Saturday Horse Racing Tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets including 14/1 Haydock fancy

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Haydock, 13:45 - Back Sand Gazelle E/W @ 14/115.00

Four-year-old filly Sand Gazelle could improve for her return to action at Newmarket earlier this month, when failing to see out her race despite being sent off at odds of 15/28.50 in a Group Two event. She's dropping to Listed level here with first-time cheekpieces applied, and may be capable of a better showing with the benefit of a recent run in her favour.

A 20/121.00 winner on debut, the daughter of Frankel claimed Listed honours last term and finished a creditable second to Red Letter in a Curragh Group Three, when ahead of subsequent Group One winner Barnavara. Whilst she hasn't been at her best in either of her latest two runs, it's too early to give up on the Stakes winner who has substance to her form.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained filly is out of Kingman mare Desirous, a half-sister to Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Bluestocking as well as Sussex Stakes winner Qirat. Well-related, she has proven form over the distance and has shown to possess plenty of class on her day.

Should others towards the top of the market fail to fire, most notably her stablemate Friendly Soul, the highest-rated contender in the field returning from a lengthy 594-day absence, Sand Gazelle could take advantage and outrun her odds if able to resume her progression and return to form under Tyler Heard, who has a 23 percent strike-rate for the stable.

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Curragh, 14:30 - Back Apercu E/W @ 12/113.00

The winner of this race 12 months ago from the same mark of 92, Apercu warrants each-way consideration as she bids to retain her title. She wasn't seen to best effect in Listed company at Gowran Park when last seen, but it was a similar preparation for her last year before landing this prize and she was far from disgraced in her penultimate start at Cork.

The course-and-distance winner has proven form in the race and is on a workable mark from which she can strike under Chris Hayes if able to enjoy a favourable run.

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York, 14:40 - Back Vintage Clarets E/W @ 12/113.00

Vintage Clarets stuck to the task well at Chester when last seen in a performance that was worth upgrading when sent off at odds of 33/134.00. He couldn't seriously threaten but the race wasn't run to suit around the tight track and he's capable of better, now rated 3lb lower under 5lb claiming Ethan Tindall.

The experienced seven-year-old has plenty of course-and-distance form having won on the Knavesmire previously, and finished a creditable two-and-three-quarter-length sixth to subsequent Group One winner American Affair in a handicap here last May. He's now 8lb lower than when last claiming success at Ascot in the summer, putting him in with solid each-way claims at the weights on the back of a promising run for Richard and Peter Fahey.

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Haydock, 14:58 - Back Coppull @ 9/25.50

Clive Cox-trained Coppull made a successful return to action in the Commonwealth Cup Trial at Ascot earlier this month, beating outsider Midnight Tango as well as the rallying Division on that occasion. He had previously been just denied at Group One level by Wise Approach, with Brussels in second, when contesting the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket, bouncing back following a disappointing effort at Deauville in a race won by Venetian Sun.

Earlier in the campaign, the son of Bated Breath had claimed Group Two honours over subsequent Group One winner Puerto Rico at a rainy Goodwood, having finished third to Gstaad in the Coventry Stakes previously. He has put in a number of creditable performances against tough opposition in difficult races at big meetings, and warrants the utmost respect on the back of a victory. 

Coppull could take a step forward for his first outing of the season and show further improvement under an in-form Rossa Ryan.

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Haydock, 14:58 - Back Spicy Marg E/W @ 11/112.00

Spicy Marg ran a creditable effort in defeat in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket when last seen. There were doubts over her stamina prior the race, but she finished only narrowly behind favourite Precise, sticking to the task well at odds of 40/141.00.

Back over a more suitable distance here, the three-year-old filly shouldn't be discounted under Oisin Murphy, capable of making her presence felt. She holds each-way claims for Michael Bell having enjoyed a fruitful debut campaign last term, winning on three occasions including in a Listed contest that was subsequently franked.

There could be more to come from the daughter of Starspangledbanner, who has shown so much promise to date, and she is one to note at the prices.

