Horse racing tips: Friday, May 23

Telegraph

23-05-2025

Just like yesterday, today's NAP comes from the opening race at Haydock and is supplemented by two selections at Goodwood, where the BetGoodwin Festival Stakes is the highlight of the card.
Calum Weill's selections:
Odds provided by William Hill and correct at the time of writing. Stars denote strength of selection (max 5).
If you already have a William Hill account and are looking for a new bookmaker to use for this week's racing, check out more free bets from the best betting sites, reviewed by our experts.
1.50 Haydock – Class 5 Handicap (1m 2f)
Thursday's NAP, Simiyaan, ran in the opening race at Haydock and was turned over narrowly by a five-year-old gelding trained by Ian Williams. Taking some pointers from that race, our selection here is SCEPTIC (NAP), another of that generation from the Williams yard.
Between them, Williams' five-year-old geldings boast three wins and one second from six starts since Sunday, so there is a lot to like about this selection.
This son of No Nay Never travelled well on his previous outing at Leicester (1m 2f, good), leading from the front before bowing out very tamely. So while there are risks attached over the same trip, he is worth a win-only bet at 4/1.
Selection: Sceptic @ 4/1 with William Hill
2.40 Goodwood – Class 3 Handicap (2m)
MR HAMPSTEAD looked very impressive last time out over course and distance, racing prominently before surging clear of the field and winning by 5½ lengths.
That win followed a gelding operation so there could be more to come if the procedure has had its desired long-term effect, meaning he can shoulder a 7lb rise in the weights.
He is well bred, being sired by Galileo out of a Scat Daddy mare, and could prove to be too good for this field of capable horses.
3.50 Goodwood – Listed (1m 2f)
The final selection of the day is SILVER KNOTT, who is the only horse in this race carrying a 7lb penalty, imposed for his Group 2 success at Meydan back in March.
That win came off the back of a 10-race stint in the US where only once he finished out of the top three, winning three Grade 2 races in the process.
This globetrotter is a formidable force and can prove his class against today's opponents who include the very likeable Liberty Lane and Exoplanet, who fought on for second on his first run for nearly two years last time out on the all-weather at Kempton.
Selection: Silver Knott @ 2/1 with William Hill
Today's racing
(Flat unless stated)
Bath 1.40-5.05
Haydock 1.50-5.17
Goodwood 2.05-5.30
Worcester (NH) 4.48-8.32
Downpatrick (NH) 5.00-8.07
The Curragh 5.10-8.25
Pontefract 6.15-8.47
Calum Weill 2025 horse racing P/L
Star ratings explained
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - confident selection
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - strong fancy
⭐⭐⭐ - fair claims
⭐⭐ - tentative choice
⭐ - minimum confidence