Best Bets for Saturday. Our Picks for the Racing and Ireland vs England Nations League Clash

The Premier League takes a break, and the UEFA Nations League takes centre stage this weekend. A new dawn for England following the departure of Gareth Southgate sees the Three Lions travel to the Aviva Stadium to take on the Republic of Ireland. Meanwhile, on the racing front, the ITV cameras head to Haydock, Ascot, and Kempton for a nine-race feast on Saturday afternoon.

Here, using data presented by NewBettingSites.uk, we pick out our best bets for Lee Carsley’s first game in charge and a trio of fancies for the racing action.

Saturday: Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Superior Mile Stakes - Haydock, 1:15

With the well-fancied duo of Nostrum and Maljoom not taking up their engagements, this Group 3 affair has a wide-open look. Cicero’s Gift heads the betting and should enjoy this slower surface, having flopped at Goodwood last time. In contrast, second favourite Clove Hitch may need the rain to stay away, having shown her best form on good to firm.

Regal Reality is the proven class act in the race but is zero from three at this track and may struggle to break his duck at nine years of age. In what isn't the strongest race for the grade, the one to take a chance on is the Dylan Cunha-trained Prague. Making only his fourth career start here, he is only 4lbs off the top-rated runner and may prove up to bridging that gap. Having led in all three outings over 1m1f+ – winning the first but fading in the past two - this drop down to a mile looks a shrewd move - particularly as his dam Princess Noor was a Group 3 winner over 6f. Throw in the application of a first-time tongue tie, and he looks like an appealing proposition to hit the frame

• Recommended Bet - Prague each way @ 17/2 with BetGoodwin

Saturday: Unibet September Stakes – Kempton, 2:35

Whilst “only” a Group 3 affair, this race boasts a seriously talented roll of honour – Enable (twice), Bay Bridge, Jack Hobbs, and Mostahdaf coming home in front in the past ten years alone.

2021 champ Hamish heads the betting this time. Still going strong at the ripe old age of eight, he landed the Group 3 John Porter Stakes on his seasonal return before finishing a gallant second to Luxembourg in the Coronation Cup. If at those levels, he’s the one to beat, but he bombed out completely in the Princess Of Wales’s Stakes last time, which is a concern.

John Gosden has taken this five times in the past nine years and will be represented by Lion’s Pride and God’s Window in 2024. The former is significantly shorter in the market, but God’s Window will carry our each-way cash. Third in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy last season, he returned with an emphatic success at Nottingham before disappointing at Chester, York, and Epsom. He patently failed to handle the track at Chester and Epsom, whilst his run at York looks better in hindsight thanks to the subsequent exploits of the winner, Economics. The fact he was pitched into the Derby suggests he shows plenty at home, and his staying on second at Hamilton last time was a step in the right direction. At 20/1, he’s worth chancing in an open heat.

• Recommended Bet - God’s Window each way @ 20/1 with Star Sports

Saturday: Betfair Sprint Cup Stakes – Haydock, 3:35pm

As ever, the sprint highlight of the year at Haydock provides a fascinating clash of the generations as the three-year-olds tackle their elders. The admirable Swingalong looks like the pick of the older runners, having finished a close second in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes and July Cup this season. She doesn't face the two who beat her in those events and seems sure to make her usual bold bid from the front. However, she hasn’t been missed by the market this time, and we just prefer another.

Commonwealth Cup winner Inisherin and Karl Burke’s Elite Status head the betting, whilst fellow three-year-old Jasour could go close if able to settle early in the race. All have chances, but at a bigger price, it’s hard to fault the Adrian Murray runner, Bucanero Fuerte. This son of Wootton Bassett boasts form figures of 3111 over this 6f trip, including a four-length romp in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes last season. He gave 3lbs and a beating to the useful Givemethebeatboys on his seasonal return and looks like a big player here.

• Recommended Bet - Bucanero Fuerte each way @ 12/1 with LiveScoreBet

Saturday: Republic of Ireland vs England 5pm

Interim England manager Lee Carsley begins his trial for the full-time job against the nation for whom he appeared 40 times as a player. The former Under-21 coach has wrung a few changes with his first squad – Kyle Walker among the notable absentees, and Lille’s Angel Gomes the most surprising call-up.

Following the pragmatic Southgate era, many predict the shackles will come off this England side, with the talent in wide areas and forward positions given more chance to shine in a high-pressing, front-foot system. That bodes well from an entertainment standpoint, but doesn’t necessarily mean they will blow the Irish away.

Ireland may be limited from an attacking perspective, but can be tough to break down, particularly at home – their past six home games seeing them concede more than once only twice, restricting Belgium, Switzerland, Hungary, and New Zealand to one or fewer. On the other side of the coin, they have failed to score in half of those fixtures.

Overall, we expect England to win comfortably enough without going goal crazy, and they should have enough to keep things tight at the other end.

• Recommended Bet - England to win 2-0 @ 11/2 with Star Sports