2.05pm Haydock Tips & Betting Preview 08/07/2017

The ITV racing tips from Haydock begin with a mile and six furlong handicap for three year olds only. Ten runners chasing a first prize of a little over £31,000! Read on for our expert preview and tip.

IN SUMMARY: Lots of these like to get on with things, so this should be a proper end to end gallop. Jukebox Jive is the most stoutly bred of the field so should relish the test, while Mister Manduro is another who promises to be suited by the way the race is run. HUMBLE HERO can improve past the pair of them, lightly raced, he was always in control of a Doncaster maiden last time, impressing with his attitude, looking as if this further step up in trip will benefit him. He could be well treated at the weights on his handicap debut.

1 MISTER MANDURO – Produced career best efforts the last twice stepped up to this trip, most notably last time in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot. He wasn’t suited by the way the race was run there, turning into a sprint from the home turn, he kept on at one pace. There are a number of front runners here, so with a better gallop to aim at, he looks a big player despite the rising mark.

2 NEVER SURRENDER – Broke his duck at the seventh time of asking, when trying front running tactics for the first time. Found it more difficult to execute as successfully in a big field handicap at Royal Ascot, but emerged with credit in seventh. He will face competition for the lead here on a step up in trip, can race freely which looks his undoing in this field.

3 ZENON – Improved for the step up to a mile and a half when landing a Chepstow maiden on soft last time, the runner up won a similar race at the same track next time to give the form a little boost. This will be the quickest ground he has run on and while his siblings have won on good to firm, the majority of their better form has come with cut in the ground so it must remain a question for him to answer.

4 JUKEBOX JIVE – Bred to be a dour stayer (dam won over 2m5f on the flat,) so it was no surprise to see him improve when stepped up to this trip at Sandown last time. This is a sharper test at the trip so this field with numerous front runners will suit, likely to be better for a further step up in trip but will relish this if it turns into a slog.

5 HUMBLE HERO – Arguably got the run of the race when winning a Doncaster maiden last time over a mile and a half, dictating the fractions from a long way out. He shaped as if this extra step up in trip will unlock further improvement with only three races under his belt, there should be natural progression to come anyway. A mark of 84 looks on the lenient side for Willie Haggas’ charge which makes him very much the one to be with on his handicap debut.

6 CRIBBS CAUSEWAY – Has relished the step up in trip this summer, rattling off a quick hat-trick of wins from the front. A seven pound rise in the weights for the most recent of those is unlikely to be enough to stop her, the step up from Class 5 events to a Class 2 however, is a huge leap in grade. Two of those wins came on the all weather and the other on good, her two runs on quicker surfaces – including on handicap debut – weren’t as good so she is passed over here.

7 MISTRESS QUICKLY – Another who likes to race prominently, she showed much improved form at Newmarket last week when winning over a mile and a half. That was on good to soft ground and while the step up in trip looks likely to suit, her pedigree suggests that the improvement with cut in the ground was no surprise, might find this a little quick.

8 LOOK MY WAY – Two and a quarter lengths behind Mister Manduro at Musselburgh two runs ago, he is just a pound better off for that beating. He was outstayed close home there as he was at Sandown last time, so given the plethora of front runners here, his stamina is going to be given a stiff test.

9 DOMINATING – 2/2 since being stepped up to this trip, albeit both wins coming in Class 5 company. He outstayed Look My Way up the Sandown hill in his latest win despite still looking green. He should be able to confirm those placings now, but that still leaves him with a bit of work to do to get competitive in a much deeper quality race.

10 CRAY – Has improved for the step up in trip, four pounds better off for a near three length beating from Mister Manduro at Musselburgh. The cheekpieces he wore on that occasion were removed when he got closer to the Musselburgh runner up at Chelmsford last time, but they return today. Likely to run his race, but enough is known about him to consider him an unlikely winner.