Haydock plays host to a fantastic card on Saturday, featuring the Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup, where hot favourite Shaquille bids to make it a third successive Group 1 victory in what has been an impressive season for Julie Camacho’s colt.
Tote are guaranteeing a huge £150,000 in the Placepot for it, so our editor has given his selections in an attempt to land the big prize pot.
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Leg 1: 1.50pm
Leg 1 Selections: (3) Chindit (4) Light Infantry
I’ve got a confident selection to kick off the placepot – Richard Hannon’s CHINDIT. His record outside of Group 1 company reads 11114311813 (7/11), but when you only look at races over this one mile trip his record is 111 (3/3). He’s also won 4 of his seven races on good ground and the jockey booking of James Doyle is another positive in my opinion.
To make sure we get through the first leg I’ll also add in LIGHT INFANTRY, who races in Group 3 company for the first time in almost two years. He’s been plying his trade in Group 1 company for the majority of that time since, and has placed in five of the nine races, perhaps being unfortunate not to have a winner in that time. These two are the class horses in the race and it would be a shock if neither of them managed to at least place.
Leg 2: 2.25pm
Leg 2 Selections: (4) Lordship (2) Naqeeb
I fancy the chances of LORDSHIP to reverse form with Denmark here. He was just over 3 lengths behind him at York last time out, but has a 4lb swing in the weights now. With Adam Farragher’s 3lb claim taken into account, that’s a 7lb pull on that rival, and if anything his jockey booking is a plus, considering he’s 3/3 on board. 8 of the last 10 winners came from stalls 4-7, so his draw in stall 5 looks ideal too.
The William Haggas yard is flying at present so I’ll also include NAQEEB. This is a step up in trip for him but the manner he bolted up at Kempton last time out suggests that won’t be an issue. Prior to that he was beaten a nose by Middle Earth at Newmarket, who in turn has since beaten plenty of these rivals next time out. Tom Marquand takes over on board and I’d be shocked if he was thereabouts at the finish.
Leg 3: 3.00pm
Leg 3 Selections: (11) Forza Orta (3) Get Shirty
This looks much more open than the first couple of races. I fancy FORZA ORTA to confirm form with Aztec Empire here, although that was a messy race they contested at York last time out. He’s 1lb worse off with that rival now, but I feel like he always had the measure of him in the run in.
The other I will add in is GET SHIRTY for the David O’Meara yard. He’s down to a mark of 100, which is his lowest for over a year now, and considering he won off of 105 comfortably at this course, he could prove extremely well handicapped here. He has finished well beaten in all five races since he returned from Meydan, but his effort at York last time out was a step in the right direction and I think he will outrun his odds.
Leg 4: 3.35pm
Leg 4 Selections: (11) Shaquille (6) Run To Freedom
I’ve got to have SHAQUILLE in this. A winner of his last six races, with the last two at Group 1 level, Julie Camacho’s quirky runner is clear on ratings and if he breaks well from the stalls, he should really be winning this. The fact he has reared at the start in his last two races and has still won tells you just how good he is! James Doyle takes over on board but he’s no stranger to the horse, having won on his both times he’s ridden him this season, and everything is pointing towards a third successive Group 1 win for Shaquille.
I will add one more in here though, as I can’t believe the difference in price between Shaquille and RUN TO FREEDOM. Granted, Henry Candy’s runner doesn’t have the best draw and he’s finished behind a couple of these runners recently, but it’s hard to ignore the fact he was only 1 and a half lengths behind Shaquille last time out. He’s also 4lb better off with him here and Trevor Whelan remains on board, having finished 1st and 2nd (the 2nd was last time out behind Shaquille) on his previous two rides. He looks a fantastic E/W shout in this and I’ll add him to the placepot picks just incase Shaquille fluffs the start!
Leg 5: 4.10pm
Leg 5 Selections: (4) Jm Jungle (2) Alligator Alley
JM JUNGLE is unfortunate not to come here in search of a four timer, having finished just half a length behind Equilateral last time out at York when drawn on the wrong side of the course. That was a phenomenal effort under the circumstances, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he resumed winning ways here. 8 of the last 10 renewals have gone the way of horses aged 3-4, and considering there are no 4YO’s entered I think he’s the pick of the 3YO’s.
ALLIGATOR ALLEY did finish just ahead of Jm Jungle that day at York and has since won at Newcastle. He could only finish 4th when sent off as favourite in this last year but he arrives in much better form this time, and I expect he’ll go close.
Leg 6: 4.45PM
Leg 6 Selections: (5) Remaadd
I was really impressed with the way REMAADD quickened clear when winning on his first effort at this trip last time out, where he put distance between himself and his rivals in a matter of strides and won easily in the end. This is a much tougher race and will be on better ground than the soft ground he faced then, but he was runner-up on debut on good ground so I don’t think the ground will be any issue. The Haggas/Marquand is on fire at the moment and he has a fine strike-rate with his 2YO’s this season, so he’s the pick in what looks a tricky race on paper.
Suggested Placepot
Leg 1 Selections: (3) Chindit (4) Light Infantry
Leg 2 Selections: (4) Lordship (2) Naqeeb
Leg 3 Selections: (11) Forza Orta (3) Get Shirty
Leg 4 Selections: (11) Shaquille (6) Run To Freedom
Leg 5 Selections: (4) Jm Jungle (2) Alligator Alley
Leg 6 Selections: (5) Remaadd
32 Lines x 50p = £16
Haydock Sprint Cup – Key Runners, Outsiders + Big-Race Verdict
The Haydock Sprint Cup is the feature race across England this weekend, and this year features a stellar line up of horses aiming to add their name to the illustrious list of winners of the race. That list includes multiple Group 1 scorers Harry Angel (2017), Hello Youmzain (2019) and Dream Of Dreams (2020). This…
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