Saturday horse racing tips: Alyanaabi to land Haydock prize

Fahad Umar
May 30, 2025
1:06 am

There is plenty of action to get stuck into on Saturday, with eight meetings taking place across Britain and Ireland.

There are two big meetings to focus on, with the Group 3 John of Gaunt Stakes the feature at Haydock, while the Group 3 Bronte Cup takes centre stage at York.

A Flat card at Chester and a jumps meeting at Listowel complete the afternoon action, while fixtures at Southwell, Tramore, Stratford and Lingfield bring the day to a close.

Our expert, Harry Wilson, has three Saturday afternoon fancies to follow, including from the big race at Haydock and a couple of handicaps at Chester and York that feature on ITV.

Saturday’s tips

14:10 Chester – Myal @ 17/2
14:40 York – Loom @ 5/1
15:33 Haydock – Alyanaabi @ 7/2

14:10 Chester – Myal

Low draws are usually the best place to start looking when trying to find winners at Chester, but those coming out of lower stalls usually have that factored into their price.

It’s not impossible to overcome a wide berth if you’ve got early pace, though, which makes Myal of most interest, despite him being drawn in 11 of 13.

The Steph Hollinshead-trained four-year-old improved rapidly when upped to seven furlongs last year, rattling off a four-timer between August and October on ground ranging from heavy to good to firm and rising from a mark of 67 to 90.

Myal showed he had more to offer this season when giving it a good go from the front in the Spring Mile at Doncaster on his reappearance, going down by little more than a length and faring by far the best of those who raced on the pace.

He backed that up when winning at Haydock last month, form that received a boost when the fifth-placed Skukuza landed a handicap at the Curragh last week, and ran well to finish eighth in the competitive Victoria Cup at Ascot when last seen, despite not being helped by a poor draw on the wing.

There doesn’t appear to be much in the way of pace drawn below him, so he shouldn’t have any problem getting across from his wide draw and he could prove very hard to pass at a track that promises to suit.

14:40 York – Loom

Jm Jungle is sure to be popular in the 5f handicap after chasing home American Affair the last twice, including over course and distance on Dante day.

However, it’s another runner who finished second over course and distance last time who appeals more, as Loom is still unexposed at the distance and has caught the eye the last twice.

He ran well for a long way in a strong 6f handicap at Newmarket last month, not being helped by bumping into the two rivals either side of him who were challenging for the lead, while he was also hit on the nose by a rival’s whip.

He was entitled to need that first run in 300 days anyway, but it looked as though he would be better over the minimum trip, given he was too good for the now 88-rated Artagnan in a 5f novice at Ripon in June last year, when taking a lead before powering clear.

He was beaten less than four lengths in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot on his only two goes at this trip.

Loom was ridden with more restraint when dropped to this trip at York two weeks ago, tanking through the contest before running on to grab second from further back than the winner and looks worth another go.

15:33 Haydock – Alyanaabi

The Group 3 John of Gaunt Stakes is the feature contest at the Merseyside venue of Haydock and it has attracted a couple of Group 1 winners in Audience and Kinross.

However, it may pay to side with youth and Alyanaabi, who got his career back on track with victory in the Spring Trophy over course and distance earlier this month, can continue his progress.

Alyanaabi looked like an exciting prospect as a juvenile, winning a Group 3 before chasing home multiple top-level winner City Of Troy in the Dewhurst on his final start as a two-year-old.

He matched that form when fifth in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on his first two outings at three, but he ended the campaign with below-par efforts over further.

A gelding operation and a drop back to seven furlongs saw him bounce back last time and he could have plenty more to offer over this trip this season.