1.45pm Haydock Tips & Betting Preview 02/07/2016

A drop in class could be all that is needed for Mark Johnston’s Champagne City (8/1) to get back to the winners enclosure and that is exactly what they have decided this afternoon as connections decide to allow him to carry top weight this afternoon in this Class Three event. Last time out he was a bit of a let down when beaten a distance at Epsom, fading badly over this ten furlong trip. Funnily enough, he had done the same on his return to action when last of four at Newmarket and although he is dropped n the ratings and in class, we can’t quite work out why they continue to persevere at this trip when he really looks unlikely to stay?

For the reasons mentioned above (and below as well, actually) , it would be remiss not to mention the only distance winner in the field as Navajo War Dance (5/1) looks to repeat his Ayr maiden win when he saw off Torremar by an easy four lengths. Stepped up to a mile and half later at Royal Ascot in the King George V Stakes, he ran a lot better than his finishing position of fourteenth suggests, after making plenty of the running and only fading inside the last, and dropped back to this trip against some doubtful stayers if he makes the running he could prove very difficult to catch, making him the value call and our selection today in a very strange race.

Threat Assessed (9/4) looks a better option and arrives here in great form after winning two of his three starts this season, stating on strongly over nine furlongs last time out to see off Dommersen by a head at the line. Put up six pounds for his sins, he wont find this quite as easy but was finishing so well that day that the added furlong ought to see him in an even better light, and he ought to be very much involved in the finish this afternoon granted a truly run race in this smaller than expected field.

As we all know, Richard Fahey invariably leaves the televised cards with at least one winner, but will Dark Devil (15/2) be the one this weekend is the big question.  A son of Dark Angel, the softer going here will be a step in to the4 unknown and also makes the tenth furlong a bit of a question mark (he didn’t seem to get home last time when tried over it at Epsom (one place ahead of Champagne City but four pounds worse off here), and even the Fahey magic may not be enough to get this one home in front over what looks like a trip too far.

Next on our short list we have Wild Hacked (9/4) who has been more consistent than most this season with a win at Windsor and a third at Sandown (behind Threat Assessed) sandwiching an fifth at Haydock when tried in this class. Four pounds better off with hos conqueror for less than two lengths there won’t be much in it here, but again his stamina is open to question making him pretty difficult to recommend.