Three different tracks feature in the ITV Racing 10 May broadcast with action from Lingfield, Ascot and Haydock live on terrestrial television this Saturday. A disappointing turnout of just three fillies in the Oaks Trial is offset by bigger fields for the Victoria Cup and Swinton Handicap Hurdle.
Lingfield’s Derby Trial at least has more runners with seven declared. Look out for other handicaps aplenty on the supporting card. Concluding ITV coverage, meanwhile, is a Group 3 for fillies and mares over the specialist distance of 7f. All in all, there are nine races on the show as focus on the Flat intensifies.
Helping solve these puzzles are our horse racing experts. Their form study results in shortlists for everything on the ITV Racing 10 May broadcast. After looking through all that and the prices on horse racing betting sites, they highlight where the value lies. With events as competitive as those on Merseyside and in Berkshire, there should be some good prices.
Read all our experts’ opinions from the Flat and one jumps race on the schedule below. You’ll soon discover the reasons why they fancy certain runners more than others. A day of such wide variety ensures punters have plenty to ponder. This is the cream of the crop from nine meetings up and down Britain…
ITV Racing 10 May Preview from Lingfield, Ascot and Haydock
1:15 Lingfield – Listed 1m 3f 133y Oaks Trial
Not a great advert for the sport with just three declared. The standout form belongs to Aidan O’Brien raider GISELLE. She’s 5lb and 12lb clear of her two rivals on official ratings with the trio meeting off level weights around Lingfield Park.
Giselle chased home subsequent impressive Chesham heroine Bedtime Story, who won her next three, on racecourse debut before going one better herself. She shaped as though this trip would be no problem when a keeping on fourth past the post and promoted to third by stewards in a Curragh Group 3 in October.
Simon & Ed Crisford’s Harpsichord is race-fit and won on the All-Weather track here last month. An Oaks Trial usually demands more, but she’s guaranteed Black Type no matter what. Love Talk looks very exposed after three starts in this grade without troubling the judge last term for Grant Tuer.
1:35 Haydock – 1m 7f 144y Swinton Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
Both have had longer campaigns than Ooh Betty, however, and this could be one race too many for them. At bigger odds, meanwhile, punters should look at Southwell 1-2 Goblet Of Fire and Black Hawk Eagle. The latter meets the winner off 4lb better terms, so may be able to reverse the placings with little more than a length and a tail between them.
Kerry Lee won this race in 2023 with Black Poppy, while anything Nicky Henderson sends to Haydock Park needs a closer look. Alan King runs two, meanwhile, but fences haven’t worked out for Helnwein and Big Boy Bobby looks held on back Kempton form with Ooh Betty. Tapley, runner-up 12 months ago, is back for more with champion jockey Sean Bowen booked.
Last time out winners Lanesborough and Anyharminasking both could prove popular with punters. Dance And Glance has Harry Cobden on board for Anthony Honeyball, while Sam Twiston-Davies rides Tom Lacey veteran Glory And Fortune. It makes for a competitive renewal of the Swinton.
1:50 Lingfield – 1m 2f Class 4 Handicap (0-80)
Topweight HAMLET’S NIGHT appeals most. Although still maiden, Daniel & Claire Kubler’s French import went down by just a neck at Haydock last time. A third run for Hamlet’s Night since joining the stable might be the right time to catch him.
Chief among the dangers is King Power Racing’s Fox Avatar. Roger Varian has a Frankel gelding who could well improve for a close reappearance fourth around Chelmsford. It’d be no surprise if Fox Avatar stripped fitter for that now.
Hughie Morrison’s Dashinwhitesargent and course regular Morcar are others to consider, meanwhile. The latter, trained by Richard Hannon, was third in this race 12 months ago, but has a 2lb higher mark offset by a 3lb claimer who gets on well with him.
2:05 Ascot – 1m Class 2 Fillies’ Handicap (0-100)
A spirited run from High Spirited proves plenty enough in the British Stallion Studs EBF Upavon Fillies’ Stakes, asserting close home after a confident ride from @trevor_whelan3, winning for Henry Candy 🚀 pic.twitter.com/VeybXx5bp5
— Salisbury Racecourse (@salisburyraces) August 14, 2024
Harry Charlton has his team in fine form right now, so ROARIN’ SUCCESS looks one to back each-way. On a form line through High Spirited, who she finished in front of around Salisbury despite conceding 8lb to, she should have the beating of royal runner Rainbows Edge.
The Gosdens’ filly is naturally open to further progress, but has topweight of 9st 12lb on her back here. Conceding 18lb to Roarin’ Success will be some performance from Rainbows Edge, yet she’s undefeated over the straight mile. Others who could run well here include last year’s winner Bellarchi.
