This week, we spotlight three iconic venues—Haydock Park, York Racecourse, and Chantilly—with a powerful lineup of graded stakes and Group races.
🏇 At Haydock, we break down:
• Betfred “The Classic Bookmaker” Achilles Stakes
• Betfred Nifty 50 Lester Piggott Fillies’ Stakes
• Betfred John Of Gaunt Stakes
🏆 From York, we preview:
• William Hill Bronte Cup Fillies’ Stakes
🇫🇷 And at Chantilly, it’s the prestigious:
• Qatar Prix du Jockey Club – France’s version of the Derby, where future legends are made
Free Horse Racing Picks
22 to 1 Tom’s Tips and Comments
Haydock
Left-handed oval: The flat course is left-handed and oval-shaped.
Straight course: There’s a straight six-furlong course (sometimes referred to as a “chute” or seven-furlong extension), allowing for sprint races.
Stamina: When the ground is heavy, the course emphasizes stamina.
Fair course: Despite relatively tight turns, the course is considered one of the fairest in the country due to its long straights.
Race 3
Betfred “The Classic Bookmaker” Achilles Stakes (Listed Race) (3yo+) 5f
9 – Leovanni
Her last race of the season was a stinker in a Group One at Newmarket won by Lake Victoria, recent winner of the Irish 1000 Guineas. First started this season and won her maiden before winning the Queen Anne at the Royal Ascot meeting. Maybe she’s a five-furlong horse, because she’s undefeated at this distance. If ready, she will roll over his group of older horses and get weight off too. William Buick knows how to win.
6 – Shagraan
She ran a decent race last time but was fourth. She was second in the group of eight that she ran against in that race on the near side of the track, and got going better late. She will be a bit behind the field before going forward. She steps up in class here.
4 – No Half Measures
I like her last time out at Newmarket at this distance in a Group Three, and she was severely beaten by over seven lengths. She’s won at this level as a three-year-old at this distance and won a listed race at Deauville at six furlongs. I think she needed a start before showing her best effort.
Race 4
Betfred Nifty 50 Lester Piggott Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3) 1m4f
8 – Shaha
She won her last start at Goodwood in a listed race in her first start of the season at 12 furlongs by over a length. Her prior win was on the all-weather at one mile. She was moving nicely from the three-furlong pole out before pushing a bit for the win. She will get her third win today.
2 – Beautiful Love
I didn’t like her chance last time out at York, and I was wrong, sort of. The winner won by over 12 lengths, and she beat six other horses for second at 12-1. She ran third to her stablemate Cinderella’s Dream in the start before. Her Gulfstream run was an even effort, and the Breeders’ Cup was good enough for fourth at 30-1. I think she may have been overlooked again today.
6 – Invisible Friend
She won her first start last year at York in a handicap race and then took a few months off. She returned with a disappointing effort, but finished her season with one second and two thirds at Haydock, Doncaster, and Chantilly. If ready, she will produce a big effort at big odds.
Race 5
Betfred John Of Gaunt Stakes (Group 3) Cl1 (4yo+) 7f
7 – Quinault
He last ran in Dubai at six furlongs, running seventh behind Believing and some other good horses. The prep race was in Qatar, and he ran third behind Rogue Lightning. Returning to run here at seven furlongs is a good idea, because in some past races, he won at good odds. He should be ready for a solid effort.
2 – Alyanaabi
He won his first start of the season in a listed race at this racetrack last out, beating a good horse in Tiber Flow as the even-money favorite. Before the last start, he ran in a seven-furlong race in October of 2023, losing to City Of Troy. Between these starts, he ran okay in races ranging from one mile to one mile and a quarter, with average results. Maybe he is a seven-furlong horse that was proven in his last effort.
8 – Room Service
He won his last start at Doncaster going six furlongs in a listed race by a neck. He’s run some reasonable efforts in handicap races last year but appears ready to step up in class and see what he can do against a little better horses. He’s not big odds off that previous run.
