Saturday's racing tips Song N Dance (Ascot, 13.45) – 1pt each-way @ 17/2 (Bet365), Great Acclaim (Ascot, 14.20) – 1pt each-way @ 14/1 (Ladbrokes), Opportunity (Ascot, 14.55) – 1pt each-way @ 13/2 (Paddy Power), Harbour Lake (Haydock, 12.45) – 1pt win @ It's another super Saturday of action and our horse racing correspondent Jonathan Doidge has been running the rule over the Ascot and Haydock cards for their best bets and odds from UK betting sites.
Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% British EBF Fillies' Handicap (13.45, Ascot)
An open-looking fillies' handicap where SONG N DANCE piques interest. Sean Woods trains the four-year-old, who has very much shown an improving profile. A 7f turf winner at Leicester (good) last October, she's since won on the All Weather at Newcastle (1m) and was most recently a good second at Southwell (1m) from an official BHA mark of 82. Raised just 2lb for that, she looks well treated for this return to turf. She'll have to show that she has the class for this more competitive environment but if the licence holder was Andrew Balding or William Haggas, she'd be a shorter price than she is and that will hopefully give us some value about her. She can be backed each-way at a solid price on horse racing betting sites.
Saturday racing tip 1: Song N Dance (Ascot, 13.45) – 1pt each-way @ 17/2 (Bet365)
Carey Group Victoria Cup (Heritage Handicap) (14.20, Ascot)
It's perhaps not surprising, given the competitive nature of this annual 7f dash, that favourites have got a poor record in this race and, while the chance of Mudbir is much respected, he doesn't look any better treated on paper than several others. One I'd like to put up here is GREAT ACCLAIM, who is trained by the excellent Eve Johnson-Houghton. There looks to be some value in his price (14/1 at the time of writing), given that his career-best effort came over this very C&D last September. He has a good strike rate, especially considering that these types of races are his staple and are not easy to win. He's scored six times from 24 starts and, while none of those came here, we know he acts over this stiff 7f. Conditions won't be a problem to him, whether it dries up or rains and last year's winner came from a middle draw, so jockey Charles Bishop will by now know how the track is riding and can split one way or the other to suit. The application of a first-time visor (he won in first-time blinkers but was well held in first time cheekpieces) may also add a little extra.
Saturday racing tip 2: Great Acclaim (Ascot, 14.20) – 1pt each-way @ 14/1 (Ladbrokes)
Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% Italy Handicap (14.55, Ascot)
Favourites have won four of the last ten renewals of this but there've been some shocks too, not least last year when Night Breeze obliged at 16/1. It's not because of that history, as much as the price factor that I'm taking on this year's market leader, Valedictory, with the second-favourite, OPPORTUNITY. Both could still be well treated, given that they're unexposed after only a few starts apiece but the William Haggas-trained selection is a much better-looking price and can be backed each-way, in case the favourite does manage to justify his tag. The Gosden-trained 'jolly' showed improved form when runner-up in the All Weather last time and should benefit from this step up in trip but then so could several in the field. The selection won on good ground over a similar trip at Haydock on just his second start, which came when fresh on last season's reappearance. He then improved when fourth in Listed company at Goodwood 12-months ago (1m3f, good). That prompted connections to go for the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot and he duly went off at 12/1 for that Group 2 event but pulled far too hard and was last of the field. They gelded him soon after but he's not been back to the track since. We know he goes well after a break and fitness is unlikely to be an issue, given who trains him and I just think he's worth taking on the favourite with, as I'd be surprised if there isn't more improvement to come from him.
Saturday racing tip 3: Opportunity (Ascot, 14.55) – 1pt each-way @ 13/2 (Paddy Power)
Pertemps Network Long Distance Handicap Hurdle (12.45, Haydock)
Alan King has his string in good nick at present and HARBOUR LAKE returns for another crack at this decent spring pot, having finished third in the race two years ago (when 12lb lower) and won it last year, when just 1lb lower. I suspect his shrewd trainer will have been working back from that race last year to get him here for a third attempt, so I am not too concerned that he's been comfortably accounted for in his two completed starts so far, both from higher marks. Last month's Aintree run, after a break, should have him spot on for another assault here, conditions will suit and he clearly acts well around here, so I'd like to keep him on side.
Saturday racing tip 4: Harbour Lake (Haydock, 12.45) – 1pt win @
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