ALMERAQ is the logical favourite for this afternoon’s Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock. William Haggas’ horse has bounced back bravely this season from a horror fall at York last September. He won the Listed Cathedral Stakes at Salisbury on his debut this term, and put up an outstanding performance in winning the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

It’s an all-indigenous affair this afternoon, and the Dark Angel colt is the highest-rated of the nonad, but he is short, and he does have to bounce back from a poor run in the July Cup last time. He had never run at Newmarket before, and perhaps the fast ground was against him. He should appreciate the ground at Haydock today, and he sets the standard.

You can pick holes in the cases for most of those who are just behind Almeraq in the market. Coppull was impressive in winning the Hungerford Stakes last time, but the ground may be softer than ideal for him.

Marvelman ran well for a long way in the City of York Stakes, but that was over seven furlongs. Last year’s winner Big Mojo would surely prefer faster ground. Last year’s (and 2024’s) runner-up Kind Of Blue should like the ground, but he was well beaten in the Jubilee last time, and he is short. Oftentimes, there isn’t much between the top British sprinters, it can all come down to the bounce of the ball on any given day, and the value in today’s race may lie towards the outer reaches of the market. It is not insignificant that four of the last five winners of this race were sent off at 10/1 or bigger.

James’s Delight is interesting at the price. Winner of the Group 2 Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh last year, Clive Cox’s horse ran another big race in the Group 3 Phoenix Stakes, when he finished third behind Big Mojo on ground that should have been faster than ideal for him. He should appreciate the softer ground today, and you can see him out-running his odds.

Aramram more interesting

At a slightly bigger price, Aramram is more interesting. This is a step up in grade for Richard Hannon’s horse, but he is priced up accordingly and could be up to the task. Winner of the Listed Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster on easy ground on his debut this season, he ran a big race in the Group 3 Abernant Stakes at Newmarket next time, finishing off well on the near side to take second place, just behind Ruin To Freedom, who raced on the far side.

He ran better than the bare form suggests in a Group 2 race at York next time. He travelled well just behind the pace in the centre that day, but he tried to make his ground towards the near side as the race developed on the far side. In the end, he did well to finish off his race as well as he did to take fifth place, two and a half lengths behind the winner Elmonjed. He was second fastest through the final two furlongs after the winner.

He bounced back from a poor run in the Jubilee at Royal Ascot, on fast ground, at Ripon last time when he finished fifth in the Great St Wilfrid. He was one of just four horses who raced on the far side that day, and he did best of them by a fair way. That was his first run back after a short break, and it could set him up nicely for today. He has never run at Haydock, but he should appreciate the ground and his high draw is probably a positive. Fondo Blanco could also out-run big odds in the opening race on the day, the Group 3 Superior Mile. Time may tell that Roger Varian’s horse faced an arduous task in trying to concede 5lb to Forty Years On at Goodwood on Saturday, but he ran really well in chasing her home, only giving best to George Scott’s filly inside the final furlong.

That was a welcome bounce back to form by the King Power gelding, after two inauspicious runs this season on fast ground, and it once again underlined his penchant for soft conditions.

He was progressive last year as a three-year-old, and there is every chance that he can go even higher this year at four, after being gelded during the winter. He should appreciate today’s conditions, and he is one for one at Haydock, over today’s course and distance, on good to soft ground.

Recommended

Fondo Blanco 1.25 Haydock 1pt win @ 20/1 (generally)

Aramram 3.40 Haydock 1pt win @ 25/1 (generally)