Sky Bet Sunday Series tips: selections for every race at Haydock

There have already been a few firsts in this year’s Sky Bet Sunday Series, with Ross Burdon landing his maiden winner as a trainer in the opener at Chelmsford back in June, which in turn was that racecourse’s debut race in a series that has delivered more than £4m in additional prizemoney since its launch in 2021. 

There has been another first this year as the series is being run in association with HorsePWR and the charity partner is Retraining of Racehorses, British horseracing's official charity for the welfare of horses who have retired from racing. 

There has been no talk of retiring Jim Goldie from racing – after all, he trained his first Group 1 winner of his career when American Affair landed the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot in June – but it had been a slow start for the Scottish handler in this year’s Series compared to recent times. Let's not forget that he picked up the £100,000 bonus last year with Letsbefrank. 

But Goldie finally got off the mark for this year’s competition when saddling Abduction to score in the penultimate race at Hamilton on day four of the series back in mid-June, and he only had to wait half an hour for winner number two as Spanish Hustle collected the apprentice handicap that rounded off the card. That puts Goldie level in the standings with Iain Jardine, Kevin Ryan, Paul Midgley and Karl Burke, while Shane Gray and Jason Hart have three wins each in the saddle. 

Goldie is fancied to strike in Sunday's opening Enter ITV7 For Free Apprentice Handicap at 3.45 with the lightly-weighted Penelope’s Sister. Her jockey Lauren Young knows her well and the mare’s prominent style of racing should give her every chance at this speed-favouring track. 

Karl Burke has his horses in good form and, having won the Sky Bet Acca Freeze Nursery Handicap (4.15) last year with Qaseem, is fancied to follow up with Jan Steen. Named after the 17th century artist who was known for adding humour into his work, there wasn’t much for Kia Joorabchian to smile about when the colt only beat three home in the Windsor Castle but these are much calmer waters and a mark of 87 looks within range. Fellow Royal Ascot also-rans Lil Brother and Better And Better look the pick of his rivals. 

Authentic Charm could produce a debut performance that exceeds the form on offer in the Sky Bet Proud To Support RoR Restricted Maiden Stakes (4.45). His unraced dam is a half-sister to The  Tin Man and Deacon Blues, whilst his sire Sergei Prokofiev produces some pretty sharp sorts. Fellow newcomer No Direction, a son of debut winner Hala Hala Hala, also makes plenty of appeal, along with the once-raced pair Court Alert and Hardy’s Hero who represent yards with strong juvenile teams. 

Will the the £100,000 bonus-hunting Spring Is Sprung land a huge payday in the Sky Bet Extra Places Handicap (5.15)?. Paul Midgley’s sprinter appears to have been saved for this (missed a run at the last Sunday Series due to unsuitably soft ground), having not been seen since following up his Newmarket win at Chelmsford, and as long as there isn’t too much rain, he has a fine chance off this mark of 80. 

Course winner Definitive can capitalise on a falling mark in the Sky Bet Build A Bet Fillies' Handicap at 5.45. Not beaten far in the Group 3 Princess Margaret on her second start, she looked on the way back to that level at Doncaster and is entitled to improve on that.

The Sky Bet, For The Fans Handicap (6.15) looks a much trickier puzzle to solve. A chance is taken with the capable but frustrating Mr King who hasn’t proved easy to win with for Iain Jardine – or previous connections – but ran one of his better races last time and is well treated these days. 

Finally, the Sky Bet Club Handicap rounds off the card at 6.45. Can last year's hero Letsbefrank roll back the clock? Probably not on the balance of this year’s efforts, especially now taking on some very in-form young pretenders led by String Of Pearls and Belgravian. Though the former looks sure to progress again now stepped up further in trip as she bids for a hat-trick, preference is for Belgravian who is already proven on flat tracks and over this distance.