🏇 Haydock Sprint Cup: The Full Report

How’s it going?

If this were a football newsletter, it would be Week 24 of 33 on the Flat.

The leaves are falling, and the kids are back at school – it’s autumn. 

That means the Flat season’s final Classic, the St Leger, at Doncaster next Saturday.

Donny’s four-day meeting starts on Thursday, so we’ve revealed a few pointers for it later in this edition.

Also later in this edition is a rare ante-post fancy from The Purist – wooo.

But hold your horses before scrolling to the bottom...

Here’s what’s coming this month.

Plenty of big fixtures, and several under the radar...

👉 Saturday’s Group 1 Betfair Sprint Cup headlines at Haydock. Expect heavy ground. 

👉 Six of Ascot’s seven races on Saturday afternoon are handicaps. Expect good (good to firm in places).

👉 Constitution Hill runs in Kempton’s September Stakes (2.50). Expect standard to slow on their all-weather surface.

👉 Constitution River runs in Sunday’s Arc Trials at Longchamp – if you’re new to racing, next month’s Arc de Triomphe is Europe’s richest race (October 4).

👉 York stage a competitive card on Sunday featuring a total of 106 runners.

👉 Billy Loughnane flies over for Germany’s big Group 1 on Sunday, where he partners Royal Ascot winner Giavelloto.

👉 The 2024 King George VI Chase winner Banbridge won on his Flat debut in midweek.

Here goes…

🔢 Saturday’s Haydock card produced a Placepot dividend of +£490 in 4 of the last 5 years.  

🔢 Haydock’s Saturday card saw trainer William Haggas hit 5 winners from 13 runs for a +£37 profit to a £1 stake (last five years), with jockey William Buick 5-17 (+£14). We thought not to use the ‘follow two big willies’ line 🍆🍆.

🔢 Clear favourites on Kempton’s Saturday card produced 15 wins from 34 runs (+£12 profit, last five years). Runners at 16/1 or bigger were 1-132 (-£115).

🔢 On Kempton’s Saturday card, runners that last appeared in the UK 46 to 120 days ago produced 14 wins from 65 runs (+£38 profit, last five years). 

🔢 Ascot’s Saturday card saw trainer William Haggas produce 6 wins from 17 (+£8 profit, last five years). 

🔢 Ascot’s Saturday card saw jockey David Probert ride 5 winners from 18 mounts (+£18 profit, last five years).  

🔢 Second favourites on Thirsk’s Saturday card produced 15 wins from 35 runs (+£27 profit, last five years).

Here is Saturday’s cheat sheet for the main meeting.

We spend quite a bit of time putting the Cheat Sheet together each week, so we’d love to know whether you actually use it. Let us know in the poll below.

You’ll also have the option to leave a comment after voting. If there’s anything you find particularly useful, don’t care about, or would like us to add, let us know.

Featuring the latest big-race roll of honour alongside ten-year trends analysis, our ‘Super Trends’ reveal the key stats for all the big races.

Use these trends to find your own selections, or if you’re short of time and can’t access a formbook, check our short-list of selections below each race.

🏅 Cavolo Nero
🏅 Warrior Mode

🏅 Gethin

🏅 Almeraq

Here’s who The Purist is backing on Saturday...

First, I try not to piss around with short prices where possible – juicier, each-way plays suit better. 

Second, I’m avoiding Haydock’s heavy ground.

Third, an ante-post bonus follows Saturday’s fancies. 

Thirsk 5.00 Native Honey

Although Native Honey’s three career wins came at Ayr, he ran well when an unlucky fifth at Musselburgh last time, just behind Misunderstood, who almost won next time out. Thirsk has a similar layout to Ayr, and Lauren Young takes off a valuable 5lb from the saddle. 

Thirsk 5.35 Obelix

It may have turned out a blessing when Obelix was a non-runner seven days ago, as I had voiced concerns re the soft ground. Thirsk is drying out by the hour and should be ‘good’ by race time, which will be ideal for Obelix, who can hopefully enjoy more luck than his unfortunate run this summer, especially at Beverley last time.

Newcastle 7.30 Criminal Shore

I backed a few winners in midweek at Newcastle where Criminal Shore returned me some each-way money, grabbing third under a weak ride. I felt a stronger ride from a few furlongs out may have got him nearer to the winner Sunriseontheboyne, who Criminal Shore now faces on 5lb terms. 

🚨 Ante-post special

There’s one I like for the Ayr Gold Cup on Saturday September 19.

I originally had Sondad marked for this, but he’s not making the trip to Scotland now, making life easier for me to side with Fine Interview.

I won’t bore you with his life story; I’ll do that in a fortnight’s time, but he’s an improving sprint handicapper who’s been kept away from firm ground all summer, prior to an encouraging comeback run at York a few weeks back.

The last Ayr Gold Cup to have taken place on good to firm ground was back in 2014, and with Fine Interview currently 25th in the weights (maximum of 25 runners can run), the percentages suggest it’s worth taking 33/1 now.

This week’s profile involves a classy winner on the up.

Victory Gold (2yo)

This front-runner isn’t one for next year’s Classics, but he’s won two of his three and is capable of adding another this season. His latest victory at Sandown was of real note.

Having settled better in front (raced too freely the time before), he took the opposition apart to win a 7f nursery – a race with a strong history.

In 2024, Charity Together won this Sandown nursery before following up on a return visit, as did Urban Sprawl in 2022 (won a Class 2 at Ascot at 9/1), along with New Mandate in 2020 (won a Doncaster Listed race at 17/2).  

It wouldn’t be a surprise if he turned up at Doncaster next week, and with his dam (mother) a Listed winner over 1m4f, there looks plenty more to come when upped in trip, including long-term next season. 

We’ll be on duty next Saturday for St Leger day, but with Doncaster kicking off on Thursday, here are a few edges to keep onside... 

1️⃣ Trainer Charlie Appleby is the guv’nor here (10-26 +£24 in the last five years). True, Godolphin’s main man has endured a below-par season, but he appears to be peaking just in time:

Charlie Appleby, UK 2026:

2️⃣ This next edge ties in with the above, which is sticking with jockey William Buick. Although half his winners at this meeting came for Charlie Appleby (10-20 +£30), his outside rides also struck at 9-37 (+£20).

3️⃣ The draw. If it comes up on the firm side down the straight course, ignore the lowest stalls and side with middle to high stalls. Conversely, if it comes up on the soft side down the straight course, ignore the highest stalls and side with middle to low stalls.

4️⃣ In day one’s Weatherbys 2-Y-O Stakes (1.50), stick with runners that:
Ran over 6f last time, won during their last three outings, and go off 14/1 or shorter.

5️⃣ In day two’s Flying Childers Stakes (2.25), stick with runners that:
Ran at Goodwood or York last time with an official rating of 102 or higher.

📌 Jockey Tom Marquand is already enjoying September, riding 7 winners from 14 rides since Tuesday.

► ITV: Haydock: 1.25, 1.55, 2.30, 3.05, 3.40; Kempton: 2.20, 2.50; Ascot: 1.40, 2.10.

Next Saturday is the St Leger at Doncaster, with quality backup via Irish Champions Weekend.

Until then…

…keep ‘em peeled 👀

The Paddock Report Team.

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