The Haydock betting tips for December 5 on Horsebetting.com give their three best bets for the Wednesday card on Merseyside. Mr Whipped shaped with bags of promise on his debut over the larger obstacles, so rates the NAP bet on the seven-race card to go one better and land the spoils in the 2m 4f novices’ chase. The form of the race Demopolis won in France looks strong, so he is our next best bet to make a winning debut for trainer Philip Hobbs in the 2m introductory hurdle. Secrete Stream, meanwhile, is back down to his last winning mark, so makes plenty of each-way appeal in the extended 2m 2f handicap hurdle. Find out more about these horses in our in-depth preview with Haydock betting tips for December 5.Mr Whipped a worthy favourite to open chasing accountMr Whipped ran a blinder when third on seasonal reappearance, so looks a worthy red-hot favourite to build on that and open his account over the larger obstacles in the 2m 4f Liverpool University Mba Novices’ Chase at Haydock on Wednesday (13:20). This Nicky Henderson trained five-year-old developed into a very smart novice hurdler last season when winning three of his five starts.
In the last of those, he beat Paisley Park by a length in a Grade 2 at Warwick. After tracking the leaders on the inside, Mr Whipped made a mistake two from home but was quickly gathered up by jockey Nico de Boinville, who produced him on the run-in to win going away at the line.
The son of Beneficial idled when hitting the front and was value for more than the winning margin over a horse that has scored twice since, including in a valuable handicap hurdle here on Merseyside last time out off a rating of 147. That gives the form a strong look and it was a most taking display by Mr Whipped.
Bred to be a chaser
Although disappointing on his final two starts of the campaign, connections always maintained that anything hr achieved over hurdles would be a bonus as he was bred to come into his own as a chaser. Mr Whipped certainly did nothing to dispel that view when third of seven to Count Meribel in a warm 2m 4f novices’ chase at Cheltenham last month.
After getting outpaced three from home, he made a mistake at the last when rallying before keeping on strongly to go down by just three-quarters of a length. That effort suggested there would be plenty of race to be won this season with Mr Whipped, and this four-runner affair is far less competitive.
So, with the stable in flying form and operating at a 40 per cent strike rate in the last 14 days at the time of writing, this looks a great opening for him to get back on the scoresheet. Thus Mr Whipped is readily put up had as the NAP in these Haydock betting tips for December 5.Demopolis taken to make winning start for HobbsDemopolis make his eagerly awaited debut for Philip Hobbs in the 2m introductory hurdle (13:55) and is fully expected to make it a winning one. The four-year-old was bought by leading Irish owner JP McManus after winning his sole start in France.
That came in a 13-runner conditions contest at Auteuil where he showed a good attitude to beat Shark Du Berlais by a neck. He had We Have A Dream a further 3 1/4 lengths behind in fourth, and that one has gone on to score five times over hurdles since joining trainer Nicky Henderson to be rated 152.
It gives the form a solid look in the context of this class 2 contest, while the in-form Hobbs has described Demopolis as a lovely prospect who has done everything asked of him and been pleasing in his work ahead of his UK debut.
Demopolis does face another useful prospect in the shape of The Big Bite, a smart bumper performer who impressed on hurdles debut when scoring easily by five lengths in a 16-runner affair at Chepstow and has the benefit of that run under his belt.
However, that win in France marks Demopolis out as potentially a well-above average sort capable of making his mark in graded races if all goes to plan. So, with the stable firmly among the winners of late, and champion jockey Richard Johnson in the saddle, he’s taken to land the spoils en route to better things and rates our next best bet of these Haydock betting tips for December 5.Well-weighted Secrete Stream appeals each-wayIn the extended 2m 2f handicap hurdle (14:25), Secrete Stream is a fascinating contender now switched back to the smaller obstacles off his last winning mark. This Ruth Jefferson trained nine-year-old has won three of his 10 starts over hurdles and also made the frame on two occasions.
In the last of those successes at Uttoxeter back in November 2016, the son of Fruits Of Love took up the running two from home before forging clear to land a competitive 15-runner class 3 contest by eight lengths from Granville Island off a mark of 129.
Having been put up 7lb for that to 136, Secrete Stream disappointed in his follow-up bid when sent off favourite and finishing a well-beaten fourth at Ayr. He then had his attentions switched to chasing and ran well at Carlisle when a staying on 5 1/4 lengths fifth of 13 to the now very smart 152-rated Mr Whitaker off 134.
Secrete Stream now reverts back to hurdles off a reduced rating of 129, so that makes him a major player from a handicap perspective in this class 3 contest on the pick of his form. Other pluses are that he’s gone well fresh in the past, has underfoot conditions to suit and is on a 29 per cent strike rate in the grade.
Aiden Blackmore also takes off another 7lb with his claim; so, taking that into account, Secrete Stream looks weighted to run a huge race. He therefore features as the each-way punt and completes our Haydock betting tips for December 5.Your Next Bet
