Saturday 3rd September 2022

Author: Jordan Yates (EvRacing_)

A big welcome to this Saturday Preview which comes from Haydock where it’s Sprint Cup Day. The first race I’ll be taking a look at is the 1.45 which is the Group 3 Superior Mile Stakes over a mile. I think this can go to Reach For The Moon at 13/8 for the team of Frankie Dettori and the Gosden’s. He’s not been seen since his shock defeat at Royal Ascot, where he was beaten at skinny odds by Claymore in the Hampton Court Stakes. Last term he developed into an exciting two-year-old though, and whilst he’s not quite lived up to the expectations he set for himself, I still think he’s got more than enough ability to get the better of the opposition he’ll face in this assignment.

Next up it’s the 2:20 which is a Class 2 Handicap that’s contested over a mile and six furlongs. The race has currently attracted an extremely competitive 15 runner field with the market currently standing at 11/2 the field. I’ve taken a chance on Speycaster at 8/1 for Hollie Doyle and Ralph Beckett. He’s not managed to get his head in-front this season to date in his three starts to date, but he’s been far from disgraced in each of those runs. Most recently, he finished a very solid fourth of fourteen at this track in the Bet365 Handicap and he’ll contest this race off the same mark. I think he’s got every chance of going well again, if not better.

It’s the 2:55 up next which is another competitive Class 2 Handicap that’s ridden over a mile and six furlongs. In this particular affair I’ve decided to side with Evaluation at 8/1 who represents Jason Hart and Keith Dalgleish. This four-year-old Dubawi gelding has had a superb campaign this term, winning four on the bounce before finishing fourth in the Northumberland Vase and a close-up second at Sandown last time out, where he went down by just a nose and agonisingly missed out on the big £100,000 prize. He’ll contest this race off the same mark as his Sandown effort last time, and he certainly gave the impression on that day that he can still be competitive off his current rating. If getting some luck in the run there’s every chance of another big showing.

The big race of the day comes up at 3:30 which is the Sprint Cup, a Group 1 affair that’s contested over six furlongs. We currently have a maxium field of 17 runners going to post, and I’ve taken a chance on one at a big price which comes in the form of Brad The Brief at 14/1 for Cieran Fallon and Hugo Palmer. He arrives here in great form having won both of his starts to date for his new yard, the first coming at this track back in May when he bolting in by over three-lengths before following up with a Group 2 success at the Curragh in the same month. He’s had a break since then with this likely being his long-term target, quick ground would be a slight concern, however, rain is forecasted and if the going is softened I think he comes here with an ever greater chance.