Group 1 action returns to Haydock this weekend and Phill Anderson of the Racing Post supplies us with his best bets for Sprint Cup day.
There are eight races on the card in total, starting at 13:25 and running all the way through until the finale at 17:25.
Haydock Racing Tips
14:30 Haydock - Pierre Grosse @ 12/1
15:05 Haydock - Stressfree @ 13/2
15:40 Haydock - James’s Delight @ 22/1
14:30 Haydock - Pierre Grosse @ 12/1
The ground is going to be hard work at Haydock on Saturday and one horse that should relish such conditions is Pierre Grosse.
The Irish raider is still a maiden after nine starts but he’s finished in the frame in four of his six runs this term, with his standout effort coming when beaten less than a length in the Ulster Derby at Down Royal.
That run came on testing ground and it worked out well with the winner going on to score at the Galway Festival.
Pierre Grosse has also not had his preferred conditions in two runs since, finishing runner-up in a Curragh maiden before a below-par effort at the Shergar Cup meeting.
Keithen Kennedy now takes back over in the saddle and he is a promising apprentice who is still able to claim 5lb, while he knows his mount well having ridden him four times previously, including in the Ulster Derby run.
There’s the possibility a first-time tongue-tie will help yield improvement and with the dead-eight runners, he makes each-way appeal at double figure odds with bet365.
15:05 Haydock - Stressfree @ 13/2
Another horse that won’t mind testing conditions is Stressfree for David O’Meara, who had an 80/1 winner with his sole runner at Haydock on Thursday.
The son of Anodin finished third of 15 in last year’s renewal after a cracking effort in the 2025 Ebor when making the frame.
Stressfree is following the same route this time after finishing sixth of 22 in this year’s Ebor. He had plenty on his plate from rear that day and did well to pick his way through the field to be only beaten by roughly four lengths.
That run represented a return to form and this is certainly less competitive, so he must have solid claims from a 5lb lower mark than last year’s renewal for a yard that really excels with their older horses.
There’s only 11 left in the race at the time of writing and with bet365 offering four places, he can be played each-way at 13/2.
15:40 Haydock - James’s Delight @ 22/1
It was Big Mojo’s turn to come out on top in the Group 1 sprint merry-go-round last season, but the ground may have gone against him this time around and this is a Group 1 in name only, offering a good opportunity for a soft/heavy ground specialist to come out on top.
The one that looks a little overpriced at the time of writing is James’s Delight, who won his sole start when tried on heavy ground and had some smart form in France in testing conditions.
It’s been a long time since he’s had his preferred ground but he did manage to get his head in front at Group 2 level last season and he’s run with credit in two Curragh efforts this time around.
Not many of his rivals want the ground this testing and six furlongs on soft is ideal for Clive Cox’s gelding.
While he’ll need to take his form to a new level on Saturday, he’s been kept fresh for an autumn campaign and may be capable of outrunning odds of 22/1 with bet365.
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Tipster's Recent Winners
Phill Anderson has picked out five winners from his last 15 selections for bet365 including Dancing In Paris (recommended at 12/1) and Johnny Concrete (recommended at 5/1) last month.
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
