7.20pm Haydock Tips & Betting Preview 07/07/2017

The flat eight go to post over a mile here, chasing a prize of just over £9,000 to the winner. Read on for our runner by runner preview and expert tip for the 7.20pm at Haydock.

IN SUMMARY: COTE D’AZUR is only two pounds above his most recent winning mark, now stepped right down in class compared to running at Royal Ascot last time out. There will be plenty of pace on despite the small field which will bring his stamina into play late on. Areen Heart could be the main danger, open to more progress than the majority of these, but he faded quickly over this trip in the last furlong last time out so it may be that an end to end gallop at this trip will undo him. Lincoln Rocks and Midhmaar are others with an each way chance.

1 COTE D’AZUR – Came of age last summer when the ground turned quick, rattling off a four timer within a month. He progressed again this year, winning the Thirsk Hunt Cup despite a wide draw from a mark just two pounds below this. He was far from disgraced in a York Listed race or the Royal Hunt Cup since, returning now to a level that he is comfortable winning from. He is one of a number who have gone from the front in their wins and with his form over further last season, a proper test at the trip is perfect for him, very much the one to beat.

2 LINCOLN ROCKS – Had the run of the race when making all at Musselburgh last time out, a track she has performed well at in the past. She has shown the very best of her form going right handed, her sole triumph this way round coming at Haydock but from a mark twenty pounds lower than now. Still progressing enough to think that she can defy this mark in the future (probably back at Musselburgh,) but this could be a step too far for now.

3 ALNASHAMA – By Dubawi out of a 1000 Guineas winner, he is bred to be better than an 89 rated handicapper, but having notched up a hat-trick of wins last season, he has struggled with a mark in the late 80’s since. Will be seen to best effect if the ground stays fast but a pair of thirds from 88 and 89 already in 2017 suggest that he will need others to underperform to win.

4 THEODORICO – Did the job in stylish fashion when landing a pair of Class 4 handicaps earlier in the season, a step up in class since however has proved beyond him. He is ten pounds higher than for the latter of those wins, giving him plenty to prove at this level of opposition before he could be considered a winning prospect.

5 MIDHMAAR – Owen Burrows charge has plenty of ability, but the suspicion remains that he keeps a bit to himself rather than giving full commitment. He shaped with promise on his 2017 return in a Nottingham handicap that has worked out well, giving a pound and a half length beating to Two For Two. A line through that horse with Cote D’Azur who beat him the same half length giving him six pounds, says that the eight pounds Midhmaar receives from that rival should mean he beats him. He has failed to back that run up twice since however so although the one to beat at the weights, he is hard to trust implicitly in first time blinkers, after first time cheekpieces didn’t improve him last time.

6 CALDER PRINCE – Was just run down late over this course and distance last time out, the best form he had shown for eleven months. He has slipped from a peak of 101 to 86 now with trainer Tom Dascombe’s record with runners at the track, always of interest. He took them along in front on that occasion however, enjoying an uncontested lead, something that he looks unlikely to repeat with others who like to front run.

7 ACCURATE – Lightly raced, winning twice in France on the all weather before joining his current yard. His best turf form came on good so the soft surface he was faced with on his U.K debut would not have suited, but it was disappointing that he didn’t achieve more on the Polytrack at Chelmsford last time. Ian Williams is likely to find the key to him this season, with a mark of 84 looking lenient on his French best, but needs to step up considerably if he is to win this.

8 AREEN HEART – Sole three year old in the line-up has acquitted himself well in Class 2 company the last twice, retuning to slightly calmer waters here. There will be races to be won with him off this mark, but he faded out of contention last time, late on over this trip, so it could be that a step down to seven is going to be where he gets his head in front again.