Haydock Sprint Cup Tips & Offers

One of the late summer sprint highlights of the season comes at Haydock in September. Here we take a look at the best odds and offers surrounding the Haydock Sprint Cup and provide our betting tips for the race.

This 6f Group 1 contest open to runners aged three and older was first run at Haydock in 1966 and now offers just shy of £300,000 in total prize money. If you fancy a bet on this year’s contest, be sure to use one of our free bets to help you win.

Sprint Cup Stakes Tips and Betting Offers, 4:10 at Haydock, 7th September 2019

13 runners have been declared for the 2019 Sprint Cup Stakes at Haydock. This valuable Group 1 is usually contested by a high class field but we have a particularly exciting renewal to enjoy on Saturday.

Will Three-Year-Olds Retain Their Dominance?

The Tin Man ended a run of four straight wins for three-year-olds in last year’s Sprint Cup. The 7/1 shot coped best with the heavy ground at Haydock but it’s fair to say that it was not a classic renewal of this race.

It’s a different situation this time around with conditions expected to be a little firmer underfoot (although it’s still officially soft) and a higher standard of younger horses in the field. There is a chance that any easing in the ground could see some horses such as Ten Sovereigns pulled from the race late on but the way the market and the field is set up suggests that we’ll see a return to the norm with a three-year-old winner.

Time to See Whether Kadeem is Top Class

The trio of three-year-olds at the top of the betting – Advertise, Khaadem and Ten Sovereigns – each have solid claims for the Sprint Cup.

Advertise looked a genuine star when winning the Commonwealth Cup and then followed that up with another Group 1 success in the Prix Maurice de Gheest. Khaadem has put his disappointing run in the Commonwealth Cup firmly behind him and turned in an incredible performance to land the Stewards’ Cup. Ten Sovereigns has established himself as a top level sprinter now that Aidan O’Brien has decided to keep him over the shorter trips.

They each have something to prove at Haydock on Saturday but it’s Khaadem who could just be the most exciting prospect of them all. It’s a big step up from winning a handicap (even one of the standing of the Stewards’ Cup) to landing a Group 1 but the ability to turn in a performance of that class on a tricky course against so many competitors and carrying 9st 6lb is nothing but impressive.

Rain Will Play Into The Tin Man’s Hands

Connections of The Tin Man will be praying for a lot of rain in the lead up to the Sprint Stakes. The eight-year-old may not be at his best at this stage of his career but he’s shown glimpses of excellence this season and absolutely loves racing at Haydock.

The ground at Haydock is notorisouly tacky. It will prove difficult enough to give The Tin Man fewer genuine rivals for the Sprint Cup so a smaller stakes each way bet is worth a shot at 16/1 with BetVictor.

Betting Predictions

Khaadem is not the first horse to head for the Sprint Cup following a top quality performance in the Stewards’ Cup. It would still be an eye catching way of going about things. Charlie Hills has been excited about Khaadem’s ability ever since taking over the colt’s training and may just have a sprinter of the highest class on his hands. That suggests the odds of 5/1 that Paddy Power are quoting about his chances look too good to miss.

Previous Winners

2018 – The Tin Man – jockey Oisin Murphy, trainer James Fanshawe
2017 – Harry Angel – jockey Adam Kirby, trainer Clive Cox
2016 – Quiet Reflection – jockey Dougie Costello, trainer Karl Burke
2015 – Twilight Son – jockey Fergus Sweeney, trainer Henry Candy
2014 – G Force – jockey Danny Tudhope, trainer David O’Meara
2013 – Gordon Lord Byron – jockey Johnny Murtagh, trainer Tom Hogan
2012 – Society Rock – jockey Kieren Fallon, trainer James Fanshawe
2011 – Dream Ahead – jockey William Buick, trainer David Simcock
2010 – Markab – jockey Pat Cosgrave, trainer Henry Candy
2009 – Regal Parade – jockey Adrian Nicholls, trainer David Nicholls
2008 – African Rose – jockey Stéphane Pasquier, trainer Criquette Head-Maarek
2007 – Red Clubs – jockey Michael Hills, trainer Barry Hills
2006 – Reverence – jockey Kevin Darley, trainer Eric Alston

Haydock Sprint Cup History

This sprint contest which first took place in that great footballing year of 1966 has the brainchild of the prolifically successful owner Robert Sangster. In addition to giving us this race, Sangster was of the key players in the founding of the Coolmore breeding operation, and must rate as one of racing’s most influential figures of the 20th century.

Initially run in November each year around Haydock’s old 6f track which featured a rather sharp bend, the event has taken place over the straight track at the Merseyside venue since 1986. Group 1 status was conferred upon the contest just two years later in 1988, a status which it has retained ever since. Initially opened to two year olds, the race has been restricted to runners aged three and older since 1994.

The brilliant Boldboy was probably the most talented horse to land this prize in the 1970’s. A decade in which the Dick Hern trained gelding also won the Greenham, Diadem, Lockinge and Duke of York Stakes, in addition to a remarkable four triumphs in the Abernant Stakes.

The 1980’s saw the prize landed by the smart Green Desert and one of the most influential sires of the second half of the 20th Century, Danehill. Dayjur, Sheikh Albadou and Invincible Spirit are other star names to feature on the roll of honour here.

Three of the greatest jockeys since the 1970’s share the lead amongst the jockeys with Lester Piggott, Pat Eddery and Willie Carson joined by Bruce Raymond on three wins apiece. John Dunlop is out on his own in front as the leading trainer here having recorded four wins between the years of 1981 and 2002.

The Sir Peter O’Sullevan owned, Be Friendly, won the inaugural edition of this contest as a juvenile back in 1966 and returned to successfully defend his crown the following year. As of 2015 no other runner had landed this prize on more than one occasion.

The Flat season is moving towards its final stages and it will soon be NH time. The Cheltenham Festival is still some way off but it’s never too early to start planning!