Overdose (pictured) won’t be in action this Saturday, but the six furlong Sprint Cup at Haydock Park still has a terrific line-up. A win for the antepost favourite, High Standing, would see comeback jockey Kieren Fallon steal the headlines in the Sunday papers.

The Group One race isn’t open to juveniles, and was won by the French trained African Rose last year at 7/2. In the last thirty years only one six year old has won, Nuclear Debate, so it’s hardly surprising to see huge odds alongside the elder horses on your antepost list. Judd Street, Al Qasi, Asset and War Artist will attempt to defy lofty odds.

The most successful trainer in this race, John Dunlop, doesn’t hold any entries this year. The going is forecast to be good to firm.

Will it be a fairytale comeback for Fallon? Does the form of the Betfair Cup (Goodwood) hold the key to finding the winner here? Let’s cast our eye over the fancied runners.

4/1 High Standing

Won the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot and hasn’t been beaten all year. William Haggas was forced to retire the previous favourite, King’s Apostle, but still has a great chance at landing the spoils with High Standing. If Kieren Fallon does indeed take the ride, you could see this one being sent off as short as 15/8. For that reason it looks a great back-to-lay prospect.

A Fallon Group One winner would be fantastic news for racing, so we can let this win at any price. His last ride in a Group One was when he won the 2007 Arc on Dylan Thomas.

9/2 Fleeting Spirit

Beat off the game Borderlescott in the Temple Stakes here last year, breaking the track record in the process. She missed the Nunthorpe due to a set back, but has been working well on the gallops lately. If she can reproduce the form of her July Cup win, she must have a big chance.

6/1 Finjaan

Weakened in the 2000 Guineas, so dropped in trip since. Well backed in the Betfair Cup over seven furlongs and has an outstanding chance again here. The three year old has run only seven times, and keeps on improving. Balthazaar’s Gift has won since then and Finjaan will also be receiving 2lbs from his rivals. 

Difficult to find any negatives, and with the Tregoning stable in good health, he looks a good bet to me at 6/1 with Bet365 and Blue Square.

8/1 Main Aim

One of the so-called ‘bankers’ at Glorious Goodwood, Main Aim finished last in the Betfair Cup at 6/5. He banged his head on the stalls that day, but the subsequent break should do him good. That said, he still has to reverse July Cup form with Fleeting Spirit, but at least the price is right.

12/1 Corrybrough

Only fifth on his seasonal debut at Lingfield this month, but has been backed from 20s for this race which is a good sign. He was fourth last year, only beaten by about a length. Illness and injury has kept him off the racecourse for a year, but the signs are that he has come on for his outing on the sand.

Trainer Henry Candy also saddled the winner of the Great St Wilfrid in the shape of Markab.

Can make the frame.

16/1 J J The Jet Plane

Moved to Richard Hannon‘s yard for ‘personal reasons’, meaning we won’t be seeing Kevin Shea in the saddle again. Poor in the Betfair Cup, but that was over seven furlongs. ‘J J’ has a touch of class about him, but he may be another star suffering from the dreaded ‘Dubai Bounce’.

20/1 Regal Parade

Stayed on strongly in the Hungerford to finish second, and won the Ayr Gold Cup last year for Dandy Nicholls. You have to keep on the right side of this trainer in the big sprint races, but Regal Parade isn’t classy enough to land this.

20/1 Triple Aspect

This £43,000 purchase was second in the Coral Charge, from a plum draw. Owner Harry Findlay probably has his big bucks down on High Standing.

25/1 Art Connoisseur

Provided Hayley Turner with her first ride in a Group One, and beat some decent horses in the Golden Jubilee at 20/1. That form isn’t brilliant considering it was the richest race at Royal Ascot this year, and the colt had everything in the race to his favour. Yes the price looks gigantic this time out, but it would surprise me if he made the frame.

25/1 Heart Shaped

Fourth in the 1000 Guineas, but this filly by Storm Cat hasn’t done much since to suggest she can be competitive here.

Betting Advice:

The bookies are only paying three places in the Sprint Cup, so why not dutch both FINJAAN (6/1) and CORRYBROUGH (12/1).

Odds correct as of 31 August

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing antepost horse racing odds:

Betfred Sprint Cup Betting

Ladbrokes St Leger Betting

Arc De Triomphe Betting

The Irish send over the first two in the market, but there is value to be had in the French colts. Falco won the French 2000 Guineas last year at 22/1, beating Gololphin’s Rio De La Plata by three lengths.

