C4 Racing Preview: Longshot Maarek can cause Sprint Cup upset
Published:Haydock Park’s Sprint Cup takes centre stage this Saturday with a total of eight races being televised by Channel 4.
We’ve run the rule over the runners and riders to once again provide you with our best bets, including a tasty pick for the feature event.
Nevertheless, finding winners this weekend looks as tricky as ever. But you can place a bet with the added incentive if you can pick out a victor or two.
Back a winner at 4/1 or greater and get a free bet up to your unit stake on all C4 races!*
Trainer Saeed Bin Suroor is double-handed as he goes in search of a fourth renewal success with both Prince Bishop and SECRET NUMBER his charges who’ll go to post.
The latter is our pick to triumph, although a near year-long absence from the track is obviously something of a worry.
But having stayed on well to land the Group 3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot on his previous appearance we think the four-year-old will show his class once again.
Charlie Appleby’s Cat O’Mountain is another entrant who’s coming back from an extended break while the more recently raced Red Cadeaux and Dandino could challenge.
The prolific Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes partnership took this renewal back in 2011 and could do so again with the champion jockey in rattling good form.
EMELL finished second, in front of the likely favourite Captain Cat, in the Group 2 Doom Bar Celebration Mile at Goodwood last time out.
The four-year-old’s odds have tumbled since then but there’s still value to be had in backing our selection to go one better.
We couldn’t resist taking on the big race of the day at Haydock and in MAAREK we’ve plumped for a lively outsider at huge odds (at least at the time of writing!).
The Duke of York Clipper Logistics Stakes hero followed-up that victory in May with a second-place behind the all-conquering Slade Power in the Greelands Stakes at the Curragh.
And while the Lisbunny Syndicate-owned charge has struggled to produce his best form since then, a late summer renaissance could be in store, especially with a favourable draw here.
Sole Power and last year’s winner Gordon Lord Byron may be attracting all the attention but our choice is certainly one for the shortlist.
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All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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