3.50pm Haydock Tips & Betting Preview 10/08/2017

This is a Class 2 handicap raced over 6f, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: There is plenty to like about the chances of SAINTED following her excellent third in a Group 3 at Goodwood last week. She races off a mark of 91 today which surely underestimates her ability and she should win this. Shamsaya should give her the most to think about, making just her third start of her three-year-old campaign today having shown clear progression last time out.

1 SOUTHERN BELLE – Has produced some mixed form this season, but her second place effort behind Eartha Kitt at York in June gives her a big chance in this. She couldn’t follow up that effort off a 4lb higher mark last time out which she races off again today and she may just be handicapped up to her best at present. First run on Soft ground today.

2 SAINTED – Ran a fine race behind Al Jazi in the Group 3 Oak Tree Stakes at Goodwood last week (rated 91 at the time). She races off that mark again today and she’s sure to go up in the future and with form on Soft and Heavy, she’s likely to go very well today. William Haggas is flying at present with a 26% strike rate and she should go close in bettering that record today.

3 FUTOON – More exposed than some of her rivals in this having raced 16 times to date. She’s won twice in her career – once in a maiden and once in a Class 5 handicap – so she needs to do much more to get the better of some of these. She did perform with credit in Listed company off a 4lb higher mark so she’s not entirely discounted.

4 QUEEN IN WAITING – One of the likely pace angles in this having made all to win at Newmarket back in June. That form gives her a chance today, albeit off a 4lb higher mark than her last success and her last two runs have been below par. She may want faster ground than this and she might be best watched today stepping back up to six furlongs.

5 ISEEMIST – John Gallagher’s mare is without a win on Soft ground from four attempts and she’s likely to struggle on this going again today. She’s been beaten a fair way on her last two starts, although she was only beaten a length off a mark of 90 at Goodwood back in June. The yard are going well at present with a 22% strike rate in the past fortnight. Others make more appeal today though.

6 COURIER – Marjorie Fife’s yard has been in poor form of late, without a winner from their last 14 runners and that doesn’t look set to improve today. Their mare steps up in grade this afternoon but she’s been comfortably held in weaker races than this over the summer. Whilst she has course form on Soft ground, she’s going to be up against it on these terms.

7 CLEAR WATER – Finished 1 3/4 lengths behind Southern Belle when the pair met at Chester back in July. Michael Wigham’s filly has been dropped 3lbs following her last run in which she was beaten 16 1/2 lengths and she’s shown a fraction of the form required to win today. Her sole success came in a Newmarket maiden back in May of last year and others make greater appeal in this.

8 SHAMSAYA – Useful filly for Simon Crisford, notching up two successes as a two-year-old, including off a mark of 83. She only made her three-year-old debut back in June and she took a big step forward last time out to finish third of six, beaten just under a length. She races off the same mark today and, with a three-year-old allowance to aid her, she could be dangerous on these terms with more improvement to come. She’s also proven on Good to Soft ground.

9 HOPE SOLO – Finished last of nine behind Clear Water and Southern Belle last time out and she’s not raced since. Her sole success came in a Chepstow maiden on Soft ground so conditions will suit her. She’s racing off a career low mark of 83 for a yard going relatively well at present so she’s worth a second look in the betting.