SOME good racing on Saturday at Haydock. Graeme Johnston (@GraemeJ_83) takes a look at the big race for us.
15:45 Haydock | Channel 4
The Haydock Sprint Cup is here and as ever with sprint races it looks wide open. I say it's wide open but I had absolutely no problem narrowing it down to three runners and I'm confident that one of them will come out on top here.
Mattmu is a horse that has improved with almost every start, and though he's not the classiest horse in training he has a fantastic attitude and looks sure to run another monster race here. Only once in his 14 race career has he finished out of the places and that consistency is rare in sprinting. He kept on well late on in the Nunthorpe and I expect him to improve for the extra furlong here. I'm not sure if he can win this but I fully expect him to give us a run for our money.
Gordon Lord Byron is a real standing dish here. He loves Haydock Park, and his record in this race is exceptional. Second first and second in the last three runnings of this he is the horse to beat here. His trainer says he loves flat tracks as he's not the most robust horse in the world, and when GLB gets his optimum conditions he is one of the top sprinters around. I cannot see him doing anything other than run a massive race here and he is well worth backing in place only markets here.
As much as I love Gordon Lord Byron I feel there is an unexposed sprinter in here who could be a cut above these. Adaay has gone from strength to strength this season and other than a blip on quick ground in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot he has done nothing but improve this season.
He won a Group 2 over course and distance earlier in the season beating Limato and Mattmu in good style, and last time out he won the Hungerford Stakes over 7 furlongs. He could be called the winner some way out there and it was a strong looking renewal. He isn't a horse I expected to become a Group 1 horse, but he developed in to one and this looks a good opportunity for him to make it second time lucky at the top level. I'm backing him to win and having some fun with a combination forecast bet on the three I mentioned too.
Best Bets
15:45 Haydock – Adaay to win (7/1 Sportingbet)
15:45 Haydock – Adaay/Gordon Lord Byron/Mattmu Combination Forecast