Dan Skelton
• F:

With Storm Bert looming large out in the Atlantic at the time of writing, it looks odds-on that Haydock's going will change from the current good to soft, good in places, to something much more testing, so stamina will be at a premium on Betfair Chase day.

Harry Fry's Beat The Bat is the obvious starting point in this 2m 3f handicap hurdle, and he could be a very well handicapped horse on just his fourth starts over hurdles.

However, he does have to overcome an absence of nearly a year in conditions that will likely test fitness to the absolute maximum, and he certainly hasn't been missed in the market (7/24.50 fav on the Sportsbook as this was posted).

I'm much more interested in Dan Skelton's Punta Del Este, particularly as he's a nice each-way price and his trainer is adept at farming big Saturday handicaps.

This gelding is still only five, with his best days clearly still ahead of him, and he shaped really well on his seasonal return when third in a Carlisle handicap that didn't see him to best advantage.

He travelled well in rear and didn't get much room to fully open up late in the day, looking a fair bit better than the result, and that run should have put him spot on for this assignment.

13:50 Haydock - Back Iroko

2

Iroko (Fr)

• J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
• T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
• F:

I'm a big fan of the Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero training partnership, and they could have themselves a genuine Grand National contender in the shape of Iroko, who's still unexposed over fences after just three starts.

A progressive hurdler in the 2022/23 season, Iroko rattled off a hat-trick culminating with success in the Martin Pipe Conditionals Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival before finishing third at Aintree on his final start over the smaller obstacles.

He made a winning chasing debut at Warwick last season and went on to finish a fine second in Grade 1 company the last time we saw him, that again coming at Aintree.

Connections are on record as saying they don't want to do too much damage to his current handicap mark of 152 with the National in mind, but it's highly possible he could take this race without invoking the handicapper into particularly drastic action.

With just six going to post - and a couple of them returning from very long layoffs - this looks a contest that probably won't take a great deal of winning.

Versatile as regards trip/ground, I make Iroko one of the best bets on a busy Saturday.

15:05 Haydock - Back Royale Pagaille

7

Royale Pagaille (Fr)

• J: Charlie Deutsch
• T: Venetia Williams
• F:

The Betfair Chase itself is a cracker this year and it's no exaggeration to say that any one of the nine intended runners could come out on top.

I was keen on Grey Dawing's chance in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby a few weeks ago, but he was pulled out on account of the quick ground there but should get his conditions here.

Such a progressive novice last season, it's not hard to see him taking the step up to open company in his stride.

However, he's short enough currently given the level of this opposition, with the likes of Ahoy Senor, Bravemansgame, Capodanno and Hewick all proven high-class performers.

Just listing those names gives you an idea of the quality of this contest this year, but one I've yet to mention is last year's winner Royal Pagaille, who comes alive at this track and should get the deep conditions that he thrives in.

He hasn't been seen since suffering an injury when falling at Cheltenham on New Years's Day, but I'm confident Venetia Williams will have him back in top form for what is essentially his 'cup final' this year.

Haydock is Royale Pagaille's house and even though he's ten now, he should still retain enough ability to make his younger rivals pull out all the stops at his favourite track.

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