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