Haydock hosts the 2026 Temple Stakes on Saturday (Credit: Haydock Park Racecourse)

Expert horse racing betting tips for w/c Saturday, May 22nd 2026

The flat season just keeps delivering the goods for racing fans with the best action this weekend coming from Haydock Park, which hosts a card spearheaded by the Temple Stakes.

Introducing the Odds Now Horse Racing Punters Panel

Before we get stuck in, here’s a little bit more on the experts answering our key questions this week:

SD - Races Now's tipster extraordinaire who has shot to prominence over the last year with his engaging content and stellar betting record.

Adam Smith - A betting industry veteran, flat lover and one half of our Races Now double act.

Harry Fowler - Another of Odds Now’s regular racing contributors, currently working in the industry.

Joe O'Donnell - Scot Of The Channel, one of Races Now's most loyal followers and a semi-regular face on the Punters Panel.

Alife Bennett - SD enjoyer, regular racegoer, punter and horse owner. Works within the industry.

The Group 2 Temple Stakes (3.30pm) takes centre stage at Haydock. Who wins?

SD: JM Jungle was not favoured how the race panned out last time in terms of draw. I’d be happy he is more adaptable to conditions than those ahead of him in the market.

AS: Thirteen runners, 6/1 the field. Properly wide open. I think any soft in the description will inconvenience a few including Night Raider, Asfoora and others. A double dip for me - last years winner Mgheera and First Instinct who is best with a bit of give.

HF: The sprinting divisions are hard enough to have any kind of opinion but I do fancy Shagraan. This one has returned to Clive Cox and started off with a lovely third behind Night Raider. I think he will come on a good bit for the run – he appears ground versatile and I’ll probably have a tiny bit on the 50’s for the King Charles III at the Royal meeting too.

JOD: There are a lot of uncertainties in regards to the draw and going for the Temple Stakes at the moment. However, the one I like is Asfoora. Its a very competitive race like most Group sprints. The selection has the quality form in the book and the trainer is in fine form. The one for the forecast may be Jm Jungle who will come on for his recent run. Playing two each-way singles and a reverse forecast will be my approach.

AB: I’m a big fan of Getreadytorumble for the Channons. His Naas run behind Mission Central reads really well now, especially with that horse going on to look so impressive since and emerging as a leading contender for the King Charles at Ascot. He’s got strong form tied in with the market leader while he received weight, and I do think he’s improved a fair bit from three to four. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see him bang there at the finish.

The three-year-old sprinters stake their case in the Group 2 Sandy Lane (2.58pm). Do you have a fancy in that?

SD: I’ve took the form view that the Pavilion at Ascot was not good form. Spicy Marg ran ok in the 1,000 Guineas, finishing ahead of Venetian Sun who is favourite here. Like the jolly, she can benefit from coming back in trip and is a huge price.

AS: Venetian Sun has the best form from last year but it is a big ask to be trained for a mile all winter, then drop back to sprinting 20 days later. I'm with Coppull, who won a good race at Ascot first time up and was dossing a bit in front the day. I'd much prefer Coppull at 9/2 than Venetian Sun at 11/4.

HF: I had this between Division and Coppull, in the end landing on the latter for a Clive Cox double. Last season a consistent type that has come back this term and gone straight into the winners enclosure when taking the Commonwealth Cup trial at Ascot. I think he has a big season ahead of him and am surprised to see him as big as 9/2 here. As above, I will also have a small go on him for the Commonwealth Cup now.

JOD: Venetian Sun is the one. Ran in the 1,000 Guineas and was near the top of the market. I think the low draw was against the horse at HQ and this resulted in below-par run. The drop back to six furlongs should see her return the top class juvenile form from last year. The Burke stable continue in excellent form, too.

AB: Venetian Sun is the one for me, plain and simple. Burke stepped her up in trip for the 1,000 and I think she didn’t see it out on her seasonal return. Back down to her ideal trip, she becomes very dangerous and I’m surprised she’s not shorter in the market. Her juvenile form was outstanding and there still feels like there’s loads more to come. I think she wins this and ends up a very short price for the Commonwealth Cup next month.

Goodwood with two races on ITV. Any bets lined up there?

SD: Yes. Startled won despite doing everything wrong last time in terms of passage and can go in again here.

AS: The seven furlong 1:25pm looks trappy for sure, but you can get a load of sexy each way terms. Bone Marra for the in form Olly Sangster should have won on first run this season when hampered at Lingfield. They'll all need some luck in this race. Hopefully Bone Marra gets some.

