Barry Hills Best Bets Today
3 minutes Barry Hill is back with his daily horse racing tips from Haydock, Goodwood & Bath
5:28 Haydock
Betfred "Bet Builder" Amateur Jockeys' Handicap
VIRTUAL HUG - 7/1
VIRTUAL HUG encountered trouble at a crucial moment at Bath last time but still managed to secure second place. The son of Buratino is only 1lb higher for that effort and could be very hard to beat with a smoother run this time. Just Hiss overcame a slow start to finish a respectable fourth in this grade over 1m2f at Ripon last month and should remain competitive off 1lb lower. Bloodhound is another to watch closely.
6:35 Goodwood
William Hill Epic Value Apprentice Fillies' Novice Stakes (GBB Race)
ISLANOVA - 5/2
ISLANOVA caught a lot of attention with her close second-place finish on her seasonal debut at Bath last month. The Sir Michael Stoute-trained filly appears to have significant potential, and a breakthrough victory seems imminent. The primary threat is the penalised winner D Flawless, who impressed with a commanding performance at Chelmsford. Additionally, the consistent Ghaihaban is expected to be a strong contender.
7:35 Goodwood
William Hill Extra Place Races Apprentice Handicap
ROYAL VELVET - 10/3
Loaded Quiver, who placed at Salisbury on his seasonal debut, should be a notable contender. ROYAL VELVET struggled with the mile at Newmarket last time but had previously secured a double over this distance on the all-weather. She gets another chance to shine back at her winning distance, with Brandon Wilkie taking 3lb off her back. Maiden winner Crimson Coronet shows potential for improvement, while Charlie Mason's recent success came over 6f on soft ground.
7.50 Bath
Betting.Bet Horseracing Odds Handicap (Bath Summer Stayers' Series Qualifier)
ALMUDENA - 11/4
All of these options could still be improved. Continuance, who won decisively over 1m2f at Chepstow last week, seems like a strong choice despite the penalty. However, it might be wise to favor ALMUDENA. Sir Mark Prescott's filly has shown promise in her three qualifying runs and is now making her handicap debut with a significant step up in distance, which could lead to further progress. Cracker Star is another noteworthy contender.
8:03 Haydock
Betfred Challenge Cup Final EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race)
ROYAL OFFICER - 8/13 (NAP)
Charlie Appleby has won this race twice in the last three years with subsequent Group/Grade 1 winners, making ROYAL OFFICER a compelling contender. This son of Galileo was purchased for 1,000,000gns at a breeze-up sale in April and is closely related to the French 1m3f Listed winner Hidden Dimples. Seagulls Eleven (second) finished just ahead of Green Storm (third) when they met on debut over C&D recently, and Hugo Palmer's colt could well confirm that form here. Best Adventure, another costly purchase at 650,000gns, should also be noted, along with Aegean Sea and Castle Stuart.
8:25 Bath
Betting.Bet New Betting Sites Handicap
GOLDEN PHASE thrived with the increased distance when she won over C&D last month, making her an intriguing contender despite a 4lb higher mark. However, Lookingdandy presents a significant threat as he doesn't carry a penalty for his recent Leicester victory, effectively making him 3lb well-in. Other noteworthy contenders include Manila Mist and Jimmy Mark.