Horse racing tips: Saturday, May 31 – Chester, Haydock and York
This is not the biggest day's racing in the calendar – there's a little lull ahead of the Derby at Epsom on June 7 – but there are still seven races on ITV (1.30-4pm) from Chester, Haydock and York, including three Group races.
Our in-house expert tipster Ron Wood, fresh from a 9/4 winning nap at Sandown on Thursday, has a selection for all of them.
There are also 11 races on ITV on Sunday, from Chelmsford and Nottingham, and you can find tips for each of those as well here.
Ron Wood's selections:
NAP:
Term Of Endearment (3.15, York) @ 11/4 with Betfred ⭐⭐⭐
Next best:
Cerulean Bay (2.10, Chester) @ 16/1 with Betfred ⭐⭐⭐
Others:
Cajetan (1.48, Haydock) @ 33/1 with Betfred ⭐⭐
Jasour (2.23, Haydock) @ 100/30 with Betfred ⭐⭐⭐
Duran (2.40, York) @ 5/1 with Betfred ⭐⭐
Estrange (2.58, Haydock) @ 2/1 with Betfred ⭐⭐
Kikkuli (3.33, Haydock) @ 14/1 with Betfred ⭐⭐
Odds provided by Betfred and correct at the time of writing. Stars denote strength of selection (max 5).
If you already have a Betfred 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.
1.48, Haydock – Class 3 handicap (6f)
This big-field sprint handicap kicks things off on ITV and a chance is taken on CAJETAN. He needs to bounce back from a poor run last time but he got upset in the stalls beforehand, so that performance can be excused. But he'll have to be better behaved now.
The suitability of the surface is also a factor as he has shown his best form on the all-weather, but he hasn't had many chances on turf and is handily weighted on his best.
2.10, Chester – Class 2 handicap (7f)
There's still more to come from CERULEAN BAY, who won three 7f handicaps last year and went off 7/2 favourite for a competitive 17-runner Leopardstown handicap in September, albeit finishing just outside the places.
He has been below form in two starts this term, but he probably needed his reappearance, and a mile on quick ground was not ideal for him at York on his latest start.
All three of last season's wins came on sharp left-handed tracks, which he gets now, and from stall 1 he can go the shortest way round.
2.23, Haydock – Achilles Stakes (Listed, 5f)
A breathing operation, a drop in class and being first time out this season could do the trick for JASOUR, who won an Ascot Group 3 on his reappearance last year, proving his effectiveness when fresh.
He has been highly strung, often not helping himself at the start and being headstrong, but he ran in four straight Group 1s after that Group 3 victory, including finishing third in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, so this is a significant class drop, and the speed test of this race will suit him.
2.40, York – Class 2 handicap (5f)
Another big-field sprint contest and it could be worth sticking with DURAN, who was a selection on these pages when winning at Haydock last week.
By Invincible Spirit out of Dolma, Duran is a well-bred competitor on the up, and he won twice at York last season.
2.58, Haydock – Lester Piggott Fillies' Stakes (Group 3, 1m 4f)
Beautiful Love sets the standard but she was beaten 12 lengths at York last time, albeit by a good filly in a Group 2, and she has a 3lb penalty. Instead, preference is for ESTRANGE.
This runner won two of her three starts last year, including a Doncaster Listed race, and she has the potential for further progress this term now up in trip.
3.15, York – Bronte Cup Fillies' Stakes (Group 3, 1m 6f)
TERM OF ENDEARMENT found the two-mile Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup beyond her when reappearing at Meydan in March, but this is a good opportunity for the William Haggas-trained mare.
She won three Group races when with Henry de Bromhead, most notably this event last year, and she is unpenalised while still giving the impression she has more to give, dropping back in trip and returning to fillies-only company.
Her new connections paid 1,300,000 guineas for her in December.
3.33, Haydock – John of Gaunt Stakes (Group 3, 7f)
There may still be better to come from KIKKULI, a Kingman half-brother to the great Frankel. He has not gone on from last season's close second in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, most recently finishing fourth behind Alyanaabi in a Haydock Listed race.
However, the winner that day, whom he faces again, had the run of the race. Kikkuli should be better for the outing and this looks like being contested at a better pace. Being reunited with Oisin Murphy, who rode him in the Jersey, is a positive.
If you want to find more odds and offers, take a look at our list of the best betting sites and free bets
Today's racing
(Flat unless stated)
Haydock 1.13-4.43
York 1.30-5.00
Chester 1.35-5.35
Listowel (NH) 1.55-5.20
Southwell 4.20-7.25
Tramore (NH) 5.10-8.15
Stratford (NH) 5.30-9.00
Lingfield 5.40-8.40
Ron Wood 2025 horse racing P/L (as of 29th May)
Star ratings explained
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - confident selection
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - strong fancy
⭐⭐⭐ - fair claims
⭐⭐ - tentative choice
⭐ - minimum confidence
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