Naaqoos is the shortest priced French colt, but he was beaten at odds-on last time out. There must be alternatives that can give us a run for our money.

The Betfair market is immature at this stage, and will only really take shape on Sunday morning. Blue Square have been taking antepost bets for a few days.

3/1 Vocalised

Drawn in six, and Jim Bolger’s colt has won four on the trot. His last win only came last Monday in a Group Three at The Curragh, and Cityscape has let down the Greenham Stakes form.

Vocalised is clearly race fit, but makes no appeal at 3/1. Needs better ground, so any rain would be a negative.

Kevin Manning rides, but I just can’t get excited about that price. He should beat Westphalia – match bet anyone?

4/1 Westphalia

The first string for Aidan O’Brien, but Johnny Murtagh did chose the wrong horse in the Chester Vase. Aidan O’Brien has had three of the last ten winners of this race.

Second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Westphalia caught the eye in the Prix de Fontainebleau over course and distance. Beaten only half a length by Silver Frost, but his head-carriage is still a concern.

He could run a big race, but may just find a couple too good for him. At the prices I’d take Silver Frost.

5/1 Naaqoos

Freddie Head saddles both Naaqoos and stable star Marchand D’Or on Sunday.

Naaqoos has won at Longchamp before, but Newmarket has reminded us to treat the juvenile form with caution.

Davy Bonilla will ride Naaqoos, but he was turned over fair and square by Le Havre at Maisons-Laffitte. Naaqoos is working well according to Head, but still makes little appeal at the price. Obvious claims, but questionable form.

5/1 Silver Frost

A cosy winner of the Prix de Fontainebleau, so there is no reason that Westphalia should be a shorter price. His time of 1’39”50 was pretty good and he is clearly one of the leading French hopes for Yves de Nicolay.

6/1 Le Havre

Christophe Lemaire rides for Jean-Claude Rouget, who also has Oiseau De Feu. A quality colt that goes on good ground, he should confirm the form with Naaqoos. Almost tempts me at 6/1.

Rain would be a negative for Le Havre – he managed only seventh in the Critérium International on heavy ground.

His Djebel win came as a bit of a surprise (7.7/1) but it may be that cheekpieces helped him to focus.

7/1 Shaweel

Only fifth in the Greenham – surely Frankie’s best chance of the day is on Fantasia. Godolphin have had a poor start to the turf season, after a stunning record at the Dubai Carnival.

Decent juvenile form with Mark Johnston, but I wouldn’t even back Shaweel at 10/1 on Sunday.

10/1 Oiseau De Feu

Jean-Claude Rouget has never won this race before, but Oiseau De Feu may be the one to break that record. His third in the Prix de Fontainebleau confirmed that he was progressive, finishing very strongly indeed.

The stable also has Tamazirte (7/1) in the 1000 Guineas, who has also matured well over the winter break.

16/1 Zafisio

Non – runner. Zafisio is now with Roger Curtis and has matured well.

Cut in the ground is absolutely vital for Zafisio, who goes for the German Guineas. Will take a lot of beating.

20/1 Handsome Maestro

Olivier Peslier thinks that Handsome Maestro has what it takes to win the 2000 Guineas.

He won the Prix Machado in ‘irresistible’ fashion, beating Desertar by four lengths (see picture).

He could be anything, but the Poule d’Essai des Poulains will be his strongest test yet. His generous price is probably because his two year old form isn’t special. The Aga Kahn-owned Varenar boosted the form of the Prix Machado by winning at Saint-Cloud this week.

A decent each way bet for me.

FRIDAY UPDATE: Blue Square have cut the odds down to 12/1, two hours after I had £20 each way. On Saturday we can expect to see other bookies open a French 2000 Guineas market – Handsome Maestro must still be backed if available around the 16/1 mark.

33/1 Diableside

Can’t see him reversing Prix Djebel form with both Naaqoos and Le Havre.

50/1 Roi Des Sables

Thrashed by Handsome Maestro at Longchamp and hasn’t registered a course win in three attempts. Won a very very weak looking race at Toulouse last month and absolutely no claims.

66/1 Born To Be King

Two and a half lengths behind Intense Focus at Leopardstown last time out, but will need to improve vastly to have any say in this. 

