Simon Holt best bets for Haydock and York
Two best bets for the top commentator on Saturday including a 16/1 fancy in the William Hill Leading On Course Bookmaker Sprint Handicap at York.
Recommended bets: Saturday May 25
On a day when it looks difficult to find value in some of the feature races at Haydock and The Curragh, FLASHCARD is my best advice this Saturday in the Betfair Each-Way Edge Handicap at Goodwood.
Andrew Balding's charge was a horse I liked last season when scoring at 33-1 on his debut at Salisbury before following up on the same course, and then looked slightly unlucky when narrowly beaten in a valuable sales race at The Curragh on his final start.
There is a definite possibility that a handicap mark of 93 under-estimates Flashcard as Barbill, who beat him half a length in Ireland, is now rated 100 while the third Hot Team is now 102 having won a listed race in France.
Moreover, in that race, the son of Fast Company seemed to be just a bit too far away from the action in a massive field before staying on powerfully.
Flashcard's debut win also looks decent enough form now given that the runner-up Dirty Rascal went onto win twice before the end of the season.
Reasonably well drawn in 6 of the 14 runners (a high draw over seven furlongs at Goodwood can be a big disadvantage) and from a stable that has been firing in the winners all season, Oisin Murphy's mount should be a big player.
At York, the Knavesmire hosts another of its regular sprint handicaps and the well-bred ACCLAIM THE NATION looks worth an each-way interest.
Eric Alston's gelding is a half brother to the Kings Stand winner Prohibit and the Group Three winner Ridge Ranger, and has been a model of consistency in recent months winning twice and finishing second four times in his last six starts.
On his latest mission, at Ripon, Acclaim The Nation reared at the start before chasing home Canford Bay but can probably do better than that as, on one other visit to the same venue (which doesn't suit all horses), he didn't run his race.
The flat five furlongs at York should be made to measure for this fast, front-runner and it's hard to see him out of the mix even though there will be plenty of competition for the lead.
Posted at 1530 BST on 24/05/19