Tuer’s charge is effectively 2lb lower than when successful over course and distance, so that brings her into calculations. Also of interest is unlucky Goodwood fifth Arisaig for Middleham trainer Charlie Johnston. She found no way through in the Conqueror last weekend.
2:25 Lingfield – 1m 3f 133y Class 2 Handicap (0-105)
Nudged up 1lb since, she can be forgiven her run on Good Friday as it was her first for 90 days. Switching back to turf and this longer trip around a venue she likes looks a good option for connections of Power Of Destiny to explore. Candyman Stan, meanwhile, made virtually all for Andrew Balding last time and had Hamlet’s Night well-beaten in fourth.
If our experts put that forward down in distance, then logically his impressive Brighton conqueror had to make the shortlist here. Former Ballydoyle inmate Vice President drops back in trip here on his second start for Richard Hughes with Ryan Moore booked and isn’t fully exposed by any means, for all the trip is an unknown.
2:40 Ascot – 7f Victoria Cup (Heritage Handicap)
A sound surface seems important to him, but he keeps on improving and could well defy a 3lb rose to go in again. Stall 16 could be too wide or just perfect. There’s no way of knowing whether Ten Pounds has the right draw until Friday’s fixture provides clues.
One greatly feared is Qirat for Juddmonte and Beckett. Runner-up in the Challenge Cup over course and distance off 2lb lower, there is definitely a big handicap in him somewhere along the road. Steph Hollinshead keeps winning races with Myal, meanwhile, and he’s another that could still have a bit up his sleeve.
Old rivals Metal Merchant and Hickory take each other on again. Ed Walker runs English Oak, who doesn’t look particularly well-handicapped for this, but also Popmaster who often shapes with promise here. The topweights face a tall order here with almost the full range used down to the bottom.
3:00 Lingfield – Listed 1m 3f 133y Derby Trial
O’Brien runs two of the seven and PUPPET MASTER is the pick of them. He wanted an extended mile as a juvenile, so this longer trip promises to suit after running fourth in the Ballysax Stakes around Leopardstown on reappearance.
Puppet Master has seen the runner-up, Lambourn, come out and land the Chester Vase. That franks the form, which is better than anything else in this line-up. Stay True scored in a 1m 2f maiden also at Leopardstown on his only racecourse outing and who knows where his ceiling is.
Rahiebb looks best of the home challenge, meanwhile. He tried to make all for Varian up at Haydock last time and just went down fighting by a neck conceding 6lb to the winner. Rahiebb finished in front of Renato, who was runner-up to Nightime Dancer previously.
Epsom Blue Riband Trial fifth Prince Of The Seas made some headway late on, but must step up on that run against the Ballydoyle pair and runners from other big stables represented here. Rogue Impact and Our ‘enery need even more improvement.
3:15 Ascot – 1m 4f Class 3 Handicap (0-90)
With Southwell and Newcastle novice wins at short prices this year already suggest he can keep on improving with racing and through the ranks if building on that. Off the revised terms from their Leicester encounter, meanwhile, winner Fireblade may struggle to confirm form with re-opposing fourth Mighty Bandit.
Warren Greatrex’s runner is 5lb better off with the Dylan Cunha new recruit and less than two lengths between them. Last year’s winner Kotari shouldn’t be overlooked either. The Moores have him 2lb lower in the handicap than 12 months ago which, on a repeat of his 2024 effort, can see him go well.
3:35 – Lingfield 7f Group 3 Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes
GREAT GENERATION ⭐️
Achieves black type status taking out the group 3 William Hill Chartwell Fillies Stakes @LingfieldPark 🔥
A very special victory for all involved, there is no doubt Stefano was watching from above ❤️
Congrats to @linusghiani99 and Scuderia Sagam SRLS 🥂 pic.twitter.com/9ugWuPJcM1
— Marco Botti Racing (@MarcoBotti) May 11, 2024
Beckett looks to capitalise on these hugely favourable race terms for Amo Racing. If Cathedral can reproduce her Oh So Sharp second in this grade on a more testing track now, then she should win. Jabaara was robbed of Glorious Goodwood victory by a controversial stewarding decision last summer, meanwhile.
It’d be no surprise if Varian gained compensation with her now. Jabaara looks best of the five four-year-old fillies on this ground, especially as she passed the post first in the Oak Tree Stakes at this level. Quicker ground is a concern for both Spiritual and Fair Angellica, though, meaning Great Generation completes the shortlist despite a penalty.
