Today’s Horse Racing Tips: Nap of the Day, best bets around the tracks for Friday 8 August

Get the latest horse racing preview for Friday, August 8 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, August 8 2025 Nap Of The Day Tip

Will Haydock’s Late Feature Deliver a Comeback Winner?

• Thapa Vc is running off a 6lb lower mark than when finishing second in this race last year.
• Trainer Mark Rimell has a 50% strike rate over the past 14 days, landing 1 winner from 2 runners.
• Jim Crowley has guided Thapa Vc to two career wins and returns to ride him for the first time since the Bath victory.

Nap of The Day

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As the racing calendar rolls into the heart of August, today’s flat fixtures are neatly spread across the afternoon and evening, promising action for fans and punters alike. The spotlight falls on a seven-race card from Haydock, where competitive handicaps dominate the schedule. From early contests showcasing lightly raced improvers to seasoned handicappers returning to familiar ground, there’s no shortage of intrigue.

The 8:30 at Haydock — the final race of the evening — holds particular interest, not least due to the presence of several runners who bring credible backform and recent consistency to the table. Among them is a previous course runner-up aiming to go one better under a jockey with whom he has tasted success. The card also features the likes of Stratocracy and Crown’s Lady, both of whom are near the top of the market after recent narrow defeats. Meanwhile, Rascal Recknell bids to back up a Doncaster success, though a rise in the weights could pose a new test, and Beaming Light seeks to bounce back following a solid, if slightly underwhelming, effort after climbing the handicap.

As the sun sets on Merseyside, punters will be hoping to end the day on a high with a competitive Class 5 seven-furlong handicap featuring several horses with prior course form, all seeking a late-season breakthrough.

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Nap of the Day: Thapa Vc to win – 8:30 Haydock

At BettingTips4You, our philosophy is grounded in precision and selectivity. We don’t scatter predictions across every event; instead, we identify one standout opportunity that combines value with form — and today’s Nap lands in the final race at Haydock, where Thapa Vc appeals as the horse to side with.

Having competed with distinction since returning to the winner’s enclosure at Bath in May, Thapa Vc finds himself 6lb better off than when narrowly beaten in this same contest last year. That performance – a shade second – came under today’s pilot, Jim Crowley, who resumes duties after a series of rides from others. Crowley’s record on this horse offers encouragement, particularly considering the composed front-running tactics he employed when guiding Thapa Vc to victory three months ago. His recent form (five wins from his last 34 rides) suggests he’s riding with confidence, and the reunion here is a significant plus.

Thapa Vc’s recent form offers more promise than it appears at first glance. His last two efforts at Thirsk and Doncaster saw him finish mid-pack, but both races lacked the strong early tempo that suits his patient style. This evening’s race appears primed to be run at a generous clip, with several front-runners lining up — ideal conditions for a horse who thrives when delivered late.

From a trainer’s perspective, Mark Rimell is operating at a sharp 50% strike rate over the last fortnight, landing one of his two most recent runners. Rimell knows how to place this horse, and returning to Haydock – a track where Thapa Vc went agonisingly close last year – looks an intentional move. With his mark now down to 67, which is 3lb lower than that runner-up finish in 2024, he appears to be well handicapped.

While some rivals such as Stratocracy and Rascal Recknell arrive in good order, they are burdened by loftier official ratings and come with less appealing prices. In contrast, Thapa Vc offers both form credentials and betting value, particularly with the pace scenario expected to unfold in his favour.

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