There is loads of racing to enjoy on ITV this weekend, including the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock. Matty Sutcliffe fancies a 14/1 outsider in that showpiece race, as well as five others taking part in Saturday’s action.
Published: 2.15pm Thursday, 5th September (Odds correct at time of writing)
1:15 Haydock – Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Superior Mile Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Prague 8/1 1pt WIN
A tricky seven-runner contest kicks off the ITV card this Saturday, and the absence of the top three in the betting prior to declarations has subsequently shaken up the market. Cicero’s Gift was disappointing last time out when failing to back up his excellent top-weight winning performance on seasonal debut, and while connections blamed the fast ground for that effort, I’d be worried chancing him to put that run behind him particularly with him not long coming off the back of an injury.
Holloway Boy will likely be closely matched in the late betting with Cicero’s Gift but he’s 0-12 since his debut win in the Chesham, with him appearing somewhat ‘trip-less’ at this stage. Witch Hunter was narrowly touched off by a nose in the Hungerford Stakes last month, but his record over a mile is underwhelming. Clove Hitch was well backed in the ante-post market, but fillies have a poor record in this contest which also tempers enthusiasm in Sparks Fly. Regal Reality was probably flattered by his proximity to Anmaat who undoubtedly needs the run when winning the Rose Of Lancaster Stakes, not to mention he seems to prefer rattling fast ground nowadays.
Everything appears to point to the unexposed outsider of the field in PRAGUE, who shaped with promise from the front in a competitive conditions race at Goodwood last time out. The former Ballydoyle inmate was a shock 40/1 winner on debut at Sandown in June, travelling strongly on the front end throughout before easily putting the race to bed under Jack Gilligan.
He improved on RPR’s (108) when fourth over the same C&D next time out, with the fifth subsequently beaten a length in the G3 Strensall Stakes at York. Prague shaped as if a drop back to a mile would suit last time out when overhauled late by four others, but the form has worked out well with Sir Busker taking a strong handicap off top-weight at York, and My Prospero taking a Windsor G3.
While Prague will have to improve again to take this, the obvious lack of strong early pace (bar Sparks Fly) could be the key in winning, and we’ve seen at Haydock this season how much it’s suited to race on the front end throughout. Danny Tudhope takes over for the first time which, no disrespect to Jack Gilligan, is a big plus for the chances of getting this well bred son of Galileo back in the winners enclosure. Five of the last six winners of the race have come from stalls three or lower, so he’s well birthed in that respect and the application of a first time tongue tie may eke out further effort in the finish.
1:35 Ascot – bet365 Handicap (Class 2) (3yo+) – Rebel Territory 13/2 1pt WIN
Up until last season, no stall lower than ten (six in the 20s) defied such a draw in the Victoria Cup. REBEL TERRITORY overcame that perceived bias in abundance when bolting up by four lengths from stall two in a strong renewal. He missed an engagement in the Golden Mile on account of the ground, before finally reappearing from a 470-day layoff two weeks ago at Goodwood when shaping as if, understandably, needing the run.
Rebel Territory took a keen grip in that contest throughout, but travelled better than most when the pace lifted and appeared to be coming with a winning run. However, a combination of that layoff and his keen exertions ultimately led him to blowing up in the finish. That run should see him strip much fitter this time around, and if he’s anywhere near the form of his Victoria Cup success then I’d expect him to go very close this time around. He’s 2/3 over seven furlongs and unbeaten over this C&D, and both a lack of strong early pace and forecast softening conditions will undoubtedly play to his strengths. Despite posting an RPR four pounds higher than his official mark, the handicapper has leniently dropped him a pound for that run which further boosts his claims, as does the booking of Robert Havlin who’s 2/6 for the yard this year.
2:10 Ascot – Chapel Down Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo) – The Reverend 6/1 2pt WIN
William Haggas is an astute operator when targeting certain handicaps he’s won before, and that brings both Solomon and THE REVEREND into contention. Haggas has won this three times in the last nine renewals, and The Reverend gets the nod over his stablemate, particularly as he has a similar profile to Haggas’ previous winners of the contest.
La Yakel won this for the yard in 2022, having already been gelded and making his handicap debut on his fourth start after three runs in novice company. Chalk Stream won it in 2021, though was making his sixth start in handicaps, though he was also a gelding. Wonder Laish won it in 2015 and though he was gelded after the win, he was making his handicap debut on his third start, similarly to La Yakel and The Reverend.
The Reverend was a smart winner on debut in a typically strong Newmarket Novice at the backend of the year, though was somewhat put in his place by four lengths on reappearance at Thirsk in July. He was giving 7lbs to the winner who’d had the benefit of a run, and in hindsight it wasn’t a bad effort first time up particularly given the winner is now rated 100 after taking the competitive Clipper Handicap at the Ebor meeting, a race in which 3yos typically falter in. The Reverend looks well handicapped off a mark of 86 in that respect, and I wouldn’t be all that worried that he failed to land the odds at Hamilton on heavy going last time out as he was again giving weight away to the Gosden trained debutant, who’s a half brother to their fillies mile winner Commissioning and undoubtedly a smart colt.