HF: In the first race at Goodwood, Ironwill went straight into my tracker after a rather eyecatching effort at Newmarket last time. He was slow-ish away and then keen early in his race, so to still finish fifth the way he did I thought was a great effort. With the run under his belt and dropped 2lbs for that effort, I think he’s a great bet at 8/1.

JOD: In the 1:25pm over seven furlongs, there is low draw bias. So I really think Pathein, off an opening mark of 103 and drawn in three with the drop back to seven furlongs in a strongly run race, will be ideal. This horse ran a tremendous race in the Autumn Stakes at HQ as a two-year-old, travelling well but just not finding enough coming out of the dip. At Goodwood the last day, Pathein again travelled well but was found wanting over the mile. He's a really strong each way play for me. In the 2:00 Saxon Street is difficult to oppose, though a short price.

AB: Goodwood is a nightmare track for punting, but I’ll keep it straightforward and go with Saxon Street. That Epsom run last time was seriously taking and he looks to have a class edge over most of these. There’s no real juice in the price, but he looks the type to anchor a few multiples.

York's ever competitive Sprint Trophy (2.40pm) is also on the agenda. Is it possible to have a fancy with so many runners and a possible draw bias?

SD: Reigning Profit is in form despite the form figures and should go well. Previous course winner Squealer was a big eyecatcher on penultimate start at Beverley and looks a huge price too.

AS: This is a nightmare of a race to punt on after what we saw with the ground and draw bias at the Dante meeting. It's 100% a dodge race for me. I was going to comment on the Irish 2,000 Guineas instead but Gstaad is odds on and will just win won't he?

HF: It is tricky to know where you’ll want to be. One I give a chance to is Reigning Profit. A good second last time, his mark is tumbling down and looks more and more favourable. Warren Fentiman takes the ride, whipping a valuable 3lbs off and from stall nine I think that one can go well.

JOD: I'm sitting on the fence with this impossible sprint. As SD says, as a punter we don't have to bet on every race. So I'm not having a bet here.

AB: The draw and going stick readings will be massive based on what we saw at the May meeting, so I’ll be leaning heavily towards those favoured by conditions. Air Force One definitely interests me and I’m happy to forgive the York run. At a bigger price, Ziggys Triton could be worth a small play if he lands a decent stall, although it’s not a race I have a huge opinion on overall.

Any other bets standing out for you this weekend?

SD: Be sure to tune in at 8am every day on the Races Now X page and YouTube for your viewing pleasure and incendiary comments on my hair.

AS: I'm going to Windsor at 8:30pm on a Saturday night for a 0-60 three year old handicap. Worlington should be running well here, he simply has to be better than a 57 rated animal. And Jack Callan takes a further three pounds off.

HF: In the first at Haydock I fancy Sparks Fly. She does usually run best on soft or heavy ground. The ground is currently soft at Haydock but I was really taken by her run last time on good ground in the Huxley when up to the 1m2f trip for the first time. There is absolutely no shame going down two lengths to Lambourn. I thought with that run in mind and softer ground here, 11/2 was too big.

JOD: Yes – I will be having an each way bet on Vincenzo Peruggia in the 2:20pm at Haydock. Charlie Johnston horses are always to be respected in big prize money handicaps. I will double dip with Princling, who has the sexy profile of a Haggas plot job.

AB: Alparslan in the Irish 2,000. I like that he's come here rather than the Newmarket equivalent. A nice winner of the Greenham at Newbury and Karl Burke has a cracking record when visiting Ireland.

Just how good was Notable Speech in winning last weekend's Lockinge?

SD: Very. I’d be sanguine about him winning the Queen Anne, at least.

AS: Notable Speech is back. Well backed. Bravely ridden. Good winner. Damysus was disappointing. More Thunder the obvious eyecatcher. Notable Speech vs Opera Ballo at Royal Ascot will be fascinating and William Buick has a tought decision on his hands.

HF: Yes he was very good. Looking at his form, he should now have five firsts next to his name. His jockey seems to ride him with a silly amount of confidence and his turn of foot has always been his greatest asset. He is now 9/4 Queen Anne favourite but with his and his trainer's record at Ascot, specifically at Royal Ascot, I think that is a tad short. I actually thought the second, More Thunder, was the one I’d be most likely to back at around 7/1 each way.

JOD: I though Notable Speech won very well the other day. I hope he races against Bow Echo soon. Now that will be a great watch!

AB: He was seriously impressive. The way he travelled and quickened clear so effortlessly, with Buick barely having to move on him, was the performance of a top-class horse. To beat that calibre of miler in that manner tells you everything. He fully deserves to head the Queen Anne market and, with Godolphin not exactly flying recently, it says a lot about how much of a machine he is.