3:15 Haydock Tips

Lightly raced Corolla Point has a chance in this back to 5f and on the slower ground. Ed Bethell knows how to train a sprinter, main stable jockey in the saddle, good draw and strong market support, all point to a big day today.

Lightly raced and well-bred, today's combo of a plum draw, steady going, and mark should put her bang there in an otherwise competitive field.

VINCE L'AMOUR won a C3 handicap off a mark of 77 last October. Today, he runs in a C4 off a 7lb lower rating, and if he can return to that kind of form, he should be bang there today. One slight concern is the good, good to soft ground because all three of his career wins came on soft or heavy ground.

The Tim Easterby-trained Copper Knight, although now an 11-year-old, has only been out of the money once since his seasonal debut in April, finishing 342114439. He was unlucky at York last time out. He is well suited by 5f, acts on any ground, and is on a winning mark. Young jockey Jake Dickson takes a very useful 7lbs off and has a 100% record on Copper Knight (1-1). With plenty of pace on, I think he is a solid each-way play in an open-looking handicap.

Secret Mistral won over this course and distance in July. Disappointing last time, but could well bounce back here on a course it likes.

Good stable, front runner who looks on a good mark. He has run well in his last 2 runs, finishing 2nd at Thirsk, RPR of 76, and last time out finished 4th at Beverley, RPR of 74. His wins when trained in Ireland came on slow ground, worth an interest.

No comment made

Race 4 on the 2nd day of the Haydock Festival is a Handicap (Class 4) for 3-year-olds and upwards over 1,005 m. The suggested wager is for the each way on the 4-year-old gelding Speeding Bullet from the Paul Midgley yard, and will be ridden by Mark Winn. This son of Inns of Court seems well placed here, sitting at the bottom of the weights with some top recent form. Very attractive wager and should not be ignored.

JACQUELINA has taken a step in the right direction the last twice and appears to be at a workable weight. Also copes in this grade so could spring a surprise from way down the order.

Has finished 3rd in 2 of 3 starts to date. Remains open to further improvement and holds at least an each-way chance.

Just keep getting drawn back to Grant Tuer's Illusionist here. Way below its last mark and could just surprise on a going day if the break has done it good. Juicy odds for a good each way shout.

Spoof, a 10-year-old bay gelding by Poet’s Voice out of Filona, is trained by Kevin Frost and will be ridden by William Pyle in what looks to be a highly competitive sprint handicap. He runs off an official rating of 79 and while he’s been given little respect in the betting (40/1), his credentials shouldn't be discounted. A seasoned campaigner with a career-best win at Nottingham two years ago, Spoof has also placed multiple times in his long career. His most recent effort, a ninth of 14 at Doncaster, wasn’t without merit??'he tracked early but lacked a clear preparation and may have improved for the run. This is a bit of question mark how the old timer will run having over 2 months off but his last run at Doncaster he finished just 3l off (Squealer) who went on to win the dubai dash handicap at york (class2) with some serious horses there so at the age of 10 to hold that type of form ill have a go at these odds.

Small each-way tip. I like the odds for this selection, but will need some improvement. Below form when ridden by a less experienced jockey last time, now gets a more experienced jockey in the saddle. Does have good form at this level , probably has more to offer on turf this year.