Saturday Horse Racing Tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets including Betfair Sprint Cup fancy

Betfair Superior Mile, Haydock, 13:25 - Back Needle Match @ 11/43.75

In the opening race on Betfair Sprint Cup Day at Haydock, Needle Match gets the nod in the Group Three Superior Mile Stakes.

The William Haggas-trained colt makes only his fifth career start and still appears to be improving with each run. He won on soft ground at Newbury on debut, beating Storming Point, before finishing fourth in the Greenham Stakes on seasonal reappearance to Alparslan, with Zavateri in second and Albert Einstein in third.

Things didn't work out in the 2,000 Guineas, but he returned from a 96-day break with an eye-catching second-placed effort to Isaac Newton in the Group Three Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown, and could take a step forward from that outing to make it fourth time lucky at Stakes level.

This test should suit and there's enough in his favour to suggest he can put in a bold showing under Tom Marquand.

Ascot, 13:40 - Back Glenfinnan E/W @ 25/126.00

In Ascot's 7f handicap opener on Saturday, course-and-distance winner Glenfinnan makes appeal from a mark of 82, 4lb higher than when winning at Beverley when last seen. He needs to find further improvement as he's back up in class, but has won in handicap company here from a higher rating in the past and is suited by this trip.

Having run well on a number of occasions this year, Glenfinnan is a horse to keep onside in familiar surroundings for Michael Dods. He's a likeable performer and could pose a threat by outrunning his odds under Edward Greatrex.

Betfair Ascendant Stakes, Haydock, 13:55 - Back Rafe's Da Man @ 6/17.00

Likeable chestnut Rafe's Da Man is another contender on the Haydock card who appears on an upward trajectory and is improving with each run. He was well-beaten on debut but caught the eye in his second start at Salisbury when fourth to Breacher, showing inexperienced and greenness on that occasion.

Despite appearing a work-in-progress, he had shaped with potential and improved for experience when third at odds of 28/129.00 in his third start at Newbury in a 12-runner novice event won by Fuel The Jet.

In his latest run at the Goodwood Festival, the son of Ghaiyyath was able to show he'd taken another step forward when winning well by a length-and-a-half. It looked as though there could be even further improvement in him and he may make a successful step into Listed company for Richard Hannon.

Kempton, 14:20 - Back Popmaster E/W @ 16/117.00

Course-and-distance winner Popmaster warrants consideration for Ed Walker and Billy Loughnane in this competitive mile handicap.

The experienced contender is on a workable mark from a rating of 96 and has course form in his favour as he bids for an eighth career success. He finished a good fourth at Sandown in his penultimate start at odds of 50/151.00, following on from a creditable fourth at Epsom when outrunning odds of 28/129.00, and was far from disgraced when last seen at Ascot.

The eight-year-old grey still retains a huge amount of ability and could outrun his odds, making each-way appeal in familiar surroundings.

Notable winners from Katie in recent weeks

• Zgharta @ 5/1
• Sunriseontheboyne @ 11/1
• Land Of The Giants @ 9/2
• Giant @ 20/1
• Abundant @ 6/1
• Mia Fantasia @ 5/1
• Balon d'Or @ 5/1
• Fizzy Cristal @ 15/2
• Haffner @ 6/4

Bet of the day: September Stakes, Kempton, 14:50 - Back Constitution Hill @ 9/25.50

One of the most talked about racehorses in the world, Constitution Hill returns to action following a 164-day break over the same course-and-distance as his latest success here in Kempton. He beat Classical Allusion by two-lengths on that occasion, recording successive wins following a dominant display at Southwell in February.

The Champion Hurdle winner has shaped with great promise on the all-weather in recent starts and now faces his toughest task yet in this sphere. He has done everything quite comfortably as of yet, and could be up to this challenge possessing so much class and ability.

Although he's the lowest rated in the field and is a nine-year-old, he is a special horse and the ceiling of his ability on the Flat is unknown. He could prove much better than his current rating of 101 and is difficult to oppose.

