Sprint Cup Haydock day 2 tips

On Friday afternoon, it’s back to Haydock Park Racecourse, located in the Merseyside town of Newton-le-Willows, where the second day of the Sprint Cup Celebration takes place. Let’s take a look at the action ahead of the second day.

As racing festivals go, this one is something of a slow burner with the first two days certainly serving as the warm-up act Saturday, when we’ll have a much higher calibre of race to get stuck into, what with two Group races, a Listed contest and a couple of top-quality handicaps. Still, before that we’ve got some decent events to get stuck into on Friday, so it’s time to see if we can pinpoint a few worthwhile betting opportunities.

Betting tips for day two of the Sprint Cup Celebration at Haydock Park

In addition to the Class 2 Novice Stakes previewed earlier, below are the races and horses that stand out from a betting point of view ahead of the second day of the Sprint Cup Celebration meeting.

16:20 – Betfair Weighed In Podcast Fillies Handicap

It’s once again time for the girls to get down to business in the 16:20, a seven-furlong, Class 5 handicap for fillies and mares. Red Maids is something of a red-hot favourite in the early betting, currently trading around the 6/5 mark, though such a price seems on the skinny side given that she’s under a penalty for that recent Yarmouth victory and must now give weight away all round.

The eye-catcher at the prices, at least as far as I’m concerned, is Alseeyerthere, who goes in the hands of David Allan for trainer Steph Hollinshead. The five year-old is lightly raced and still yet to be fully exposed. She scored in decisive fashion at Redcar back in late June, quickening clear before easing at the finish in Class 6 company. A promising third in Class 5 company at Doncaster followed, which is a run that we shouldn’t ignore. On that occasion, she was beaten just a length by a horse that has since gone on to win again and is now rated clear of anything in here, while she got closer to that rival than Fools And Horses, who is considered one of the chief protagonists here, did recently. With that runner at 7/2 right now, Alseeyerthere’s 12/1 looks very generous.

The five-year-old could manage no better than midfield in a warm 16-runner handicap last time out, but this is a much simpler task, so don’t be surprised if she continues her progression. I certainly won’t be, and at odds of 12/1, I’ll be placing an each-way bet that says she can do just that.

Best bet – Alseeyerthere (each-way) @ 12/1 (13.00)

16:55 – Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap

A seemingly tight little affair sees the day out at Haydock Park on Friday afternoon. Nine runners are due to go to post for this Class 5 handicap over one mile and six furlongs, a few of whom seem quite evenly matched at first glance.

Double Oban is one of the more recent winners in this line-up and is perhaps on that strength that he’s an early favourite. His second at Wolverhampton last time out was respectable too, so he’s certainly not one to discount. The same can be said for Cmon Kenny, who drops in grade. However, William Buick was the man on Thursday afternoon, riding three winners, and the top jockey may just be on the right one to close the card on Friday too.

Marmara Sea is lightly raced and after running in some relatively hot novice affairs, finds herself dipping into more tepid waters here. Back in July, on just her fourth start, the filly ran a solid race to finish second (of 11) in novice company over one mile and four furlongs at Lingfield. She then stepped forward on that effort to finish third in a stronger novice race over the same trip at Newmarket. Last time out she was fourth (of 12) at Kempton, performing as though this extra emphasis on stamina would be right up her street. This is also a lesser race in terms of grade.

Having turned in some very respectable efforts in novice contests, the filly looks perhaps leniently weighted on handicap debut against what can only be described as some modest rivals. The booking of Buick is a nice added bonus, that’s for sure. Coupled with what she’s shown so far, it’s enough to make me feel that odds of 9/2 are worth taking advantage of.