ITV Racing Tips: Best bets from Ascot, Haydock and Lingfield

This Saturday’s ITV Racing transmission serves up an absorbing and varied nine-race card including Lingfield’s Oaks and Derby Trials, the Victoria Cup heritage handicap from Ascot and the Swinton Handicap hurdle over the jumps at Haydock Park.

Our best bets for the broadcast include each-way plays in the day’s big National Hunt and Flat handicaps and a likely favourite who should be well at home on the expected good-to-firm ground at Lingfield.

McCain runner can continue to make up for lost time in Swinton

There’s been money for BAREBACK JACK to win the Swinton Handicap Hurdle (1.35) and that’s encouraging when it comes to his each-way prospects in the Haydock feature.

Donald McCain’s nine-year-old had been off the track for 1395 days prior to his return in December 2024.

Few signs of life were evident in his first two runs back, but the Getaway gelding left that form behind when coming out on top in a Class 4 handicap hurdle at Bangor at the back end of April.

The success reads well given the reopposing Dance And Glance (second that day) had beaten Fasol the time before, with the last named going on to finish an excellent third in Sandown’s competitive bet365 Novices’ Championship Final Handicap Hurdle on his next outing.

Bareback Jack ended his novice season rated 137 after lowering the colours of subsequent Grade 2 winner Tommy’s Oscar. Racing here off 123 he could well remain ahead of the handicapper and continue to make up for lost time to reward his patient connections.

Tough not to be sweet on Candyman after Brighton bolt-up

There will be plenty of runners at Lingfield on Saturday for whom the good-to-firm going must be endured rather than enjoyed, but one who has shown he has a taste for it is CANDYMAN STAN.

Andrew Balding’s four-year-old is the only one of the five runners in the William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap (2.25) with winning form on the surface. Three of his opponents Charlie’s Choice, King’s Code and Power Of Destiny have been chanced at least twice without winning.

The selection appeared to improve for the conditions when bolting up by five lengths over 1m4f in Class 4 company on good-to-firm ground at Brighton just under a month ago. Up 7lbs for that impressive effort, there should be further improvement to come on just his sixth career start.

Hickory to smoke Victoria Cup foes granted better trip a year on

Seven of the last 10 winners of the Victoria Cup (2.40) were sent off at 11/1 or bigger so playing each-way is the order of the day and one that appeals on that score is HICKORY.

A one-and-three-quarter-lengths fourth in last year’s edition, that run reads very well given winner The Wizard Of Eye went on to finish sixth in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes on his next start.

Saffie Osborne rode the selection in this race in 2024 and she renews the partnership on the seven-year-old’s first start for her trainer father Jamie. Available at a chunky each-way price at the time of writing there’s no reason they can’t go close again this year off a 4lbs lower mark.