Now dropping into handicap company off a potentially lenient mark of 86, I’d expect The Reverend to take a big step forward here getting weight from most and the first time cheekpieces look the correct move. The trip shouldn’t be an issue nor will any soft going, and in-form David Probert takes a rare ride for the yard who he has a 25% all time strike rate with.
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2:25 Haydock – Betfair Exchange Old Borough Cup Handicap (Class 2) (3yo+ 0-105) – Euchen Glen 16/1 1pt EW 4 places
It was almost impossible to come from the rear at York at the Ebor meeting, and anything that went close having been held up must be seriously considered next time out.
Lieber Power was a bet for the column in the Sky Bet Handicap and to my dismay, he was sent right out in rear by Oisin Murphy only to be beaten a nose after being set a mammoth task. EUCHEN GLEN was ridden a place behind Lieber Power in rank last throughout, and the writing was inevitably on the wall for his backers too. However, he also ran a solid race when coming home strongly up the far side rail, posing the quickest tenth furlong and the second highest finishing speed percentage of the field, showing just how much speed and ability he retains at the grand old age of eleven.
Euchen Glen must be considered on that evidence, and he’s been in top form this season outside of that effort. He fared well from rear at Goodwood in the Summer Handicap in a race where the top two were always prominent throughout, and prior to that he was only beaten three lengths the John Smith’s Cup when unusually leading throughout, and that race has typically already worked out strongly in places. He has a 4lbs swing in the weights with Epic Poet for a neck deficit which suggests he’s certainly worth some value in comparison with that one here.
He’s consistently posted RPR’s higher than his official rating this season, and while he was well beaten in this contest last season, that came after a tough race in the Ebor. He was only beaten three lengths in this race in 2022 off a 13lbs higher mark, and he won the race off an 8lbs higher mark in 2020 so he’s certainly well handicapped to reclaim his crown off a mark of 92. This is a much weaker affair than his last three efforts, and he rates a confident each way contender with a honest forecast pace looking to suit, even if stall thirteen poses a question mark.
2:35 Kempton – Unibet September Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Cemhaan 9/1 1pt WIN
This is an interesting renewal of the September Stakes, as if Hamish was coming off the back of his length defeat in the G1 Coronation Cup then he’d likely be a long odds-on favourite. He won this race a couple years ago when beating Hukum, though that one was almost certainly not right in himself on the day and was reported to have made a respiratory noise. Hamish was beyond disappointing last time out on drying ground at Newmarket, but he has to be taken on off the back of that effort.
I was somewhat disappointed with Lion’s Pride when he found nothing for pressure at Goodwood last time out, and for all he’s 2/2 here, he does seem to have regressed of late and could potentially be vulnerable once more at this level.
I’ve long thought there was a big race in CEMHAAN, who was a bet for the column when third at 28/1 to Middle Earth in the Aston Park Stakes having largely set the race up for the improving pair ahead of him. King Of Conquest in second has boosted that form since with two wins in Listed company, and the return to this track could bring out the best in him. Cemhaan recorded a career best RPR in the competitive Roseberry Handicap here in April, gamely winning off top-weight in the manner of a potential group horse. He’s 2/4 at the track, and his record over 1m4f reads 2721710143, with the only below par effort coming on heavy ground at Doncaster prior to wind surgery.
He’ll be suited to an obvious lack of early pace in this small field from stall two, and this may be his best chance of a black type success for connections with Neil Callan (2/3 on him) back aboard.
3:35 Haydock – Betfair Sprint Cup Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Kind Of Blue 14/1 1pt EW 4 places
KIND OF BLUE has made giant strides this season, having only made his racecourse debut in April and finishing a four lengths fourth to Inisherin in the G1 Commonwealth Cup in June on just his third start. Inisherin was a disappointing favourite in the July Cup next time out and there’s a suspicion that these strong contests may be catching up with him despite his two-month break.
Kind Of Blue is progressing with every run and was far from disgraced in third behind Elite Status in the Hackwood Stakes at Newbury in July, so immediately there’s a suspicion that he’s overpriced with the top two in the market. He regressed slightly on RPR’s when beaten a head by Givemethebeatboys in a G3 at the Curragh last month, but I thought Danny Muscutt held on to him for a shade too long there while the others got racing earlier, including the winner who was already well revved up for the finish.
He’s from a family that James Fanshawe knows well having trained his dam’s half brother Deacon Blues to win a quadruple of group races in 2011, before more famously training another of his dam’s half brother The Tin Man to win this contest in 2018. I also think he’ll improve for a little bit of give in the going, as he has somewhat of a knee action and can carry his head a touch high so this potentially slower contest may aid him in that respect. He’ll settle well in midfield from stall five and represents a solid each way bet at the prices.
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