The Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup of 2025 plays out against a backdrop of wet weather in the British Isles in the build-up to it. This corner of Merseyside seems to have been spared the midweek downpours that have hit elsewhere, however. Rain remains in the forecast, so the going could turn soft as 17 sprinters bid for glory over six furlongs on Saturday, 6 September.
Supporting the feature contest is the historic Old Borough Cup over a mile-and-three-quarters. There’s also Group 3 action with the Superior Mile and juveniles run in the Ascendant Stakes, which has Listed status. Other handicaps complete the card on one of the track’s biggest days of the season.
With the Haydock Sprint Cup of 2025, as in any season, there is always the danger of draw bias. The Straight Course throws up winners and losers in this respect. In a season where the sprinting division produces different results every time there’s a big race, it makes things difficult for punters.
Helping you navigate all of this are our experts. Thanks to the luck of the draw and more potential rain, this is particularly tricky this time around. Our experts are up for the challenge, though, and have been studying hard with lots of different form to consider.
Check out their thoughts on all the big events on the card as they combine past performances with the best prices available on horse racing bookmakers for the handicaps, Listed and Pattern races. Here’s all the analysis you need on Merseyside.
Haydock Sprint Cup 2025 Card Preview for Saturday, 6 September
1:15 – 1m 37y Group 3 Superior Mile
A superb front running ride from Joe Fanning in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Dick Hern Stakes onboard Suite Francaise for the Charlie Johnston team! 🏆@Johnston_Racing pic.twitter.com/B4YB0dpioF
— Haydock Park Races (@haydockraces) August 9, 2025
Running in a Group race is the next logical step for Suite Francaise following her Dick Hern success against fellow females here in August. She beat Sandringham Stakes scorer Never Let Go and subsequent French Listed winner Shuwari on that occasion, so the form looks solid. There are some even more unexposed sorts in the line-up, though.
Karl Burke steps the twice-raced and unbeaten Zeus Olympios up considerably in Class after landing this event 12 months ago with Holloway Boy. Snow Master is another three-year-old with a similar profile for Tom Dascombe after a couple of victories around Yarmouth. Clive Cox’s Fearnot found topweight in an Ebor Festival mile handicap too much of a burden, meanwhile.
Jack Channon steps Excellent Believe out of handicaps following a seven-furlong success here last time. Of the older horses, who aren’t the most reliable, Ice Max, Prague and Checkandchallenge all have bits and pieces of form that would be good enough. It really does look like going to something more lightly-raced this time, though.
1:50 – Listed 1m 37y Ascendant Stakes
The juvenile race on the Haydock Sprint Cup 2025 card all hinges on the weather. If rain stays away, then Juddmonte’s PUBLISH will take his chance. Should the heavens open on Merseyside, however, then chances are John & Thady Gosden will pull their Kingman colt out just as they did at Sandown last weekend.
Using the horse who beat Publish on his racecourse debut as a form marker, however, Glacius must also enter calculations. Hugo Palmer has had a fine season and his son of Too Darn Hot could be useful. George Boughey saddles Bow Echo, meanwhile, after landing a Newbury maiden in style from a subsequent winner. He could be anything as well after a sole run and win.
Similar comments apply to Shayem following his albeit narrower win over seven furlongs here. Ed Walker filly Midnight Tango could benefit from stepping up in trip to a mile, but looks relatively exposed after five races alongside Brian Meehan’s ratings topper Bourbon Blues. Completing the field are Tailgunner Joe and He’s Waliim, who must improve on their two runs.
2:25 – 1m 6f Class 2 Plays In A Different League Handicap
Pole Star edges out stablemate Novelista in a one-two for @Johnston_Racing ✊@bet365 | @haydockraces pic.twitter.com/PnNxIpopIJ
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 5, 2025
Landing this contest has probably been a target for him ever since the two placed efforts on previous visits. A subsequent second around Sandown suggests Valiancy should be battle-hardened and ready for today’s assignment under Saffie Osborne. First-time cheekpieces also go on and, although 1lb worse off with Andrew Balding’s Way Of Stars, this could be the right time to catch him.
Away from prior course form, Gran Descans has another furlong-and-a-half to get closer to Newcastle Racing League winner Circus Of Rome. The latter has an 11lb hike from the handicapper for his clear-cut victory on Tyneside, but now meets Harry Charlton’s re-opposing runner-up on 9lb worse terms. It’s a big swing in weight and William Buick now takes the ride. The yard could do with some winners, though.
