Evening all,

September sees a busy month of big race action starting this afternoon with Haydock’s Group 1 Betfair Sprint Cup (3.30).

Besides the Sprint Cup Haydock’s supporting card is good. We have the Group 3 Superior Mile Stakes (1.45), the Listed Ascendant Stakes (1.15). There’s also two valuable 1m 6f handicaps including the Old Borough Cup (2:55).

Kempton's seven-race card features the Group 3 September Stakes (2.05) and the Unibet London Mile Series Final (2:40). 

Handicaps that are the highlights of Ascot’s card. The National Racehorse Week Handicap (3:10) run over 7f has £80,000 in guaranteed prize money. Thirty-five minutes later it’s the Lavazza Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (3:45) with £100,000 in guaranteed prize money.

ITV viewers have a great afternoon of sport to look forward to with the terrestrial broadcaster covering five races from Haydock, and two each from Kempton and Ascot. 

Unfortunately, I won’t be able to watch the racing live though as I’m at a non-racing event. I will have to wait and watch the race replays when I get in.

Inside today’s main piece I look at the best of today’s action at Haydock. Sadly, I don’t have the space to look at any of the Ascot or Kempton races.

Haydock

1:15 – Betfair Daily Tips On Betting.Betfair Ascendant Stakes (Listed Race) – 1m

Naval Power is unbeaten on three career starts. An easy win an Ascot Listed race means he must give 3lb to his five rivals. The Godolphin colt is the clearly the one to beat on form but at 1/2 at the time of writing I can let him win. As an alternative or one for the forecast you could worse than look at Dancing Magic. The son of Camelot built on his racecourse debut run when ½-length second of 14 to Tarjeeh in a hot Newbury novice last time. Today’s extra furlong will suit, and he’s open to further progress.

1:45 – Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Superior Mile Stakes (Group 3) – 1m

Useful juveniles Reach For The Moon and Bayside Boy haven’t really fulfilled expectations as 3-year-old’s. It’s not surprising then that connections of both colts try first time headgear.  The first named gets the first tine visor and Bayside Boy gets the blinkers. At their respective odds I prefer Bayside Boy who wasn’t total disgraced when a 2-length 7^th of 11 in the Group 1 St James’ Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Triple Time made it 2-2 over C&D when winning a Listed race on this card last year. The 3-year-old makes his belated seasonal reappearance here and remains open to improvement.

2:20 – Get Daily Rewards With Betfair Handicap – 1m 6f

The first of two big field handicaps over 1m 6f this one is for 3-year-olds only.

Thundering looked worth a try over today’s distance on his improved ¾-length second of 16 to Farhan at York last time. Although he’s by Night of Thunder there’s stamina on the dam’s side of the pedigree.

Open Champion won a Lingfield maiden last time and needs to improve on what he’s shown on three starts to win this on handicap debut.  He’s certainly capable of finding it and he could be suited by the step up to 1m 6f.

Speycaster caught the eye when a 4 ½ length 4th of 14 to Nathanael Greene in C&D handicap last time. He might prefer more ease in the ground but if he takes the first-time blinkers, he shouldn’t be far away.

Sarsons Risk has improved to win two small field handicaps at Leicester and Newmarket since returning from a two-month absence. Both those successes have come over 1m 4f and he’s not certain to improve for a further step up in distance. However. He goes well on quick ground and he’s up just 4lb for his last win.

2:55 – Betfair Exchange Old Borough Cup Handicap (Class 2) – 1m 6f

The absence of Soulcombe means the race now has an open look about it. Contact has been running well this season over 1m 4f including a success here in May. He didn’t a gap 2f out when a 1 ¼ lengths 5th of 16 at Newmarket last time. That was the 4-year-old’s first start at 1m 6f and he’s got a good chance of improving for it.

Amtiyaz eventually finished a well beaten 13th of 16 to Farhan at York last time. But that was his first start for 14 months and he shaped like the run was needed.  The 5-year-old won a Roya; Ascot handicap over today’s distance last year. We should see a much better performance from him as long as the rain stays away. Going Gone stays 2m+ so there should be no stamina concerns. The 4-year-old finished 4^th of 19 to Coltrane in the Ascot Stakes over 2m 4f at the Royal meeting. He was then too keen in a slowly run race at Newbury. However, he bounced back to his best when a ½ length 2^nd of 10 in the 2m handicap at the Shergar Cup last time. Up just 1lb he’s one to be interested in especially as the pace is forecast to be strong.

3:30 – Betfair Sprint Cup Stakes (Group 1) – 6f

It’s an open but not vintage renewal of the race. I wouldn’t put anyone off last year’s winner Emaraaty Ana but stall 13 is a concern.

Despite Kinross not having won over 6f I think he could win over the distance provide he gets a very strong pace to chase and some ease in the ground.  

Go Bears Go put in a career best on RPR’s in the first time cheekpieces when winning a Curragh Group 3 last time and can’t be discounted.

Art Power will blaze a trail for stall 1. He set a strong gallop in last year’s race but was collared inside the final furlong and had to settle for 5^th.  Shaped liked the run was needed when 3 ¼ length 4th of 9 to Kinross in the Group 2 City of York Stakes last time.  He might set the race up for the closers like he did 12 months ago but he’s capable of winning a Group 1 sprint if he doesn’t do too much, too early.

That leaves favourite Minzaal. Yes, no 4-year-old has won this race in the past ten years. However. His form is strong in the contest of today’s race he beat Go Bears Go two starts back and then finished ¾ length 2^nd of 14 to Highfield Princess in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville last time.  He’ll get a good tow into the race from the likes of Art Power and Naval Crown and looks the most likely winner.

Saturday Selection:

Haydock

2:55 – I suspect I won’t let Amtiyaz go unbacked here. However, my number one pick in the race is Going Gone who looks an each-way play at the 14/1 available with Bet365.

Going Gone – 14/1 @ Bet365 (paying 4 places).

It’s the St Leger Festival and Irish Champions Weekend next week. Which means I will be back doing a Monday column.

Good luck with your Saturday bets.

John