Today's Tips

Professional tipster Ben Merritt gives his thoughts on today's racing...

1.35 Haydock - CERULEAN BAY 7/1 (NAP)

CERULEAN BAY has to shoulder a lot of weight in this handicap, but he is the class horse in this race and it should be run perfectly for him. It's also a lot easier than some of the races he's been running in this year. He's often seen in the biggest and deepest mile handicaps of the year but was only beaten a neck in the Hambleton, off 103, and was a fast finishing 2nd from off the pace in the Golden Mile at Goodwood off 105. He's racing off 104 here and can be forgiven his last two runs. One came on the straight course at Ascot, but he is far better going round a bend and the other came when held up last at York in a race won from the front. From a low draw here, I hope he wont be ridden too cold and he'll certainly be much happier going back round a bend. Danny Tudhope coming to Haydock seems significant given that this is O'Meara's only runner on the card and, hopefully, he can make his class tell.

5.30 Market Rasen - UN SENS LE VIE 7/2 (Next Best)

When I saw UN SENS A LA VIE win over this C&D on seasonal, and hurdling, debut last year I was certain that he was a graded horse. Having tipped him next time out at Cheltenham, in a Grade2, I was obviously disappointed with his run, albeit a decent one. However, he's only run poorly twice in his career and one of those came on an undulating track, whilst the other came on bottomless ground (albeit 4th in the Betfair Hurdle). When he's had a flat track, and good ground, he's ben superb and given that the yard have begun the season in top form, I expect him to bit fit and ready for this. He's 2 from 2 at the track and might just have a class edge on this field.

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