Horse Racing Tips for Saturday 23rd May 2026
First we head to Haydock, where conditions are expected to be testing enough and that usually means you want horses proven on softer ground or ones that look like they will improve for a proper stamina test. There’s some really good racing on the card with a couple of Group races ahead of Royal Ascot, but I also think there’s some strong betting angles in the handicaps with a few looking very well treated.
Tips by Dan Stanton
13:45 Haydock – WILLIAM HILL EPIC BOOST BRITISH EBF HEDGE OF OAK STAKES (Listed) (1)
SPARKS FLY is lightly raced over the last few years, having raced just 5 times in the last 18 months, but his form back in the day is very good. He won a Group race back in France in October and with the ground being a bit sticky here tomorrow I think he has a great chance to go close.
9/2 at the time of writing looks a good price for this multiple Listed winner.
14:20 Haydock – WILLIAM HILL SILVER BOWL HANDICAP (Heritage Handicap) (2)
Ed Walker’s ASTRAZAR was very good last year winning his last 2 races. His opening handicap mark of 86 looked workable and on his reappearance on 17th April he showed a bit more than his finishing position of 9th of 14 suggests.
He looked to be travelling very well 2 furlongs out, but the door closed as he went for a run up the rails. By then the bird had flown the nest and he was just hands and heels to the finish. I think he will prefer a bit more give in the ground and at 11/1 with 5 places on offer looks a cracking each-way bet.
14:58 Haydock – WILLIAM HILL SANDY LANE STAKES (Group 2) (1)
VIP ELITE NAP
15:30 Haydock – WILLIAM HILL TEMPLE STAKES (Group 2) (1)
Clive Cox seems in flying form already this season and SHAGRAAN had a nice run last time out at Newmarket behind Night Raider. You could tell he needed the run even though he was only beaten 3 lengths into third, and the ground was very quick that day.
His best form has come on soft ground, so I’m guessing he will be a lot closer tomorrow. 6/1 and 4 places looks a great each-way play.
16:05 Haydock – WILLIAM HILL BEST ODDS GUARANTEED HANDICAP (2)
George Scott took PRYDWEN to Germany for his reappearance run and he was only beaten 2.75 lengths. I think he is still well treated on his handicap mark of 103 — he’s won over course and distance and has won off 105 before.
The booking of Oisin Murphy catches the eye and the 6/1 with Hills at the time of writing looks worth taking on a win bet.
16:40 Haydock – WILLIAM HILL PRICE BOOSTS EVERY DAY HANDICAP (4)
I’m very surprised to see that NOBLE VOW was given an opening handicap mark of 75. He should have been at least 4 or 5lb higher in my book. I’d say he is well ahead of this mark and the opening show of 7/4 won’t be lasting long, I wouldn’t have thought.
17:15 Haydock – WILLIAM HILL EACH WAY EXTRA HANDICAP (3)
I was a huge fan of ETERNAL FORCE last year and his first run of the season in the Lincoln wasn’t disgraceful at all. Although finishing 7th, he was only beaten just over 2 lengths and just looked like he really needed the run that day.
I expect him to strip fitter for that effort and, off the same mark, I expect him to run a big race. The 7/2 opening show looks fair and I can’t imagine that price gets any bigger.
Saturday Tips for York Races by Dan Stanton
York looks a really competitive card on Saturday with a few nice handicaps mixed in with some quality pattern races. There’s a couple of short-priced horses that do look hard to oppose, but I also think there are some cracking each-way angles throughout the card with horses looking dangerously well treated off their current marks.
13:30 York – WILLIAM HILL KEEP YOUR RACEDAY POSITIVE HANDICAP (4)
AL HUSSAR seemed to respond to the first-time blinkers last time out and showed real signs of running back to his best. Headgear is left on and at 7/1 with 6 places on offer, I’ll be taking this each-way.