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Irish 2,000 Guineas, Curragh, 15:40 - Back Thesecretadversary E/W @ 17/29.50

Although Thesecretadversary has plenty to find to reverse form with Gstaad, his run in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket can be upgraded and is worth forgiving. He struggled to settle and didn't appear to handle the track perfectly either, doing well to eventually finish fifth when considering his trip.

The son of St Mark's Basilica can prove better than he showed on that occasion and resume his progress having claimed Group Three honours on reappearance at Leopardstown last month. He was a luckless fifth at the highest level in a Woodbine Grade One in his final start as a juvenile, having beaten Brussels to Listed honours at Tipperary previously, as well as placing in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The Fozzy Stack-trained contender remains open to further improvement and shouldn't be discounted. Whilst the favourite is a solid contender and will be tough to beat on all known form, Thesecretadversary is still relatively unexposed, particularly in Group One company, with the ceiling of his ability an unknown.

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Goodwood, 16:20 - Back Dancingwithmyself E/W @ 11/112.00

Course-and-distance winner Dancingwithmyself makes appeal for Michael Bell in this mile-and-three-quarters handicap, stepping back up in trip following a fourth-placed effort at Ripon. She had previously chased home Team Player at Musselburgh, emerging with credit from a race that didn't pan out favourably for her and was worth upgrading.

The winner on that occasion went on to finish a good fourth in the Chester Cup from a 9lb higher mark, franking the form, and, from a rating only 2lb higher, Dancingwithmyself could return to winning ways under Pierre-Louis Jamin.

With course form in her favour and back over a distance that suits, the five-year-old grey should be capable of posing a threat and cannot be discounted, warranting consideration as she seeks a sixth career win.

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Haydock, 17:15 - Back Ancient Rome E/W @ 18/119.00

Ancient Rome has dropped to a workable mark of 95 and may find this assignment to his liking as he bids to return to form after a few disappointing efforts. He was only narrowly denied from a 5lb higher mark at Sandown last summer, but has failed to find much luck since.

If able to enjoy a favourable trip in this contest, the seven-year-old is on a mark from which he can be competitive for Charlie Hills. 

The son of War Front was a top-class performer earlier in his career and proved last season that he still retains ability. He warrants consideration from a handy rating and could be capable of a big performance.

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Haydock, 17:15 - Back Tilted Kilt E/W @ 20/121.00

William Knight-trained Tilted Kilt wasn't at his best at Ascot when last seen, but has a decent record at this venue and is only 4lb higher than his latest win when victorious at Southwell in his penultimate start.

The four-year-old gelding was only narrowly denied twice over course-and-distance last year, including by now 94-rated Teroomm. He may improve for a return to familiar surroundings and warrants each-way consideration under Sean Levey.

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Salisbury, 19:15 - Back Cool Hoof Luke E/W @ 12/113.00

Andrew Balding-trained Cool Hoof Luke returned from a 526-day absence with a decent third to Diligent Harry in a Listed Lingfield contest earlier this year, before returning to winning ways at Wolverhampton in his penultimate start. He didn't run any sort of race at York last week, but that outing is worth putting a line through and he's capable of much better if able to bounce back.

A Group Two winner as a juvenile, he showed a great amount of talent during his debut campaign but missed a whole season last year as a three-year-old before making a long-awaited return. He has already proven he retains plenty of ability and remains open to showing further improvement in only his eighth career start.

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Salisbury, 19:45 - Back Doodling E/W @ 13/27.50

On handicap debut, three-year-old filly Doodling is an intriguing contender for Eve Johnson Houghton. She could be well treated from a mark of 70 considering some of the form she has shown in three starts to date, and is one to note, entitled to keep on progressing in only her fourth outing.

The daughter of Rumble Inthejungle finished a decent fourth to Sukanya on debut at Newbury last summer when ahead of a number of subsequent winners including now 96-rated Listed-placed Simplify. The winner on that occasion is currently rated 102 following a Group Three success over Touleen at the same venue, as well as a runner-up effort behind Diamond Necklace in Listed company last term and a fourth-placed finish to Precise.

Doodling came close to shedding her maiden tag at the second time of asking when narrowly denied at Kempton on reappearance. She couldn't build on that effort at Goodwood when last seen, but was a bit of an eyecatcher in defeat and could be worth keeping onside now handicapping.

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