ITV Racing Tips: Happily ever Yafta and blast off for El Astronaute

After the excitement of Epsom last weekend it’s back to basics this Saturday with an eight-race card from Musselburgh, Newmarket and Haydock.

The Group 3 Pinnacle Stakes provides the highlight of the afternoon, where heavy favourite God Given will be looking to fend off the challenge of Cribbs Causeway, Euro Nightmare and Titi Makfi.

There’s also the Scottish Sprint Cup to look forward to on an intriguing afternoon of flat racing on ITV4. We’ve previewed it all in our ITV Racing Tips…

NAP – Yafta – 3:05, Newmarket

Yafta is one we really like. Richard Hannon’s colt has only ever finished out of the places once, and that was on his racing bow in 2017.

Since then he’s consistently chalked up 1s and 2s on his form guide. This season has proved no exception.

His seasonal reappearance brought a runner-up berth to Tribal Quest on good ground. Last time out he improved on that by edging Midsummer Knight in the final furlong in even drier conditions.

The son of Dark Angel looks primed for a step up to 7f and he should make light work of the field, the majority of whom are stepping up in class here.

NB – El Astronaute – 2:30, Musselburgh

There’s all manner of chances running through the field for the 16-runner Scottish Sprint Cup Handicap. But it’s El Astronaute who rockets to our attention.

The five-year-old’s form has taken off this term with a series of handy place finishes in congested line-ups. He landed a 5f Handicap at York on similar ground to Musselburgh last month and followed that up with a head second to Mr Lupton nine days later.

John Quinn’s raider is bang in form and has everything in his favour as he bids to avenge last year’s seventh in this renewal. His rating of 101 should also prove workable based on his most recent run.

Lively Longshot – Euro Nightmare –  2:50, Haydock

With Brexit grabbing the headlines up and down the country, it seems highly appropriate that we go for Euro Nightmare in the Haydock showpiece.

Keith Dalgleish’s charge has more about her than just the name, though. Her form his quite handy too.

The four-year-old showed great improvement when landing a Listed contest at Ayr last month. She’ll get the ground again here as she bids to chalk up a first victory over 1m4f against distance specialist Cribbs Causeway.

She should be an each-way player at the very least.

ITV Racing Tips:

1:55 Musselburgh – Reverend Jacobs 

2:15 Haydock – Podemos

2:30 Musselburgh– El Astronaute (NB)

2:50 Haydock – Euro Nightmare (Lively Longshot)

3:05 Newmarket – Yafta (NAP)

3:25 Haydock – Muthmir

3:40 Newmarket – Quloob (each-way)

4:00 Haydock – Dutch Connection

All Odds and Markets correct as of date and publication