3.10pm Haydock Tips & Betting Preview 05/09/2015

Race Time: 3.10pm Meeting: Haydock Distance: 5f
Full Race Name: Betfred TV Be Friendly Handicap Class Two

Having gone back through our original selections with the benefit of the draw (though we do note with interest the majority of the form horses are drawn low which could yet change things) we will add in Snap Shots from the Tom Dascombe yard if only because in theory he has the perfect draw in the seventeen stall, and after all, this is a handicap. Only a three year old he could well have more to offer after just the thirteen career runs (high enough, but could be worse), and if he can repeat his runners up spot to Flyman at Ripon two races ago, he may well go a lot closer than his current price implies. Ruth Carr is the undisputed Queen of the sprinters and has entered Lexington Place here as the five year old looks to add to victories at Nottingham, Ayr, Musselburgh, and here already this season, and nine career wins overall. A son of Compton Place, he has gone up another four pounds for his last win in a Class Four in Scotland and this would certainly be his most valuable victory after 32 starts but all things are possible in the sprinting game – though as mentioned the draw hasn’t been kind with the five stall and a double figure seemingly favourable.

Richard Fahey loves to take these Saturday handicaps and relies on Ballesteros today and even sat the age of five he could get close to the winner if nothing else. Out up five pounds for a good win in a similar race at Chester two races ago he was then beaten in to fourth at Newmarket for no real reason but he has got the benefit of a double figure draw today and could be the each way option now the stall numbers are out.  While we are looking at the older horses (Ballesteros is five), Silvanus tops the list as a ten year old but recent wins at Pontefract and Ripon prove there is life in the old dog yet!  Sprinting form is notoriously unreliable but he does in theory hold Lexington Place on that Ripon form, and has the added bonus of the strength of Graham Lee in the saddle to bring the very best out of him, and although he would become the oldest ever winner of this race, and by a clear three years, we all know records are there to be broken. Looking at the younger generation, and there is a good chance Roger Varian will allow Maljaa to take his chance against his elders and betters after his recent win in a Class Three handicap at Doncaster. Three previous races this season had seen him place without victory and he was beginning to frustrate his followers but first time blinkers saw him get to the front and stay there last time, with a wider margin victory more than just a possibility had be not idled once he got to the front. A little more cover this afternoon may se him in an even better light but also adds the risk of a baulked run, so we will wait and see his draw before reaching our final conclusions.