Martin Dixon's Saturday tips: best bets at Haydock
By Martin Dixon
Last Updated: Sat 20 Dec 2025
Top tipster and Racing TV pundit Martin Dixon selected Minella Study (5-1) last weekend and shares his three best bets for Saturday's action at Haydock Park, live on Racing TV.. Make sure you sign up to the Inside Angle to be the first to receive Martin's Saturday tips!
12.55 Haydock: Ip Up (E/W)
Martin Dixon
Finished: 3rdSP: 13/2
This an open handicap hurdle, but I don't think there's anything in here that's a long way ahead of their mark and odds of 10-1 about Ip Up at the time of writing make plenty of appeal each way.
Jedd O'Keefe doesn't have a big team of National Hunt horses these days but those he has are in good form, underlined by a stable double at Newcastle last week, and Ip Up has run with credit on both starts this term.
At Carlisle first time back she moved into things easily, but just blew up late as if needing the run. Then, at Leicester last time, she was going well until a mistake at the second-last lost crucial momentum and she railed well on the run-in. She's below her last winning mark and handles very soft ground well.
1.30 Haydock: Cabhfuilfungi
Martin Dixon
Finished: 7thSP: 6/1
It was a tough ask for Cabhfuilfungi first time back at Cheltenham last month, but he shaped very well before the lack of a recent run seemed to tell late on, powering through the race on the bridle as if he's returned in top form.
He's a horse I have loads of time for generally because he's so enthusiastic and jumps extremely well, and I'm hoping he can sit and stalk the likes of Sunnyville and Escapedandevade here.
He's never been to Haydock before, but I think he has all the hallmarks to be ideally suited by the demands of the track.
2.05 Haydock: Fenland Tiger (E/W)
Martin Dixon
Finished: 12thSP: 22/1
From 7lb out of the handicap, it's not surprising that Fenland Tiger is overlooked in the market at 16-1 at the time of writing, but I'm happy to back him to small stakes each-way despite being officially wrong at the weights.
At least trainer Sam England makes use of a 7lb conditional in Harry Atkins so he will carry a featherweight, and he's a horse that went off favourite for the Eider in 2024 from a rating of 120 at the time, so it's not as if doesn't have form that equates to the mark of 119 that he runs off here.
He missed last season which is why his mark dropped suddenly, but I got the impression when he was second behind the well-treated Anglers Crag at Carlisle last time that he probably retained all of his ability. Conditions will suit and several firms are offering four places at 1/5 odds.
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