Today’s Horse Racing Tips: Nap of the Day, best bets around the tracks for Friday 18 July

Get the latest horse racing preview for Friday, July 18 horse racing action including the Nap of the Day selected amongst every race on every card in Britain and Ireland. Read on to find the best tips and predictions in addition to the latest betting offers.

Today’s Horse Racing betting tips: Friday, July 18 2025 Nap Of The Day Tip

Will a Change in Scenery Spark a Return to Winning Ways?

• Paggane has placed in 5 of her last 6 completed jumps races, including Class 1 and Class 2 contests
• Jack Callan, booked to ride, has a 20% strike rate in the past two weeks
• Russian Crescendo, today’s market favourite, flopped on her most recent outing and is unproven over this trip

Nap of The Day

Top Betting Offers To Take Advantage Of Today

Friday’s action on 18th July serves up a typically busy mid-summer schedule, with flat racing dominating across the cards. Among today’s highlights, Haydock steps forward with a competitive meeting, where stamina will be tested over the longer trips in drying conditions. Elsewhere, several Class 4 and 5 handicaps provide tricky puzzles, as trainers and jockeys look to capitalise on recent form spells or bounce back from underwhelming outings.

The 4:25 at Haydock stands out not only for its extended 1m6f distance but for being a qualifier for the Jockey Club Grassroots Stayers Series, which adds further depth to the field’s intentions. Eight declared runners line up for this inner track contest, including unexposed sorts stepping up in trip, seasoned campaigners returning from breaks, and dual-purpose runners switching codes. The surface is expected to ride on the good-to-soft side, creating a genuine stamina test without veering into heavy ground conditions.

There’s plenty of intrigue surrounding the likes of Russian Crescendo, a lightly-raced four-year-old with upside, and Knights Affair, who brings a decent hurdles background into play. Curran’s recent form has dipped after a sharp spike, while Melakaz returns from an extended absence with much to prove. However, one entrant quietly catching the eye is a useful dual-code mare who could be underestimated by the market in this sphere.

Nap of the Day: Paggane to win – 4:25 Haydock

Here at bettingtips4you, we stick to one standout selection each day – our Nap of the Day – rooted in confident analysis and focused strategy. We believe in honing in on the highest value rather than overwhelming readers with multiple options, providing clearer guidance and accountability in tracking outcomes. Today, we turn our attention to Paggane in the 4:25 at Haydock, where this returning hurdler offers compelling appeal at the prices.

Paggane steps back onto the flat after posting a solid third over 1m4f at Ffos Las, which was her first outing under the care of new trainer Faye Bramley. That effort came in soft ground and saw her stay on steadily, finishing within five and a half lengths of the winner despite needing the run after a 26-day turnaround and a stable switch. With that under her belt, she now returns to 1m6f – a trip that should suit far better based on her extensive jumping form where she’s stayed upwards of three miles with consistency.

Her recent jumps profile is eye-catching. She placed in five of her last six completed starts over fences or hurdles, including a neck second in a 25k handicap chase at Killarney and a strong runner-up effort in a Class 1 chase at Perth. Those performances came off higher official ratings, indicating class above this company, and the Racing Post Rating of 91 today confirms she brings serious credentials into a Class 4 flat contest.

Her ability to handle varied going, coupled with her proven stamina and strong tactical versatility, suggests she’ll be suited to Haydock’s inner circuit, where positioning and rhythm matter. The booking of Jack Callan, fresh from a solid 20% strike rate in the last fortnight, further boosts confidence. While Paggane is still searching for her first flat success on British soil, her form in France – including a win over 1m5f at Morlaix – shows she can handle the discipline.

Given the profile of today’s rivals – many of whom carry question marks either on recent form or fitness – Paggane offers tangible value at current odds and could be well-handicapped on this return to the level.g fitted with a hood, he’s produced his most competitive efforts, and the consistency of his recent runs suggests he’s in a good mental and physical space. That combination, along with today’s manageable weight and familiar track, puts him in a strong position to capitalise.

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