'The favourite will take a lot of beating' - trainer quotes for a hot handicap

Saturday: 2.35 Haydock
Cazoo Silver Bowl Handicap (Class 2) | 1m | 3yo | ITV4/RTV

Benoit de la Sayette reached the 20 winners mark on just his 98th ride in Britain on Tuesday and the triumph means his 7lb allowance has vanished.

The rider now claims 5lb off Silver Bowl topweight and favourite Mighty Ulysses, but that remains a major advantage for a talented handicap debutant whose Derby credentials were admittedly exposed in the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom two starts back.

Mighty Ulysses hit a low of 2.02 in running there but failed to get home over the 1m2f trip and finished fifth. However, the return to a mile worked the oracle next time as Mighty Ulysses obliged with an easy odds-on success under De la Sayette in a Newmarket novice eight days ago.

In all probability this St James's Palace Stakes-entered colt is well treated off a mark of 101, although joint-trainer John Gosden's 2-16 record since 2017 with horses returning within ten days of a victory is an alarming statistic against the market leader.

If Mighty Ulysses is unable to bring his A-game, there are others with claims in a strong three-year-old handicap.

Gavin Cromwell saddles his sixth runner at Haydock but first on the Flat at the course in Mister Wilson. A progressive two-year-old, Mister Wilson ran a screamer on his first start for Cromwell in the Madrid Handicap at Naas in March behind the highly-rated Ger Lyons-trained Markaz Paname, who captured a Group 3 on his next outing.

That Mister Wilson is only up 1lb for that and has the benefit of the useful Aidan Keeley claiming 7lb off suggests he must go close, providing the forecast rain hits Haydock as he needs soft ground.

Ring Of Beara is the early outsider but also has a squeak if bouncing back. This impressive maiden winner was inconvenienced by racing away from the main group behind Modern Games in the Tattersalls Stakes last September, and may have needed his disappointing comeback run at Sandown in April.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

Whoputfiftyinyou team eye repeat win

Whoputfiftyinyou lines up in this £100,000 handicap with an unbeaten record and bids to emulate the success connections had in this contest four years ago with Crack On Crack On.

Trained by Clive Cox for Paul and Clare Rooney, Whoputfiftyinyou is stepping up in trip after wins over six furlongs at this track and Kempton, and over seven, on his handicap debut, at Newbury.

Clive Cox: trainer won the race four years agoCredit: Edward Whitaker

However, Cox is hopeful the new distance and 5lb higher mark will prove no barrier to a fourth win. He said: "He's got an unblemished record and I hope stepping up to a mile will be a positive move. I couldn't be more pleased with the way his seasonal debut went on ground a little bit quicker than we'll see at Haydock.

"He went up 5lb but I think he can absorb that stepping up in trip – I've always felt he was going to get a mile. He's got course form and I'd be happy with his chances."

What they say

Thady Gosden, joint-trainer of Mighty Ulysses
Mighty Ulysses settled well when he dropped back to a mile at Newmarket and Benoit [de la Sayette] knows him well. He has plenty of speed so this should suit him, but he could go back up in trip later on.

Daniel Kubler, joint-trainer of Outgate
He's progressing well and deserves to have a crack at a bigger pot after his win at Chester last time. He's more battle-hardened than some in the race and hopefully the ground will be good or faster as we were concerned he wouldn't handle it last time when it was soft.

Richard Hannon, trainer of Oh Herberts Reign
He's up in class but we know he likes the track and trip as he was just touched off there last time. There look to be a few live ones in there, but he has a decent draw and an each-way chance.

Richard Hughes, trainer of Ring Of Beara
He has to bounce back from a dismal run at Sandown first time up, but if you take that out he could be bang there. He might go up in trip later on.

Grant Tuer, trainer of Dirtyoldtown
He's drawn wide and routinely we'd go forward with him, but we may need a plan A and B this time. The favourite, Mighty Ulysses, will take a lot of beating – I see he's entered in a Group 1 at Royal Ascot – but my horse has come on for his run at Musselburgh and the conditions will suit.

George Boughey, trainer of Tollard Royal
He's in great shape and looks to be well drawn. He was a good winner on his final start at Beverley and I expect the track will suit him.
Reporting by David Milnes

Saturday's big-race previews:

3.10 Haydock: 'I can't wait to run him' – trainers on their top Sandy Lane contenders

3.20 Curragh: Charlie Appleby on Native Trail's chances in the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh

3.45 Haydock: can Nunthorpe winner Winter Power produce her best away from York?

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