Horse Racing Tips: Robbie Wilders' Haydock Sprint Cup tips

bet365 News Team Updated: 09 Jun 23 13:55 Published: 02 Sep 22 16:15

Haydock's premier day of Flat racing takes place on Saturday and Robbie Wilders from the Racing Post provides three selections, including one in the feature Sprint Cup.

2.20 Haydock
Irish Lullaby @ 12/1
1pt each-way

2.55 Haydock
Amtiyaz @ 16/1
1pt each-way

3.30 Haydock
Hala Hala Athmani @ 50/1
1pt each-way

Lullaby can put rivals to sleep

bet365 are paying five places in the 16-runner 1m6f handicap (2.20) and it could be worth playing Irish Lullaby each-way for Jessica Harrington.

The Irish trainer recently scooped a decent prize at the Shergar Cup with an overseas raider and can enjoy more success with this daughter of Nathaniel, who should relish a first crack at a staying trip.

Irish Lullaby has improved the further she has stretched out in distance and needed every inch of 1m4½f when getting up late in the picture in a really competitive three-year-old handicap on soft ground at the Galway festival in July.

There will be a different surface for Irish Lullaby to overcome at Haydock, but my selection has winning form on good ground and I like the booking of Frankie Dettori.

The legendary jockey has a first and second in two rides for Harrington in Britain.

Gosdens' patience can pay off with Amtiyaz

The Old Borough Cup (2.55) is another deep race and I'm slightly annoyed at the early defection of short-priced favourite Soulcombe due to a poor scope. I was keen to take him on.

However, the place terms are still favourable for punters and Amtiyaz is the way I'm looking.

It is slightly surprising top connections are persevering with this five-year-old entirely and, while his seasonal return at York a couple of weeks ago lacked inspiration, there should be big improvement to come.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained runner will be more at home over this 1m6f trip and was really progressive at four, capturing the Copper Horse Handicap before faring best of those up with the pace when a gallant third at Newmarket next time.

Amtiyaz has dropped to a mark just 3lb higher than for his Royal Ascot victory and can hit the frame at a decent price to reward his team's patience.

Hala Hala can keep Sprint Cup in family

The Group 1 Sprint Cup (3.30) is Haydock's best race of the year on the Flat and has attracted a field worthy of its top-level billing.

This feels like another contest to play each-way in with five places up for grabs with bet365 and it is not beyond the realms of possibility that the complete outsider of the field, Hala Hala Athmani, could run a massive race for the Kevin Ryan stable.

Ryan won this in 2019 with Hala Hala Athmani's half-brother Hello Youmzain and this filly is the least exposed runner in the field with just four starts to her name.

Hala Hala Athmani emerged with real credit on her comeback when seventh in the Commonwealth Cup at the royal meeting (third lifetime start) as she wasn't beaten at all far behind more battle-hardened, race-fit sprinters. The run can also be marked up as she didn't enjoy the smoothest of passages.

While she disappointed at York next time, she got no cover from stall one and plenty of horses flop on the Knavesmire, so I'm giving her another chance from stall ten here.

The daughter of Dabirsim has always been highly regarded and I believe she has every chance of collecting some place money with the promise of more to come.

By Robbie Wilders