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THE STATE of the ground will be of paramount importance when it comes to assessing the big race of the weekend at Haydock Park, the Sprint Cup Stakes over six furlongs.

The effect of the recent drainage repairs could also play a part. But with just a very disappointing turnout of nine runners for this Group One event, it does make it a tad easier to try and dissect.

To my eyes, the key entry here is the probable favourite ALMERAQ (3.35) — who earlier in his career was regarded as a speedster that needed soft ground — winner of his novice and a handicap off 90 on such a surface, and would never be risked on a quick surface.

That theory kind of fell apart when William Haggas allowed the son of Dark Angel to run on good to firm ground and win the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot this summer. A subsequent second start on fast ground in the July Cup yielded a poor ninth, and adds to the long-held view that you can run a horse on such an alien surface once and get away with it, but not a second time.

Back on much more forgiving ground, as long as that Newmarket run hasn’t soured him or caused any underlining physical problems, I think he can get back to winning ways and tighten his grip on the champion sprinter title.

Of his eight rivals, I fancy that the dual runner-up in this contest, Kind of Blue, can reverse last year’s form with Big Mojo on ground that is sure to be softer than 12 months ago. The added plus with the James Fanshawe trained runner is that he comes here relatively fresh at the start of the autumn campaign. The unsung Marvelman is the third best in the field from the red hot Andrew Balding yard.

The Old Borough Cup at 3.05 has a much more competitive field of 14 runners, and therefore looks a lot more open. The most fascinating runner has to be the top-weight Aegean Prince, not seen since his light three-year-old campaign when he obliterated fellow Godolphin charge Military Cross in a novice at Ascot and then was subsequently only just held at bay by Viking Invasion in a Listed event at Deauville on very deep ground. The betting movements will surely tell us plenty about his chance here on what is only a fifth career start, and Charlie Appleby clearly has some unfinished business with this son of Dubawi.

Still, after being off the track for such a long time he may well have to be at the top of his game to give weight away to some classy handicappers — mainly in the form of Valedictory (who could relish this easier surface) and STRESSFREE (3.05). 

The selection has been more than a shade unlucky not to have won a seriously big prize. An unlucky fourth in last year’s Ebor Handicap, the six-year-old followed that with a never nearer third in this race off a mark of 102, and then had no luck in the run in the Autumn Cup Handicap at Newbury off 103.

Three relatively flat runs this year saw his rating drop to under three figures for the first time since May 2025, which saw him run a highly credible sixth in the Ebor last month on ground surely too fast for him. Dropped a surprising 2lbs for that York run to 97, this looks like a suitable chance for the chestnut gelding to finally land a fifth career win.

As far as the rest of the card is concerned at the Merseyside track, I shall also be monitoring the likes of the bottom weight JER BATT (4.15) and STAR ANTHEM (4.50). The last-named is particularly interesting after being gelded last autumn and then undergoing wind surgery at the start of this season. 

His opening run in the Victoria Cup at Ascot was needed and conditions never played in his favour, while last time out here he pulled very hard for half a mile before paying for those exertions just under two furlongs from home. 

He has been dropped 5lbs for those two outings and this should now be his peak performance with the ground in his favour, and for this strong-travelling sort the drop to seven furlongs also being a big help.

METAL MERCHANT (5.25) has endured a fruitless last two years since when he has moved from Jack Channon to Brian Toomey and now resides with John Butler. Winner of the 2024 Newbury Spring Cup off 91, he then ran well to finish 4th of 18 in the Moet and Chandon at Ascot off 97 before losing his way. 

However, I thought that there was plenty to like about his fourth of 12 behind Fantastic Fox at Newcastle, and he can easily be forgiven his last run at Kempton Park when he raced in rear off a moderate pace. Down to his lowest mark for years of 82, now could be the time to catch him if we get a solid pace up top around the bend under a patient ride from Sean Levey.

There is also a cracking card at Ascot where the ground looks sure to be a lot quicker and WEST ACRE (5.10) can successfully give the weight away to his 12 rivals in the concluding five furlong handicap. 

Rated well into three figures as a three-year-old, he went off as short as 18/1 for last year’s Group One King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot and was only beaten a shade over five lengths by American Affair. A repeat of his second to Spartan Arrow at Dundalk last October would be good enough to see off his rivals here after never getting in a challenging position at York last time out which looked too sharp a test for him.

Away from the two big meetings of the day, have a second look at old COMMANCHE FALLS (Thirsk, 3.50) while also at the North Yorkshire track expect a big run from off the pace from ANDESITE in the first division of the seven furlong handicap at 5.00.