Haydock hosts one of its principal Flat meetings of the year on Saturday with the Group 1 Sprint Cup (15.35) over 6f the highlight alongside the Old Borough Cup (15.00), a valuable staying handicap. The action at the Merseyside track starts at 13.15 with the Group 3 Superior Mile Stakes and concludes at 17.15 with a competitive mile handicap.
Below are our selections for each of the seven races.
13:15 - Superior Mile Stakes (Group 3, 1m)
Dylan Cunha’s PRAGUE finished three-and-a-half lengths behind the reopposing Make Me King at Pontefract last time, but there’s reason to believe that form can be turned around on this sharper track.
The five-year-old was keen enough early on last time and faded quickly in the final half-furlong, dropping to fifth. It was a better run than it looked at first glance and this track favours front-runners.
Selection: Back Prague @ 5/1
13:50 - Ascendant Stakes (Listed Race, 1m)
John and Thady Gosden’s PUBLISH gained deserved compensation for a luckless defeat on his debut at Sandown in July and looks a colt of massive potential.
Currently a 16-1 chance for next season’s 2,000 Guineas, he missed an intended engagement in the Group 3 Solario Stakes at Sandown last weekend due to a testing surface, but should have no excuses on the predicted good ground and will surely relish the step up to a mile, given how strongly he’s come home in his two races over 7f.
Selection: Publish @ Evens
14:25 - Handicap (1m2f)
William Haggas’ VALIANCY has been improving steadily throughout the year and the addition of first-time cheekpieces could prompt further progress.
An easy winner of a 1m3f Hamilton maiden, the three-year-old has twice finished behind the reopposing Pole Star this season, including over this course and distance in July, but he’s considerably better off at the weights with that rival and can get his revenge.
Encouragingly, his yard has won two of the past five runnings of this race.
Selection: Back Valiancy @ 3/1](https://www.leovegas.com/en-row/betting#racing/event/1024871980?coupon=combination|3864611396,3864611458,3864611709,3864611410,3864611405,3864611661,3864611682,3864611716|0|replace)
15:00 - Old Borough Cup Handicap (1m6f)
Ian Williams has a good record in this valuable handicap and it’s unlikely that his DANCING IN PARIS will be far away under Saffie Osborne, who has a good book of rides.
The five-year-old has yet to win this season, but he’s posted a string of creditable efforts in top staying handicaps such as this, including when second in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle and when again finding one too good in the Summer Handicap at Goodwood.
He has finished first and third in two previous runs at this track and represents plenty of value at double-figure odds.
Selection: Back Dancing In Paris @ 7/1
15:35 - Sprint Cup Stakes (Group 1, 6f)
James Doyle has chosen to partner LAZZAT over Kind Of Blue and Flora Of Bermuda, the French raider bringing rock credentials into this feature race.
A runaway winner of a Chantilly Listed race in May, he gained his second win at the highest level when edging out the Japanese-trained Satono Reve in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He couldn’t quite match last season’s victory in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville (second) last month, but a drop back to 6f is very much in his favour and he should be up to landing his second Group 1 of the year.
Selection: Back Lazzat @ 2/1](https://www.leovegas.com/en-row/betting#racing/event/1024871980?coupon=combination|3864611396,3864611458,3864611709,3864611410,3864611405,3864611661,3864611682,3864611716|0|replace)
16:07 - Handicap (5f)
ALASKAN GOLD has been in freefall in the ratings over the last year and looks worth taking a chance on in what is a wide-open sprint handicap.
The four-year-old has gone from 101 to 88 in the space of five runs, but there were definite signs of life when finishing a close up third behind the progressive Grandlad (who has won again since) over this trip at Hamilton last month.
He’s lightly-raced for Robert Cowell, who excels with his sprinters, and the booking of jockey Billy Loughnane takes the eye.
Selection: Back Alaskan Gold @ SP](https://www.leovegas.com/en-row/betting#racing/event/1024871980?coupon=combination|3864611396,3864611458,3864611709,3864611410,3864611405,3864611661,3864611682,3864611716|0|replace)
16:40 - Handicap (Div 1, 1m)
The lightly-raced MEZCALA looks on a potentially lenient opening official mark of 84, having run to a Racing Post Rating (RPR) of 86 when making all on the Polytrack at Lingfield last month.
Tom Marquand, who is 9-32 when riding for Jack Channon, gets the ride for the first time and the Expert Eye gelding ought to be suited by this track, which tends to favour those that race on the pace.
Selection: Back Mezcala @ SP
17:15 - Handicap (Div 2, 1m)
PRESENT TIMES, who cost 625,000gns as a yearling, was picked up for just 48,000gns by Stella Barclay at the sales in July and that could prove money well spent should the Sea The Stars gelding regain the form that saw him win a Lingfield AW maiden last winter.
The three-year-old ran to RPRs of 86, 82 and 84 on his first three outings for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin last year, prior to having plenty go wrong on his final start for that stable at Newmarket on his seasonal return.
He has been off since, but a change of scenery and the added attention that a switch to a small yard can bring, should see him give a good account.
Selection: Back Present Times @ SP](https://www.leovegas.com/en-row/betting#racing/event/1024871980?coupon=combination|3864611396,3864611458,3864611709,3864611410,3864611405,3864611661,3864611682,3864611716|0|replace)