Race type - Mixed
Haydock
Course details
Haydock is easily the premier venue for flat racing in the North West and the standard of racing is high. For around 200 years, racing took place on Newton Common, near the town of Newton le Willows, but the locals demanded a better quality venue and the present site came into use in 1897.
As the race title suggests, the Sprint Cup attracts the fastest sprinters in the land to the track in early September.
GUIDE - For Racecourse
Left-handed, flattened oval of 1m5f.
Haydock is easily the premier venue for flat racing in the North West and the standard of racing is high. For around 200 years, racing took place on Newton Common, near the town of Newton le Willows, but the locals demanded a better quality venue and the present site came into use in 1897. The course continued to draw in the racegoers but it wasn't until a train line was established between Liverpool and Manchester after World War II that it really took off. These days, it stages several important races including the Group 1 Sprint Cup, which is always watched by a large and fanatical crowd.
Track / Draw Bias
High numbers used to enjoy a major advantage in soft-ground sprints here. However, the runners have tended to head for the centre of the track in recent seasons and as a result the draw rarely makes that much of a difference.
Principal Races
As the race title suggests, the Sprint Cup attracts the fastest sprinters in the land to the track in early September. It was originally run in November but years of soft ground and foggy conditions saw it move to its earlier slot, and it's now nearly always run on decent ground. The sprinters again get to show at the big May meeting, which features the Group 2 Temple Stakes over 5f, an early season target for those with speed to burn. Fast forward to the July meeting and it's the turn of the stayers in the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks, which was switched here on the closure of Manchester in the early 1960's and is currently sponsored by bet365. The Stoke outfit also put their name to the Old Newton Cup, is named after the course's original location and is one of Britain's Heritage Handicaps.
Course Characteristics
Measuring over 1m4f in circumference and being wide from running rail to running rail, horses here have plenty of room to operate and it's not unusual for the field to split into groups as jockey search for better ground. That course is nearly flat, apart from a slight rise in the home straight (the last 6f is all uphill), and this combined with the easy, sweeping bends makes it ideal for the bigger, more galloping types. Stamina is a requisite as the four and a half furlong run-in is punishing and the lead can change hands several times. As you'd expect, it takes an exceptional horse (or a very well-handicapped one) to make all. A chute at the end of the home straight forms a straight 6f course, over which the Sprint Cup is run.
Top Trainers
Haydock was a happy hunting ground for the now retired Barry Hills and it should be a case of business as usual now his son Charlie has taken the reigns. Runners from the big northern yards of Richard Fahey, David Nicholls and Mark Johnston have traditionally done well here and they should continue to be profitable to follow. It took Tom Dascombe a while to get going from his new Cheshire base but everything clicked into gear in 2011 when he sent out 10 winners here at a strike rate of 23%, with all his runners yielding a healthy level stakes profit of £33. Roger Varian has quickly made his mark since taking over from Michael Jarvis and punters would do well to keep his runners on their side based on his 2011 exploits - 8 winners from 23 runners (35%) for a level stakes profit of £22.
Top Jockeys
The good run of Jamie Spencer showed no signs of abating in 2011 with his eight winners that season boosting his five year tally of 22 winners, which have come at a decent strike rate of 18%. Neil Callan and Paul Hanagan also make the most of their opportunities here (18 and 17 winners respectively), as does Richard Kingscote, who rides the majority of the Dascome-trained runners. Backers of all his rides in 2011 would have enjoyed a level stakes profit of £38 (theoretical £1 stake). Keep an eye out also for Tom Queally who rides the Sir Henry Cecil-trained runners and often picks up some good spare rides.