Of those who ran in the Melrose on the Ebor card at York a fortnight ago, Balding’s other runner Fantasy World fared best finishing fifth. He was home a neck in front of Pole Star and the pair meet again off exactly the same terms. Roger Varian has his team in good order right now, so Ride The Thunder is one to note stepping markedly up in trip.
3:00 – 1m 6f Class 2 Old Borough Cup (0-105)
Treble on the day for Danny Tudhope!
The Reverend runs out a ready winner of the @RiponRaces Bell-Ringer, drawing clear of his rivals on the run for the line for @WilliamHaggas! pic.twitter.com/7EHkHOoNjk
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 19, 2025
Up 4lb for a comfortable success in the Ripon Bell-Ringer, he also scored this time last season with cut underfoot at Ascot over a mile-and-a-half. It’s well worth connections trying The Reverend in a longer-distance event again after racing too far back in the William Hill Finale at York last October. There are many others to consider, however, in a cracking renewal.
Old Newton Cup runner-up Paddy The Squire has since gone one better in the Lanark Silver Bell. Jardine talks him up, but he’s racing off a 16lb higher mark than when last running here. Paddy The Squire has improved plenty since, though. Stressfree bested Kildare Legend by a neck here in another mile-and-a-half handicap earlier in the campaign, but hasn’t scored subsequent to that.
New Boston Handicap hero Caballo De Mar (up 6lb) is a strong stayer at this trip for George Scott, meanwhile, and returns from a summer break after a fine second in the Copper Horse during Royal Ascot. Williams duo Dancing In Paris and Oneforthegutter are no strangers to success at Haydock Park either.
Topweight Tashkhan likes it soft, while Align The Stars and Master Builder are fellow course and distance winners. Balding runner Contacto is 3lb better off with the latter, who won the three-year-olds only race 12 months ago, and scored twice last season on soft going.
3:35 – 6f Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup
If the widest draw proves no use to Kind Of Blue, then Harry Eustace filly Time For Sandals has last season’s winning draw in Stall 2. She may skip this still if conditions end up really testing. Shock July Cup hero No Half Measures has been kept fresh for this since Newmarket, but meets neck runner-up Big Mojo off 2lb worse terms.
Richard Hughes also steps Summer Stakes scorer Sayidah Dariyan back up in trip after she contested the Nunthorpe last month. Supplemented females Sky Majesty and Rage Of Bamby may as well chance their arm in a wide-open division, but need big career bests. Inisherin flopped as favourite 12 months ago and hasn’t done much to change the impression he’s best caught in the spring since.
Kevin Ryan’s other runner, Ain’t Nobody is a rank outsider here, but ran a blinder when staying into second in the Nunthorpe. Stranger things have happened if he’s maturing late in his three-year-old campaign. Irish raider My Mate Alfie is another outsider with a squeak, provided a high draw isn’t against the bias as he runs consistently for Ger Lyons.
4:07 – 5f Class 2 Be Friendly Handicap (0-105)
Jer Batt denies American Affair to secure the Sky Bet, For The Fans Handicap under Callum Rodriguez for David & Nicola Barron @SkyBet pic.twitter.com/eWs3l1S06j
— Haydock Park Races (@haydockraces) August 4, 2024
With Jer Batt’s form franked, and trainers David & Nicola Barron booking Tom Marquand for the ride, he should build on his staying on third around Yarmouth last time. Mick Appleby has won the last two editions of this, but his Baldomero looks vulnerable aged seven to younger legs. With topweight Blue Storm and Hong Kong import Atomic Force arriving off lengthy absences, race-fit rivals appeal more.
Katie Scott’s Luna A Inbhir Nis continues to run well despite going up in the weights. This three-year-old filly is more than a stone higher than when scoring over course and distance, but missed out on Heritage Handicap success during the Ebor Festival by a short-head. Richard Fahey declares Loom here when has an entry at York on Sunday.
Last time out winner Reigning Profit goes for Ruth Carr, who does so well with her sprinters. Despite being a six-year-old, this Profitable gelding ran well at Ascot earlier in the campaign and then scored around Pontefract, earning a 3lb rise. Course winner Sergeant Pep isn’t out of this either with Clive Cox’s charge scoring over further here before.