Haydock, 15:05 - Back Glen To Glen E/W @ 10/111.00

Glen To Glen made a successful start for the Nick Schofield yard and his new connections when winning at 10/111.00 over fences at Perth last month. He's back on the Flat here, making his 11th start on the level, and could run a good race from a mark of 80. 

For his breeder and former trainer Jim Bolger, the son of Dawn Approach shaped with promise, getting off the mark at the Curragh in his third run before finishing third to Serious Contender in a Leopardstown handicap. 

For Joseph O'Brien, he finished fourth in the Golden Gates Stakes from a rating of 90 at Royal Ascot, and also won a maiden hurdle at Cork as well as featuring in the Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival won by Saratoga.

Having shown Flat form from a higher rating in the past, Glen To Glen is an intriguing contender and could be able to pose a threat.

Betfair Sprint Cup, Haydock, 15:40 - Back Coppull E/W @ 7/18.00

The Betfair Sprint Cup has attracted a smaller field than usual but a select field that should provide a fascinating race. Almeraq is the likeable colt at the head of the market but needs to bounce back from a disappointing showing in the July Cup, whilst Kind Of Blue, second in the race last year, should enjoy the underfoot conditions as he attempts to go one place better and claim the trophy.

Three-year-old colt Coppull makes the most appeal however, should he line up despite the softer conditions expected. He has faced some dig in the ground previously when beating Puerto Rico in a rainy renewal of the Richmond Stakes at the Goodwood Festival last year, on ground officially described as good that day which later changed to heavy. 

Coppull hasn't yet faced testing conditions but has proven himself over further when winning the 7f Hungerford Stakes at Newbury when last seen, which should hold him in good stead late on if he does cope with the ground.

A talented performer for Clive Cox, the likeable son of Bated Breath was an excellent fourth in the July Cup during the summer, proving his capabilities in Group One company. He could still be on an upward trajectory, unexposed in this company, and should give a good account of himself under Hector Crouch.

Haydock, 16:15 - Back Black Star Boy E/W @ 25/126.00

Black Star Boy was a good winner over Calico Blue, who has franked the form, in a Sandown handicap on reappearance earlier this term. He was entitled to take a step forward for his return to action but hasn't been able to build on that opening run of the year since.

It could be worth keeping the faith in the three-year-old gelding, however, who is rated only 2lb higher and has form on slightly easier ground having won on good-to-soft at Newbury last year.

There could be more to come from the son of Starman, who does need to find improvement but may be capable of outrunning his odds for Ed Walker. He has been running in tough races with some excuses to be made, and, in his second run in a tongue-tie, he could fare better.

His half-brother Balty Boys once won the Superior Mile on this card, and Black Star Boy could follow in his footsteps with a Haydock success of his own.

Ascot, 16:35 - Back Golden Mind E/W @ [SP]

From a 1lb lower rating than his last winning mark, 5lb lower than when a two-length fourth to The Wizard Of Eye here in May, Golden Mind warrants each-way consideration for Richard and Peter Fahey in the hands of Oisin Orr. He has been inconsistent this term, but has shown he's still capable of a bold showing on his day and finished a close second to in-form Bellarchi at Musselburgh in the spring.

Improvement is needed on his latest few efforts, but a return to form is possible and he can often spring a surprise having outrun his odds on multiple occassions in the past, therefore cannot be discounted despite his below par recent record.

Haydock, 16:50 - Back Brian E/W @ 11/26.50

From a mark of 90 following a promising second-placed effort to Forty Years On at Newbury in June, Brian holds solid claims as he bids to return to the winners' enclosure for the first time in over two years when successful in a valuable auction race on the July Course for former trainer Sylvester Kirk.

Now representing the Stan Moore yard, the likeable son of Shaman, who finished third in the Chesham to Bedtime Story during his debut campaign and was only narrowly denied by Cool Hoof Luke in a maiden before going on to be placed in Group Three company, has shown he still retains ability recently. 

On reappearance and yard debut last year, he finished a two-length fourth to Big Mojo in the Commonwealth Cup Trial at Ascot and put in competitive efforts in handicaps won by Aramram and Headmaster, respectively. This could be a feasible opportunity for the four-year-old gelding and he has soft ground form in his favour too.

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