A fantastic Saturday of racing coming up with the Group 1 Sprint Cup Stakes at Haydock, with Shaquille Unibet 5/6 on and rightly heading the market by some way after his brilliant victories in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and the July Cup at Newmarket. Shaquille has his quirks as we know, as he is often slowly away as we saw at Royal Ascot, when still coming through to beat Little Big Bear on quick going. At Newmarket Shaquille in testing conditions pulled himself to the front after a slow start and remarkably kept going to beat Run To Freedom by one and half lengths. Shaquille is great for racing and let’s hope he strikes again for the Julie Camacho team.

At Leopardstown the Irish Champion Stakes Group 1 is an absolutely belter with Auguste Rodin, Nashwa, King Of Steel, Luxembourg and Alflaila amongst a stellar lineup and this is one of the races of the season.

Over at Kempton in the Unibet September Stakes Group 3 the Sir Michael Stoute trained Bay Bridge Unibet 6/5 is dropped down in class out off Group I company and surely wins.

What a Saturday! Enjoy whether at a racecourse or watching #athome on ITV Racing and Racing TV.

Cheers!

The Wine Tipster

2.25 Haydock – Handicap (1m 6f)

Blindedbythelights is a huge horse, one of the biggest 2-year-olds last season and unsurprisingly was as green as grass, however he immediately improved as a 3 year-old when stepped up in trip, winning at Yarmouth, and he’s always looked a stayer, as he showed when successful at Newbury in June. You can argue it was a little disappointing he couldn’t finish the job off at Ffos Las last time, but he just looked like he was outspeeded by a quicker horse, and this extra two furlongs will suit. There’s more to come and he can take this step up in grade.

Unibet 7/1

2.35 Ascot – Handicap (7f)

Hickory was marked up in my Unibet blog for the Moët & Chandon International Stakes at the King George VI meeting and ran a blinder to finish second to Baradar beaten half a length. The first-time visor clearly did the trick, as Hickory travelled well at the rear and made his ground up easily when asked by Saffie Osborne. There’s not a lot of pace on here among those drawn low, whereas Quinault and Popmaster should ensure those drawn high have something to aim at, and this gives Hickory a great chance of going one better from stall 14, with Saffie Obsborne once again taking the ride.

Unibet 11/2

2.45 Leopardstown – Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes Group 1 Fillies & Mares (1m)

Tahiyra can justify odds on favourtism here for the inform Dermot Weld team and make it five wins from six career starts. Her only defeat was in the 1,000 Guineas to the very classy Mawj, having been highlighted by her trainer beforehand that Tahiyra was not fully prepped and would have appreciated another two weeks preparation. The fact that Tahiyra was so close to Mawj that day marked up her performance and she showed the benefit of that run when taking the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh defeating Meditate, who reopposes on Saturday.  Tahiyra didn’t need to be at her best when beating Remarquee in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and having had a break since will be primed for another Group 1 success.

Unibet 5/6 on  

3.00 Haydock – Old Borough Handicap (1m 6f)

Aztec Empire looked like he was going to win over two miles and half a furlong at the Ebor Festival when just failing to catch Forza Orta (reopposes) after not getting a clear run. Aztec Empire’s form figures on his last three starts read 332 and he previously finished third to Sweet William and in the same position in the Northumberland Plate.  The drop back in trip could really work in his favour and with a smooth passage he can win a competitive Borough Handicap.

Unibet 9/2

3.20 Leopardstown – Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes Group 1 (1m 2f)

King Of Steel (nap) was the most striking individual at Epsom Derby and then ran a blinder at a big price to finish second to Auguste Rodin. He then won the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot when beating Continuous, who looked mighty impressive at York and then King Of Steel was third to Hukum in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes when he couldn’t lay up later in the race. Rewatch the Epsom Derby, which will highlight how effective King Of Steel could be over this shorter trip, as he really has a sharp turn of foot.

Unibet 11/4

3.35 Haydock – Sprint Cup Stakes Group 1 (6f)

Regional was selected each way in my Unibet blog for the Nunthorpe at York when finishing fifth to Live In The Dream. He was running on at the finish, suggesting a return to six furlongs would benefit Regional, who made all to win here as a novice in 2021. Regional is two from two at Haydock and on his penultimate start he beat Equilateral and Raasel, who have both won since. He has the profile of an improving sprinter and looks the each way selection to chase home Shaquille.

Unibet 12/1 each way