Free racing tips: Value Bet preview and recommended bets for Saturday

Recommended Bets: Saturday September 5

1pt win Rajinsky in 2.50 Haydock at 11/1

1pt win Rathbone in 3.40 Ascot at 14/1

1pt win Came From The Dark in 4.00 Haydock at 8/1

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The Betfair Sprint Cup takes centre stage at Haydock on Saturday and Dream Of Dreams is going for his first Group One victory at the sixth attempt.

That immediately sets alarm bells ringing given he’s the 3/1 favourite and when you consider he was eighth in this race last year when sent off the co-market leader you don’t need much encouragement to look elsewhere.

The problem is the most likely horses to take advantage, if he can’t reach the level of his last-time out Hungerford Stakes form, are immediately behind him in the betting.

Hello Youmzain would be a worthy favourite given he’s been in good form this year as he builds towards defending his crown, but he’s been pretty well found at 7/2 and Art Power, who would’ve been the selection at 7/1 or bigger, has been supported into 6/1 and shorter.

This looks a more suitable race for him then the bare speed test in the Coolmore Nunthorpe and with the soft ground in his favour we could well see a different horse to the one that was well beaten at York.

I thought the thriving Summerghand might run into a place at 33s, but with some good handicaps on the undercard and at Ascot we’ll leave the feature alone.

The best bet at Haydock looks to be CAME FROM THE DARK in the Betfair Each Way Edge Be Friendly Handicap (4.00) at 8/1 (bet365, Boylesports).

The Dark Angel colt ran like he needed it on his reappearance off a 319-day layoff at York but that should’ve put him spot on for this assignment.

Crucially, the ground has turned in his favour as he loves it soft and he loves Haydock, too, winning twice at the track from three goes including a convincing success off a mark of 80 on this card a year ago.

He deserved his 10lb rise in the ratings for that win but he proved he was a horse on a steep upward curve by almost defying the hike when finishing a neck second to Pendleton at Ascot on his final run last season.

Trainer Ed Walker won this race last year with Maygold and he looks to have laid one out for it again, with Oisin Murphy booked for the ride (he has a healthy 23% strike-rate for the trainer).

Earlier on the card all the money has been for Brandon Castle in the Betfair Exchange Old Borough Cup Handicap (2.50) and you can see why.

Backed into 10s from 16s, he’s been in great form over timber, looks well treated back on the Flat and could get an easy lead under Hollie Doyle on ground he likes.

I just feel we’ve missed the boat with him and would rather back RAJINSKY at 11/1 (General) now he drops in trip on slower ground.

The son of Zoffany has been in belting form all summer and connections can rightly feel aggrieved that he hasn’t managed to get his head in front after close calls in second at Ascot, Newbury and York.

He’s inched up the weights without winning, but we’re still getting a fair price about a bang in-form horse that might just find a little bit more now he’s back over 1m6f in softer ground.

A winner at Windsor on heavy the only time he’s faced testing conditions, he’s had two goes at this trip and has a win and a second to his name, that runner-up finish coming at Ascot where he went down by a neck to Calling The Wind, the pair six lengths clear of the rest.

A prominent racer, he can sit off Brandon Castle’s quarters and pounce in the straight for Tom Dascombe and Richard Kingscote, who have a terrific record around this track together (89 wins from 462 at 19.26%).

Finally, there’s one horse of interest at Ascot at the prices and that’s RATHBONE at 14/1 (General) in the Tweenhills Follow The Foals Handicap at 3.40.

Kevin Ryan’s horse came there swinging two furlongs out over seven at York last time, shaping like a horse that had a handicap in him off his current mark when everything falls right.

This is a tight handicap with no obvious blot, but things could work out very well for Rathbone who is drawn close to probable pacesetters Equiano Springs and May Sonic who could give him a lovely tow into things.

Ryan swaps the blinkers for cheekpieces and the first time he wore the sheepskin, back when he was a juvenile, he was a close second in a red-hot nursery at York’s Ebor Festival.

He’s had his wind tinkered with since we last saw him, Megan Nicholls takes over for the first time with her 3lb allowance and a stiff six like this could be exactly what he wants.

The general 14s is very fair.

Posted at 1600 BST on 04/09/20

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