It’s Sprint Cup day at Haydock Park on Saturday as the famous Merseyside track hosts the marquee Flat-race on their calendar.
Starman bids for a Group 1 double after landing the July Cup this summer for trainer Ed Walker.
It’s a seven-race Haydock card from 1.15pm-5.15pm, and you can watch all the action – as well as every race from the UK and Ireland – when logged into MansionBet. Here’s our race-by-race look at the card.
1.15 – Betfair Exchange Ascendant Stakes (Listed, 1m)
A quartet of contenders for the opener and the standard is set by Power Of Beauty for Hugo Palmer, second to Albahr in a Sandown contest in this grade last time. Along with Triple Time and Dukebox, he is much respected, but Dubawi colt HAFIT could be quite promising for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin. He was green on debut at Newmarket four weeks ago but still won, and that form has been held up by the second and third scoring since. William Buick’s mount should come forward nicely.
Selection: Hafit @ SP
1.45 – Betfair Double Daily Rewards Superior Mile Stakes (Group 3, 1m)
An 8YO he may well be, but Lord Glitters shows no signs of slowing down. He won Group 1 and 2 races in Dubai early in the year and has gone well in better races than this one since his return to Britain, including chasing home the very talented Real World at York last time. His chance is good, but MAYDANNY is worth a go in this grade for Mark Johnston. The dual Glorious Goodwood winner (1m/1m2f) wasn’t disgraced under his penalty at York last time, and he might not find a better spot in Group 3 company than this.
Selection: Maydanny @ 7/2
2.20 – ‘My Odds Boost’ On Betfair Handicap (1m6f)
Andrew Balding’s Melrose winner Valley Forge is the one they all must fear after that excellent start to his career in handicaps a fortnight ago. He may have plenty more to come and is respected. PRAIANO was behind Oceanline at Sandown a day after that race, and he met more than his share of traffic problems in that contest. He doesn’t have much to find and is 3lb better off now – he’s a player for the Roger Varian/Andrea Atzeni alliance.
Selection: Praiano @ 5/1
2.55 – Betfair Exchange Old Borough Cup Handicap (1m6f)
The Old Borough Cup is down on numbers this year but remains as competitive as ever. Global Storm will aim to quickly leave behind Ebor disappointment and is respected, while Autumn War, Indianapolis, Rhythmic Intent and Rajinsky merit consideration. NOBLE MASQUERADE was better than ever when scoring impressively at Windsor last month. Eve Johnson Houghton’s charge has come on since tackling this C&D 12 months ago and, with Hollie Doyle for assistance, is well worth a second go at the trip.
Selection: Noble Masquerade @ 5/1
3.30 – Betfair Sprint Cup Stakes (Group 1, 6f)
After Ed Walker described him as ‘Usain Bolt in equine form’ this week, the July Cup winner Starman is odds-on for Sprint Cup success and, with fast conditions very much in his favour, Tom Marquand’s mount should take some halting. The likes of Chi Chil and HAPPY ROMANCE make some appeal for each-way purposes, however.
The former ran well in the Nunthorpe and should be suited back at 6f, but 3YOs have a formidable Sprint Cup record (five of the last seven winners) and, a Group 3 winner at Newbury seven weeks ago, perhaps Richard Hannon’s Happy Romance can make the most of her allowances and find her way into the frame under Sean Levey in what is an open contest when taking out the jolly.
Selection: Happy Romance @ 14/1
4.05 – Betfair Be Friendly Handicap (5f)
Marco Ghiani is enjoying a breakout summer, and he’ll have leading hopes that TONE THE BARONE can put him front and centre again here. Stuart Williams’ charge may have needed last month’s Ascot run – his first since the spring – and he’s been eased a pound now. He has place claims and is 3-4 in previous starts under this rider.
Selection: Tone The Barone @ SP
5.15 – Better Odds On Betfair Exchange Handicap (1m)
It’s been a while between drinks for GIN PALACE, but Eve Johnson Houghton’s charge hasn’t been devoid of promise this summer, and his mark has dropped some 10lb in the course of recent months. A pair of first-time cheekpieces are deployed here and, in a fiercely competitive finale, he’s potentially starting to lurk on a dangerous mark. Typical Man is another with fair claims on the strength of his Newbury second in June. He sported an array of headgear at Sandown soon after and failed to fire, and, following a short break, those aids are left off now.
Selection: Gin Palace @ SP
*All odds correct at time of writing
