One of Haydock’s signature handicaps, the Old Borough Cup is another race on Saturday to have filled out its quota of runners. 17 horses will compete for the 1m6f contest and Joe Napier previews a competitive renewal.
Favourites
William Haggas’ team have been firing in winners of late, with their unexposed runners always worth a second look in handicaps. Relatively speaking, that applies to The Reverend, who has had just the eight starts as a four-year-old. The eighth of those was a comfortable victory on soft ground at Ripon last time out which hinted that the step up to 1m6f could unlock even greater improvement.
A 4lb rise is lenient, but it was a winnable five-runner race. Furthermore, as he had previously been held three times off a mark of 95 as favourite (runs off 98 here), he looks opposable with depth in the line-up against him.
Two particularly in-form candidates are Paddy The Squire and Caballo De Mar. The former is seeking a hat-trick having gone up 10lb in the handicap this season. Any soft in the going description would ask a question, but his success at Hamilton last time out suggests his improvement this season is far from finishing. Likewise, Caballo De Mar has developed no end this campaign, rising 24lb in the handicap with big runner-up efforts in the Chester Cup and Copper Horse Stakes at Royal Ascot. In both of those, he beat potential handicap outliers, otherwise he would be unbeaten in six and his stamina is proven for this test.
Though not in the same form, Stressfree has contested class 2 handicaps only since April. In that time, he has won over 1m4f at this venue, as well as three further places, including bouncing back to nearer his best when fourth in the Ebor at the end of August. Back up 1lb, he remains in the grip of the handicapper, but could easily run his race again.
Contenders
Dancing In Paris is, like Stressfree, high enough in the handicap for winning purposes, but the consistent five-year-old stays at least this far and has clearly been improving all season. Each-way backers are not put off, nor are they from Kildare Legend, another unexposed type for a four-year-old who looks likely to stay this far. His second to Stressfree makes him well-treated.
Others not priced far off the favourite include Dramatic Star, the favourite’s stablemate. His only run at Haydock could be forgiven as he slipped on the home turn before tailing off last, but there is no obvious reason he can defy a mark of 89 having been sixth of ten at the Shergar Cup last time. He is unproven at 1m6f, unlike Master Builder and Contacto, who were first and second in a course and distance handicap for three-year-olds on this card last year. Neither have kicked on this season, but a return to this track under these conditions could provide the spark for either, notably the former given how readily he won that race 12 months ago.
Outsiders
Recent form is too much of a concern for Align The Stars, but he is undoubtedly on a good mark if first-time blinkers make a difference. Charlie Johnston’s charge stays further and could gain a decent position from an early stage.
Both Tashkhan and Loughville look weighted to the hilt, while this is a class above what Imperial Sovereign, Torcello and In The Breeze look capable of. Both Oneforthegutter and Adjuvant are worth at least a second look though, the former having produced a career best just two starts ago on the July Course at Newmarket before finding the Ebor too tough, the latter now 1lb below his last winning mark and likely to improve again back up to 1m6f.
Verdict
Both The Reverend and Kildare Legend are relatively unexposed and could progress further over 1m6f. However, the proven stamina of CABALLO DE MAR appeals, especially as he is in such superb form this term. But for finishing second in two big handicaps behind impressive winners who were too well-treated, he would be six from six in 2025 and a mark of 99 could remain in range for a horse improving fast enough to be a potential Group race contender before long. Master Builder is another contender, with his course and distance winning form of last season particularly striking, while a return to form from Adjuvant could be in the offing over this distance.
- Caballo De Mar
- Master Builder
- Adjuvant
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