4.10pm Haydock Tips & Betting Preview 09/09/2017

A field of twelve go to post for the final race of the day on ITV on Saturday, a Class 2 Handicap from Haydock. See our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: My Reward won last Saturday at Chester and has been having a good campaign, but he had the run of the race last time out and that’s far from guaranteed here. The selection is JAAMEH for Mark Johnston and Jim Crowley, who will relish the softer ground and has been running well of late at this trip. He was only a length behind the aforementioned My Reward at Goodwood on his penultimate start and he wasn’t disgraced on his latest start in a strangely run affair that didn’t suit those held up. His mark of 96 is only three pounds above his last winning one and he should take a lot of pegging back here.

1 MY REWARD – Front-runner for Tim Easterby whose been enjoying a fine season for connections, gaining his latest victory seven days ago at Chester. He was given a peach of a ride that day though, allowed to dictate his own steady fractions and barely any horses managed to get into the race. He’s unlikely to have an unpestered lead here and a four pound rise makes this tougher. He cannot be dismissed by any stretch, but he can be opposed today with some interesting rivals ready to challenge.

2 TAWDEEA – Formerly a very smart handicapper for David O’Meara but confidence in him is wavering thanks to some lackluster performances of late. He was only able to manage third here on Thursday, keeping on well but that wasn’t as strong a race as this and it’s hard to be confident in him off the same mark upped in trip. He’s yet to really convince that he stays 1m 6f and with other in form runners in the field, he’s best watched.

3 JAAMEH – Won off three pounds lower back in June and although he’s run some poor races since, his last two runs were more than respectable for Mark Johnston. He was only a length behind My Reward at Goodwood in August and did best of those held up in a weirdly run affair at Newmarket three weeks later. He’s a pound lower here and will relish conditions, with softer ground his optimum. We likely still haven’t seen the best of him yet and Jim Crowley can steer him to a fourth career victory.

4 MUKHAYYAM – Suited by the return to front-running of late, winning two of his last four runs, though his latest effort at York was tame to say the least. He now goes up markedly in trip in a bid to revive but there’s no guarantee he will stay, with a mark of 93 perhaps seeing him in the handicappers grip at present. He won’t be getting a soft lead here and this doesn’t look like it’ll be run to suit today.

5 CLEONTE – Won a Listed race at the 1m 7f trip last year for Andre Fabre but he’s been very disappointing for the Andrew Balding yard this season. He could only manage tenth of thirteen at Glorious Goodwood on softer ground last month and this is no easier, so off only four pound lower, he’s very hard to fancy under David Probert.

6 GRACELAND – Usually a very consistent sort for Michael Bell whose a strong stayer at trips beyond this, finishing second in the two mile Northumberland Plate back in July. She’s now four pounds higher though and the handicapper looks to have the upper-hand at present, with the 1m 6f trip likely to be too short for her at present. She’s an each way contender if they go a strong gallop, but she looks likely to be found wanting.

7 GAWDAWPALIN – Due to run in the 4.25 at Ascot on Friday so his participation is very unlikely. He was last seen finishing second in a Shergar Cup race, with his wide draw no help as he had to be dropped in early on and had a lot to do. He’s untried beyond 1m 6f and although he gives the impression he could stay, there are no guarantees with the ground as it is currently. Sylvester Kirk’s going well at present but he’s a likely each way contender only.

8 PUMBLECHOOK – Won in ready style two starts ago at Catterick in very comfortable style but a combination of a rise in class and in the weights caught him out at Hamilton on his latest start. He was beaten out of sight which is very concerning and he’s only a pound lower here, with another rise in class here. Softer ground will be fine but it’s not hard to look elsewhere on this occasion.

9 GREAT FIGHTER – In form candidate for Jim Goldie who won twice earlier this season and has held his form well off higher marks the last twice, finishing a good second at Musselburgh on his latest start. He remains on the same mark here but does have significant questions to answer on ground worse than good to soft, well beaten on any ground softer than that in the past. Hard to make a case for him with the ground truly ‘soft’ at present.

10 SEPAL – Arrives here on a four-timer for Iain Jardine, winning at Hamilton on her latest start with a fair amount in hand, drawing right away towards the finish by three lengths. She’s now up ten pounds in the weights but seven pound claimer Jamie Gormley retains the ride and she’s clearly going the right way. Hard to rule her out despite a rise in class and with the yard going so well at present, she looks a big danger.

11 COMPTON MILL – Took his form to a new level on his latest start at Leicester over the 1m 4f trip, keeping on strongly in the softer ground to drive clear in the final furlong despite edging right. He now tries 1m 6f for the first time which looks certain to suit him and despite the rise in class he looks a big each way contender under three pound claimer Charlie Bennett.

12 RAVENOUS – Six year old for Luke Dace who tends to run his race more often than not, but his record of three wins from 40 total races is somewhat concerning. He was only headed towards the line at Nottingham on his latest start which was a good effort but he has it all to prove on softer ground and he seems to have an affinity for managing to throw races away.