200/1 Coat Of Arms

By Danehill Dancer but only lost his maiden tag this week. No chance! (We said the same about the 100/1 Kentucky Derby winner)

Recommendation:

5pts win @ 20/1 Handsome Maestro (Blue Square)

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing international horse racing odds:

Poule d’Essai des Poulains (2000 Guineas) Betting

Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (1000 Guineas) Betting

Melbourne Cup Betting

Ascot Gold Cup Betting

The world’s richest horse race takes place this Saturday at 5.30pm, and will be screened for our pleasure on Channel 4.

The Dubai World Cup is worth US$6million and is run over 1m2f (2000m).

Albertus Maximus is the 2/1 favourite for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashin Al Maktoum and will be ridden by Alan Garcia. This year he won the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park on his first start on dirt.

He also won the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile last year, but isn’t a standout favourite in the same category as Curlin or Dubai Millenium. Like most short-price favourites, I’m keen to take this one on, especially as he has only run to an RPR of 121 on his last 3 starts.

I am keen on 3/1 Asiatic Boy for the in-form Mike de Kock. The price is pretty short, but I think that he should run his race under Johnny Murtagh. His 2nd to Curlin in last year’s race reads very well, and he should be wound up after a pleasing win in Round 3 of the Al Maktoum Challenge. The Boy is back.

Sky Bet are offering a stand-out 15/2 for Casino Drive, who has settled in well having made the trip over from Japan for trainer Kazuo Fujisawa. He has been supported in the market, but his last place in the Breeders Cup Classic is concerning. However, he has put up a better show on his recent starts in Japan. I can see past it.

Well Armed is 8/1 and was 3rd in last year’s World Cup. Eoin Harty says that he is more relaxed this year, and that he always saves his best form for Nad Al Sheba.

My Indy is 8/1 for the Godolphin team and it would come as no surprise to see Frankie Dettori amongst the winners on Saturday. He rides Lady Marian in the Duty Free, Diabolical in the Golden Shaheen and the fancied Two Step Salsa in the Godolphin Mile.

My Indy won Round 2 of the Al Maktoum Challenge this year, but may not appreciate Saturday’s extra furlong. He also had the run of the race.

At bigger prices 40/1 Muhannak is interesting with Ryan Moore on board. He won the Breeders Cup Marathon in 2008, but Ralph Beckett admits that it was only Group 2 standard.

Jerry Barton is expecting a big run from Joe Louis, who can be backed at 100/1 with Sporting Bet. He has been racing over 1m4f in Saudi Arabia, but the mile and a quarter should see him put in a bold bid.

Recommendation:

2pts win @ 3/1 Asiatic Boy (Corals)

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing Dubai odds:

• Golden Shaheen
• Dubai Duty Free
• Sheema Classic
• Dubai World Cup

45/1 Exotic Dancer has been allotted the top weight, 11st 10lb, for this year’s John Smith’s Grand National.

Following Denman‘s sub-standard performance in the Levy Board Chase, connections have sensibly decided against targeting the Gold Cup-National double. Denman had been all the ante-post rage after Paul Nicholls revealed the outrageous plan in the Racing Post, meaning he was backed into 8/1 favouritism. The plan is to go for it next year, but he may still have a run at Auteuil after the Gold Cup.

Butler’s Cabin is the 16/1 co-favourite, and could be the horse to finally break AP McCoy‘s National duck in the famous JP McManus silks. He won the 2007 Irish National, but fell at Aintree last year (10/1).

Hear The Echo is also 16/1 with Victor Chandler, who won last year’s Grand National. To me he looks harshly handicapped, but the National has been his target for a while now.

Pricewise selection Big Fella Thanks is one of those who looks well handicapped, and has thus been backed into 16s from 33/1. I probably still wouldn’t back it if Ruby Walsh was on board, given Paul Nicholl’s poor record in the race.

I am much more tempted by other Nicholls’ runners such as 25/1 My Will (ran a cracker in the Hennessy) or 50/1 Cornish Sett.

Mick Fitzgerald fancies 33/1 State of Play, and there has also been money for last year’s runner up, 25/1 King Johns Castle.

David Pipe‘s 2008 hero, Comply or Die, is 20/1 but has gone 15lb up in the weights. Another win would be a massive ask.

50/1 Endless Power has won twice at Aintree before, but may not get the trip.

This blog will be featuring an extensive Grand National preview come April, in which we will reveal our selections.

bookies.com is the best place to compare the antepost markets:

Grand National Betting

Cheltenham Gold Cup Betting