14:05 York – TOMAHAWK EBF RESTRICTED NOVICE STAKES
CUBAN HEELS cost 100k and his debut run at Ascot was nice enough. He went off favourite but was caught a bit far back. He stayed on with some authority and I think he will come on bundles for that run.
I fully expect him to gain his first win here tomorrow.
14:40 York – WILLIAM HILL EPIC BOOST HANDICAP (2)
Ruth Carr’s stable seems to be in fine form so far this season and REIGNING PROFIT, with Warren Fentiman claiming 3lb, seems to have a really nice chance to at least run into the places.
Last season he won off a mark of 81 and tomorrow comes here off a low mark of 76, essentially running off 73 with the claim. 14/1 and 5 places on offer looks a cracking price.
15:15 York – WILLIAM HILL BRONTE CUP FILLIES’ STAKES (Group 3) (1)
Not much to write home about here unfortunately. There is a standout horse in DANIELLE for John & Thady Gosden and this mare looks to be a super progressive type.
She won by 9 lengths last time out and there isn’t anything in here that should give her too much trouble.
15:50 York – REG BOND “ALWAYS AND FOREVER” HANDICAP (4)
RELIABLE RICKI seemed to do it a shade cosily on handicap debut. He appeared to come from a mile back to get up on the line and that was off a mark of 75.
The 4lb the handicapper has slapped on him I don’t think is enough. He’s bound to come on again and I think he is still well ahead of the handicapper.
16:25 York – ROYAL YORKSHIRE REGIMENT HANDICAP (4)
Alan King’s PLAN C has an opening handicap mark of 79 and they have stuck Luke Catton on claiming 3lb. Back last summer he was only 3 lengths behind Ruler Of Time, who is a 90-rated horse, and also finished close behind the very good Accredit.
Saturday Horse Racing Tips from Cartmel
Written by Bryan Rogers
Cartmel is always one of the more unique tracks in the country and course form can count for absolutely loads around here. Tight turns, long run-ins and plenty of rhythm needed over the fences means horses that handle the track often come back year after year and run huge races again. There looks to be a few very solid betting angles on the card with some horses still looking ahead of the handicapper.
13:35 Cartmel – CARTMEL STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING MAIDEN HURDLE (4)
Plenty of horses in here will be looking towards the handicap route and both LOCH CUAN and GETAWAY VIC have the strongest form. I just question the LOCH CUAN form slightly when I really went into it and for that reason GETAWAY VIC can take this opening race.
He’s already won twice in the UK and has already proven himself against 120-rated horses. I actually make the James Bowen mount a very strong win selection.
14:10 Cartmel – HADWINS EBF MARES’ HANDICAP HURDLE (3)
BELLE LE GRAND did it easily last time in a Class 5 but this Class 3 will be much tougher and is worth taking on. I’m not saying she can’t win, but she has been beaten off this current mark before.
ZAHRA DODVILLE was so impressive at Fakenham two starts ago and off a mark of 114 may still be ahead of the handicapper. The better ground will only enhance her chances even more.
14:43 Cartmel – PSR MARQUEES MARES’ HANDICAP HURDLE (3)
Cartmel really is a tight track and very much a horses-for-courses type of place. With that in mind, MUSIQUE DE FEE rates one of the best chances on the card.
With past winning form at the track off this mark, the Micky Bowen-trained mare will be extremely tough to beat. That previous win came in a Class 2 and today’s race is only a Class 3, which makes the case even stronger.
15:20 Cartmel – WILLIAM HILL NOVICES’ LIMITED HANDICAP CHASE (3)
Just the three runners here and, if jumping around in one piece, TELLHERTHENAME can win this race very easily.
TELLHERTHENAME has a much better rating than his opponents here and shouldn’t struggle to collect the prize.
15:55 Cartmel – RF MILLER & CO HANDICAP CHASE (3)
LOUGHDERG ROCCO was pulled out the other day and I personally think he is still well handicapped off his current mark of 125. I can really see Sean Bowen’s mount going close.
