Kate Tracey, Callum Helliwell and Declan Rix have come together to analyse another packed weekend of racing, with the Group 1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock Park taking centre stage on Saturday 5 September.
The six-furlong contest is set to attract a competitive field in what are expected to be testing conditions, with the ground forecast to be heavy underfoot for the afternoon's feature race.
Market leader Almeraq will attempt to recover from his disappointing showing in the July Cup, while the Wathnan Racing duo of Kind Of Blue and Paborus also feature in the line-up. Andrew Balding's Marvelman and Clive Cox's Coppull complete the supporting cast, but all eyes will be on Big Mojo as he bids to become only the second horse to win the Sprint Cup twice. According to The Jockey Club, he would join Be Friendly, who achieved the feat in 1966 and 1967, should he triumph again.
Declan Rix backs the favourite
Declan Rix has thrown his support behind Almeraq, who heads the betting despite his recent setback at Newmarket.
I'm with the favourite Almeraq. He's a wonderful horse who I think deserves an awful lot of credit after that horror fall he took at York - it was a proper mother-and-a-father fall. To come back and win on his first start in the Cathedral Stakes, it was like someone had said a prayer for him.
The William Haggas-trained sprinter bounced back from that York incident with victory in the Cathedral Stakes before adding the QEII Jubilee at Royal Ascot to his tally.
Not only did he win the Cathedral, he then went to Royal Ascot and won the QEII Jubilee. Tom Marquand said he felt a bit claustrophobic, but I love that he sustains his runs and has a good attitude.
Rix believes Almeraq possesses the physical attributes to cope with the expected heavy ground at Haydock, though he acknowledged some uncertainty about how the horse will handle the worst conditions.
He has a good, strong shoulder and I think he'll handle the ground. He's got plenty of form in his career on soft, whether he'll handle heavy ground - we'll see. I think you can completely forgive him the July Cup form as it was his first time going down a hill and the field broke, leaving him caught on a wing. He ran too keen, got no cover and the ground was too quick for him.
The analyst concluded by highlighting the form of other runners from the Haggas yard at Haydock earlier in the week.
If he runs like any of the horses the William Haggas team ran at Haydock on Thursday, he's going to go very close as they're in great order.
Helliwell's wet-weather fancy
Callum Helliwell has identified Marvelman as his selection, with the Andrew Balding runner thriving in testing conditions.
I absolutely love Marvelman in this - bring on the rain! I want it to be an absolute bog by the time Marvelman gets there. We're going to have another day of racing before then!
Helliwell recalled a significant moment in his racing calendar when Marvelman delivered on the track.
The horse produced an impressive effort when finishing third in top-class company most recently, running a bold race from a considerable distance out.
He ran a mighty race last time, having them all off it from a long way home when finishing third in top-class company. Keep the rain coming!
Tracey's defence of the crown
Kate Tracey has backed Big Mojo to repeat his triumph from twelve months ago, viewing the current odds as reasonable value.
I'm going to be with Big Mojo to repeat the feat from last year. I thought 9/1 was a fair price - although not as big as last year when he took full advantage of the draw bias. He has a similar draw this time so I'm hoping it will come to the fore.
According to The Jockey Club, Big Mojo has bounced back to form with a Group 3 victory at the Curragh on 9 August, providing the confidence boost needed after a difficult start to the season.
Tracey reviewed the defending champion's recent campaign, noting his narrow defeat at Royal Ascot in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes three runs ago.
Three runs ago he finished eight at Royal Ascot in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes, not being beaten far whatsoever. Admittedly he was in the right group that day when the bias came to the fore and improved from his reappearance at York.
The July Cup proved problematic for the Michael Appleby-trained sprinter, but his return to winning form in Ireland has restored optimism ahead of his Haydock return.
The July Cup was no good for him, he looked a nightmare that day. He was so keen and was hanging but it was much more like it at the Curragh last time, getting back to winning ways in a Group 3. Hopefully that's the confidence booster he needs.
According to Racing TV, the Betfair Sprint Cup carries a winner's prize of £226,840 and is scheduled for 15:35 on Saturday 5 September at Haydock Park, with William Buick booked to ride Big Mojo.
What happens next
The Betfair Sprint Cup will be contested at 15:35 on Saturday 5 September 2026 at Haydock Park as part of the venue's Sprint Cup Day card. Final racecard confirmations and any non-runners will be announced on the day across the published racecards.
