15:40 Haydock

Saturday 5 September 2026

All13:2513:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Betfair Sprint Cup Stakes (Group 1)

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 1m 15.00s

(4)

Almeraq⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 119| D

9/4

Won 4 of first 6 completed starts, notably Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot (6f, good to firm; has won on soft) in June. First backward step of career when ninth of 11 in July Cup at Newmarket, racing too keenly having got little cover on the near side of the group. Can bounce back.

Form: 21F-119

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(9)

Aramram²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 108| D

33/1

Smart performer who is very much at home with give in the ground but there's nothing in his record to think he'll be up to the task here.

Form: 1-12505

(7)

Big Mojo²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: W Buick| T: M Appleby| OR: 113| CD

9/1

Won this race (good to firm) under William Buick last year. Failed to fire on first 3 starts this year (although had an excuse in July Cup) but returned to his best to capitalise on a drop in grade in a Group 3 at the Curragh (6f, good to firm; James's Delight third) last month.

Form: 10-7801

(3)

James's Delight²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: C Lee| T: C G Cox| OR: 106| D

28/1

Won the Group 2 Greenlands at the Curragh last year and creditable third in that race and a Group 3 there (1¾ lengths behind Big Mojo) this summer. Very much suited by the ground he's likely to encounter here but his form is a little short of the required standard.

Form: 100-633

(6)

Kind Of Blue⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: James Doyle| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 112| D

4/1

Smart sort who landed the Champions Sprint at Ascot (soft) in 2024. Back to that sort of level when chasing home Big Mojo in this race last year. Reappeared with a good second in the Minster Stakes at York (6f) in May and freshened up since a lesser run at Royal Ascot in June.

Form: 8320-20

(5)

Marvelman¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: P J McDonald| T: A M Balding| OR: 117

5/1

Impressive winner of Group 2 at Doncaster (7f) last September. Back to form when chasing home Paborus in 6f Newcastle Group 3 in June and bounced back quickly from a lesser effort in the Lennox when 2¾ lengths third of 14 to Notable Speech in City of York Stakes (7f, good to soft) a fortnight ago.

Form: 10-9263

(8)

Paborus¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: D Tudhope| T: E Bethell| OR: 113| D

5/1

Low-mileage 5-y-o who defeated Marvelman to win 6f Newcastle Group 3 on return in June. Behind that rival when 5¼ lengths eighth of 14 to Notable Speech in City of York (7f, good to soft) 14 days ago but looked like finishing closer for a long way so the return to 6f looks ideal. Worth chancing.

Form: 71/13-18

(2)

Coppull²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: H Crouch| T: C G Cox| OR: 115| D

7/1

Fourth in the July Cup at Newmarket before landing the third pattern success of his career in the Group 3 Hungerford at Newbury, his first attempt at 7f. Has raced on good/good to firm throughout his eight-race career so today's likely ground is an unknown.

Form: 53-1841

Non-Runners

(1)

American Affair¹⁵

Weight: 9-5| Age: 6

T: J S Goldie J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Almeraq (9/4), Kind Of Blue (4/1), Paborus (5/1), Marvelman (5/1), Coppull (7/1), Big Mojo (9/1), American Affair (14/1), James's Delight (28/1), Aramram (33/1)

PABORUS impressed when beating Marvelman in the Chipchase over 6f at Newcastle on his reappearance. He was behind that same rival in the recent City of York over 7f but was still bang there entering the final furlong and can get the better of Andrew Balding's charge back sprinting. Next on the list is Almeraq, whose overall record suggests he'll bounce back from a lesser effort in the July Cup, particularly given how well he handles ease in the ground.