Jockey Hector Crouch is spending 3 days up in Haydock for the Sprint Cup meeting, with a view to Coppull’s run in Saturday’s feature race. Read his exclusive preview of Friday and Saturday’s runners exclusively for kwiff.
Hector Crouch Haydock Preview: Sprint Cup Weekend 2026
It was nice to see Forty Years On do the business last weekend at Goodwood. She is a really high class filly who trainer George Scott holds in the highest of regard. Fingers crossed she can get some black type before the end of the season now – she’ll be dangerous if getting her ground.
Another mention to Qirat – one of three seconds I had on Saturday – who ran a great race behind Zavateri in The Celebration Mile. He’s straightforward and honest, and a gentleman to ride. He’s sure to run his race in similar company again when out again next.
Haydock Preview: Friday
The ground at Haydock is now heavy after a torrential downpour overnight, and it’s going to be testing for horses out there. My first ride on Friday is Highland Girl (2.05) for trainer Charlie Johnston in the Fillies Maiden over a mile.
She built on her debut at Goodwood with a good third last time out at Newmarket, when behind a couple of potentially nice horses. She’s by Sea the Moon – whose progeny tend to prefer soft ground – and looks to have a good chance in a wide-open race.
Marsala (2.40) will love the ground at Haydock, with her mother also trained by Ralph Beckett and a nice winner of a couple of listed races on soft ground at Ascot. She ran a great race when fourth on debut at Newbury – the winner now rated 100+ and the second and third both winning subsequently.
She was slow away at Kempton in what was something of a messy race, so you can put a line through that. She will handle conditions more than most – the Burke horse is back from a wind-op and the Hugo Palmer trained Californian Angel is wearing a first-time tongue-tie. Not a good sign before running in very testing ground around Haydock.
I’m quite sweet on the chances of Imelda (4.20) in the 7f FIllies’ Handicap after a good run last time out at Chester when given little drawn from being drawn 10 of 10. The form of her three runs in maiden company has worked out she has conditions to suit, with a nice draw and likely to appreciate the ground more than most.
We haven’t got to the bottom of Marianita (4.53) who has been waiting for the slower ground, and was a Non Runner last week accordingly. She ran well on debut before struggling after being caught in the stalls at Kempton. We’ve been trying to build her confidence up slowly thereafter, and an opening mark of 74 looks promising from the handicapper.
Haydock Preview: Saturday
I don’t know much about Redemption Road (1.25) who makes his debut for new connections in Saturday’s opening Group 3 Superior Mile. He was placed in similar company last time out over in Ireland, and has plenty of form on soft ground. He’s the lowest-rated horse in the race but you can sometimes get funny results in these type of conditions.
Karl Burke’s Galilean Quality is a warm favourite for the 1m 6f Handicap but I’m not sure he’ll appreciate the testing ground as much as others, including my ride Lopeo (2.30) for trainer David Menusier. He will love these conditions – and was a good scorer on heavy ground this time last year around Goodwood.
He handled the quicker ground, more so thrived on it, on a few starts this season but never went a yard on it when last seen finishing last of 7 on rattling quick ground at Newmarket in July. He’s still relatively unexposed and should have conditions to suit to be competitive from a mark of 83.
There’s already three NRs for The Old Borough Cup where the pair of Aegean Prince and Finalise look to have been well-placed to go well for the yards of Charlie Appleby and William Haggas respectively.
It will be a gruelling test in those conditions and Pole Star (3.05) is sure to love them, being a tough and typical Johnston who thrives in tough circumstances. He didn’t look to enjoy lugging ten stone around Pontefract last time out, and running in better grade from a lower weight should suit. He’s got first-time cheek-pieces on and will love the ground. He’s got a big chance.
American Affair is already a Non Runner Haydock’s Sprint Cup where Coppull (3.40) can hopefully give me a first British Group 1. He’s a pretty straightforward horse, and did it nicely over 7f when landing The Hungerford Stakes last month at Newbury. He’s pretty versatile and there’s soft ground form in his pedigree, with his dam by Mayson and a winner on soft ground.
The conditions will make things tough, and I expect Marvelman to appreciate the likely test more than most. He looked sensational when landing the Park Stakes over further last September at Doncaster, and the form of his run last time out at York looks very strong. Nevertheless, Coppull is very straightforward, has lots of class and should go well. He has very good chance.
Elara May has appreciated a change in tactics on her last couple of starts and will appreciate conditions ahead of the 5f Handicap. She chased home a warm favourite last time out at Yarmouth, and has good form in listed company on similar ground. She’s potentially well-treated at the weights.
Another who has tumbled down the weights is Star Anthem (4.50) who ran to a strong level as a juvenile but struggled with a big rating thereafter. He was beaten just two lengths in The Coventry Stakes a couple of years ago but has shown little since. With a couple of runs under his belt and, a career low mark, he could be very well treated if getting his act back together.
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