York
Race 4
1m6f William Hill Bronte Cup Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3)
7 – Terms Of Endearment
She has run poorly in her last two races, one in Dubai in a Group Two with a powerful field and as the favorite last October at ParisLongchamp in a Group One on Arc day. She won two in a row last season in Group Two and Group Three races. She won on all types of going, but her races are spaced widely apart, so running fresh is best for her.
6 – Sueno
She ran well in her first start of the season at Goodwood, against the top choice in a race at Haydock on Saturday, with Shaha running fourth. Her only win is in a maiden on the all-weather at twelve furlongs. If she runs like she did in the race before, she will finish in the money.
5 – Scenic
She ran second last time to Shaha as the favorite last time out. She has won at York going twelve furlongs against a listed company last August. She’s yet to place in a group race but this is an excellent opportunity to get some black-type added to her racing career.
Chantilly
Sunday, June 1, 2025
1m 2½f Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) (Group 1) (3yo Colts & Fillies) (3yo)
15 – Camille Pissarro
He ran third last out to stablemate Henri Matisse in the Group One at ParisLongchamp. His first start was at the Curragh, losing to a horse who ran next in the Irish Guineas. That race was on the soft going, and this is what the horse prefers because, as a 2yo, he won his last start of the season in a Group One at seven furlongs at ParisLongchamp. Distance is a question mark?
5 – Leffard
He has two wins and a second in his three starts, and they were all this year, starting in January on the all-weather. He missed by a neck last time out in a listed race at this racetrack. Where I have some questions on distance with my top choice, I don’t think with this horse, and he has two runs on the good to soft going.
17 – Sinileo
He ran one race, and it was at this racetrack, and won on the soft going at one mile. This time was not fast, but you have a top trainer with a top jockey with this horse, and he had the choice to ride one of Andre Fabre’s other horses; why this one?
Rich’s Ranks and Analysis
Haydock – Saturday – Good – Sunny
Race 3: Betfred “The Classic Bookmaker” Achilles Stakes – 9:23 am ET
9 – LEOVANNI – has a Group 3 win – only concern in good 2yo into not so good 3yo – 2/2 at the distance – many older horses in here
6 – SHAGRAAN – resumes says 3rd up will be best effort
5 – SEVEN QUESTIONS – ran faster last out and should be better in 2nd up
4 – NO HALF MEASURES – won half of her races 6/12
Race 4: Betfred Nifty 50 Lester Piggott Fillies’ Stakes – 9:58 am ET
4 – CHORUS – taking a shot in 2nd up -last time won by 5
8 – SHAHA – 3 of her 4 races are strong enough to win – but lone 2nd up shaky
6 – INVISIBLE FRIEND – taking another flyer – ITM 2/2 at Haydock – runs well enough in 1st ups
5 – ESTRANGE – likely co-favorite – smashing wins on soft – got smoked in lone good run – so good = bad?
Race 5: Betfred John Of Gaunt Stakes – 10:33 am ET
1 – KINROSS – runs hot off the bench – winner 8/15 at the distance
2 – ALYANAABI – won his last, first up and lone run at Haydock – better in 2nd up
6 – MOUNT ATHOS – 1st up and good record gives him the best chance
5 – KIKKULI – another that should improve in round 2 off the sidelines – good turf works
York – Saturday – Good – Sunny
Race 4: William Hill Bronte Cup Fillies’ Stakes – 10:15 am ET
4 – JANE TEMPLE – all 3 races on AW – getting extra distance helps
5 – SCENIC – record on good is strong – closer that will like more distance too
7 – TERMS OF ENDEARMENT – cleary has faced better – form in last two – not so good
Chantilly – Sunday – Soft – Overcast
Race 4: Qatar Prix du Jockey Club
16 – NITOI – always well bet – distance won’t be an issue
15 – CAMILLE PISSARRO – Ryan Moore and ran well in deep field like today
6 – CUALIFICAR – winner 3 in a row – including last at Chantilly
14 – TIPINSO – never a bad race in 4 runs
