Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Haydock Park , Goodwood , York , Salisbury and Windsor on 23 May 2026.
HAYDOCK PARK
Race 1 No5 FRIENDLY SOUL
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
It will be a real feather in the cap of Gosden if he can successfully bring FRIENDLY SOUL back from an enforced absence in this Listed race. The Kingman mare has been off for the best part of 600 days, but when last seen put in a three race unbeaten sequence in Group 3, 2 and 1 company. It culminated with triumph in the prix de l’Opera at Longchamp to make her one of the outstanding middle distance performers of 2024. She comes here getting ready for Ascot with good vibes from the gallops and the champ in her saddle for veteran American owner George Strawbridge.
Race 2 No13 CREST OF FIRE (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Edward Greatrex
CREST OF FIRE gained a deserved success when returning at Southwell, and though running past trees on that occasion nevertheless teed himself up nicely for bigger pots ahead, starting with this valuable Silver Bowl. It’s a Class2 that often produces a Group horse and my selection has the wherewithal to reach those heights later in the season. For now he needs to stave off the attentions of paper favourite PRINCLING who is less exposed, and could prove a blot on the handicap.
Race 3 WILLIAM HILL SANDY LANE HANDICAP (Group 2)
No3 COPPULL (Nap)
Trainer: Clive Cox – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
While VENETIAN SUN is a classy operator who will prove dangerous if enjoying the return to sprinting, COPPULL has done nothing wrong and could well have her measure. The son of Bated Breath ended 2025 placing in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes and made a splendid comeback when taking out the Commnwealth Cup Trial (Group 3) at Ascot. He’s properly in the zone, his stable is running nicely into form and his jockey can’t stop riding winners. Get on !
Race 4 WILLIAM HILL TEMPLE STAKES (Group 2)
No4 GETREADYTORUMBLE (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
The prospect of the juice in the ground being burned off on what’s expected to be a hot day in Makerfield might not help NIGHT RAIDER, who is readily opposed by GETREADYTORUMBLE. The selection was progressive last year when he signed off with a podium finish in a Listed race at Ascot. When returning in a similar contest at Naas last month he looked unlucky not to make more of a race of it with the winner Mission Central, after having the worst of the draw and meeting trouble in running. The grey is in great order for this step up in class and at his price is worthy of a good win and place investment. I think he can go very close today ahead of the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes on the first day of Royal Ascot, for which he should also be backed.
Race 5 No10 HERMETIC (Each Way)
Trainer: Ian Williams – Jockey: Edward Greatrex
I like the way HERMETIC shaped when troubling the judge on a first outing for Williams at York. The former French based grey will be happier on this easier terrain and on just a sixth career start can add to his two successes in the provinces last autumn.
Race 6 No3 HANNEY GIRL (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Duran Fentiman
HANNEY GIRL raised her game on a second run of the season when finishing just out of the money in a competitive affair at York last week. That’s believed to have brought the Cable Bay filly to the boil, and she should step up further on it, racing on ground that floats her boat.
Race 7 No12 HOT CASH (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
HOT CASH just needed two more strides to prevail at Thirsk last weekend when showing that he can be fully effective over a mile. He remains at that trip on ground that suits, and with stronger handling from the saddle should again be in the money.
GOODWOOD
Race 1 No15 STARTLED
Trainer: Richard Hughes – Jockey: Saffie Osborne
Osborne has never been riding better and has a great chance of steering STARTLED to a hat-trick clinching victory. The selection enjoys the luxury of a plum draw five off the fence which should enable him to obtain a handy position running down the hill from which to strike in the straight. He handled the jump into a Class3 by winning going away at York, and can now show that the move into Class2 is also no problem to him.
Race 2 No2 SAXON STREET
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Benoit de la Sayette
Blue Riband Trial winner SAXON STREET made that look very easy to retain his unbeaten record. Having handled the Epsom undulations, Goodwood’s similar terrain should not be an issue, while stretching out on the distance ladder can also assist him in elevating his claims for a tilt at next month’s Betfred Derby.
Race 3 No8 WONDERVISION (Nap)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Tom Marquand
Channon has a high opinion of Minzaal filly WONDERVISION, who in finishing third to impressive scorer Bint Archange on debut at Ascot provided abundant promise for the future. She’s gone forward in her work at West Ilsley, and by scoring over a slightly longer trip today can book her ticket for the Albany Stakes.
Race 5 No8 ST HILDA
Trainer: Marcus Tregoning – Jockey: David Probert
Tregoning likes nothing better than winners at this venue and in ST HILDA might have one in waiting. The daughter of Saxon Warrior was only denied in the final strides on her Lingfield return, and as a fitter filly is fancied to open her account.
Race 6 No3 ALIGN THE STARS
Trainer: Charlie Johnston – Jockey: Saffie Osborne
ALIGN THE STARS has won and finished second on two of three previous visits to this track with that victory happening at the 2024 Qatar Festival. He’s been in the money in both 2026 outings, latterly when chasing home Goblet Of Fire at Newmarket. Osborne is an eye taking booking for five-year-old, who has to go well.
YORK
Race 1 No4 PAPA COCKTAIL (Each Way)
Trainer: Michael Herrington – Jockey: Oisin Orr
PAPA COCKTAIL has proved a model of consistency for connections since scoring at Wolverhampton last September. The hold up specialist has shown he can mix it in good company, but hasn’t competed here since the summer of 2021. It will be interesting to see how he gets on as 1200 metres is his optimum trip, while the big field will provide him with plenty of cover. I shall also back TIRIAC at a big price as a saver. He ran well without that looking obvious at Thirsk last week, and is too well handicapped to safely ignore.
Race 3 No21 REIGNING PROFIT (Each Way)
Trainer: Ruth Carr – Jockey: Warren Fentiman
REIGNING PROFIT ran well at a big price for us at Hamilton and needs looking at if on his mettle for a quick turnaround. He’s getting weight from the field, while his trainer has her sprinters in good order.
Race 7 No10 QUEST FOR FUN (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Sean Kirrane
Both QUEST FOR FUN and LEADMAN met with interference at the big meeting here earlier in the month. In finishing fifth and second respectively I think they were unlucky, and can up their games, with the former just given the verdict in view of his overall record on the Knavesmire, which includes two successes.
SALISBURY
Race 4 No7 SPY CHIEF (Each Way)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Kieran O’Neill
The featured Cathedral Stakes could be within the compass of SPY CHIEF on his seasonal return. He came to hand early as a three-year-old, and after scoring at Yarmouth put in a personal best to finish third in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Ascot after going a long way clear. On a final start he wasn’t disgraced in the Group 1 Champions Sprint at the same track, and could easily develop into a sprinter to follow this season.
Race 6 No14 TOUGH DATE (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: George Bass
TOUGH DATE ran green on his first handicap assignment at Windsor and performed much the same at Newbury. His trainer now reaches for cheek pieces with his own jockey doing the steering, and while this horse is risky he’s needed the experience, and the changes could reap reward.
WINDSOR
Race 5 No11 SARGENT DENNIS ( Nap)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Rose Dawes
SARGENT DENNIS moves into handicaps reunited with Dawes who partnered him to chase home a useful opponent at Kempton two runs back. The gelding then landed some good bets with a clear cut delivery here, and that knowledge of the course can stand him in good stead.