But the verdict goes to STRATAGEM, who has a hurdle mark of 140 but a chase mark of just 112, which definitely makes him a strong win selection. He was left far too much to do last time out but previous to that showed he was in great form with an impressive win.
16:30 Cartmel – MOLSON COORS HANDICAP CHASE (5)
HALF WAY HOUSE looks extremely well handicapped still after his recent Hexham win. HALF WAY HOUSE is getting plenty of weight from the other runners and will be extremely tough to beat, so gets the verdict.
17:05 Cartmel – ST MARYS HOSPICE HANDICAP CHASE (5)
The toughest race on the card for race seven with so many looking well handicapped.
WALKINTHECOTSWOLDS can run well at a price, especially if the money comes, but the verdict goes to LINE OF DESCENT, who has won at Cartmel before and has also won off higher than today’s mark.
Now dropped into a Class 5 off a mark of 97 and with the recent run likely needed after a break, LINE OF DESCENT can continue his winning ways.
Saturday Horse Racing Tips from Bangor
Written by Bryan Rogers
Bangor looks a really interesting jumps card on Saturday with plenty of exposed handicappers mixed in with a few horses that still look ahead of their marks. Good ground around Bangor can often favour horses that travel strongly and jump fluently, and there are a couple on this card that look very nicely treated if things fall right for them.
13:50 Bangor – BANGOR-ON-DEE LADIES DAY MAIDEN HURDLE (4)
Tom Ellis’ horse LADIES DAY has been ultra consistent and probably fairly unlucky not to win of late. This maiden doesn’t look deep and LADIES DAY can take this opening contest
14:25 Bangor – WREXHAM LAGER NOVICES’ HANDICAP CHASE (4)
With 3 places on offer with some bookmakers, the outsider of the field on the first shows, WUDYA is worth siding with and I can see a big run here.
The top weight has won at the track before and off a mark of 109 will love today’s good ground and can run a very big race.
15:00 Bangor – CHESHIRE OAKS DESIGNER OUTLET HANDICAP HURDLE (4)
The most open race on the card but THE SECRET PEARL was very unlucky to bump into the progressive horse Walden not long back and off a mark of 102 gets the verdict.
The recent wind operation and better ground will only have improved the chances today and gets the vote here.
15:32 Bangor – F JONES INITIATIVE HANDICAP CHASE (4)
GRIS MAJEUR was given a bad ride last time and looks the best handicapped horse in the race. He was held up too far back last time and maybe this shorter trip, along with being ridden closer to the pace, will make him tough to beat.
GRIS MAJEUR looks very tough to beat and if, for some reason, the horse does lead early, I feel this is probably the best bet on the card over this 2m1f trip.
16:10 Bangor – BANGOR-ON-DEE HANDICAP CHASE (2)
Ben Jones has a 100% strike rate on SOMESPRING SPECIAL and he is also the youngest horse in the field and one of the few arriving in form where most are not.
Following a good win last time at Newton Abbot he has been put up to a mark of 129, but the way the horse won that day suggests he can win again here.
16:45 Bangor – TOM JONES LIVE AT CHESTER RACECOURSE MARES’ HANDICAP HURDLE (5)
The best handicapped horse by far in here is top weight VICTORIA MILANO and with the horse finding a bit of form last time when finishing a good staying-on third, this may be the time to catch the once 119-rated mare.
Today VICTORIA MILANO gets in off just 96 and with the jockey taking 5lb off she is very well treated at the weights. The step up in trip to 2m7f will only be more of a positive and she gets a strong verdict to run very well.
17:20 Bangor – WREXHAM EVENING ON FRIDAY 26th JUNE MARES’ OPEN NATIONAL HUNT FLAT (4)
A National Hunt Flat race to finish the card and with not much form to go on, recent Fontwell winner MAGNIFIX DU MAULIN, who won well that day, can make it 2 from 2 on recent starts.
These races can be tricky to call but the Richard Hobson horse deserves to be near the top of the market.