2012 Sprint Cup at Haydock Betting Tips Part 1

Following a dramatic victory in last week's Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes, Ortensia has been installed as the firm favourite for the upcoming Sprint Cup at Haydock. As the fall begins approaching, many of the final preps are underway before the Champions Day fixture and Ortensia will be looking to make this three wins on the bounce.

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It's been an impressive year for the Australian mare and it's been a pretty darn good year for Australian mares – particularly ones that are campaigned at short distances.

The bookmakers have her sitting around 3/1 and that price is certain to get hit prior to the off next week as she is building up plenty of momentum as we get closer to the meeting at Haydock. One of Ortensia's biggest accomplishments this year was a score in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint. The seven-year-old daughter of Testa Rossa has only been toppled twice in her last seven races with a loss in the King's Stand at Royal Ascot (her first race in the UK) as well as a fourth place finish in the Darley July Cup.

There is some very big competition lurking out there to stop Ortensia from continuing her momentous run Bated Breath and Excelebration look to be the most significant competition and there's a lot to like about both of these horses. Bated Breath looks sharp and really does tend to do well at Haydock – a horse for course to say the least.

His last effort, when he finished sixth to Ortensia, left a lot to be desired but just had trouble navigating through that 19 horse field, despite keeping on fairly well to miss by 3 lengths or so.

A score in the Group 2 Temple Stakes has been his only victory of note since last May, but he did muster a nose second to Dream Ahead last year in this race, while taking a conditions stakes victory at Haydock in May of 2011.

The five-year-old son of Dansili is 6/17 lifetime and really looks to be due a victory here – and perhaps a little bit of luck as well. Look for him around 5/1.

Excelebration had the bad luck of having been born the same year as Frankel – the highly successful Aidan O'Brien-trained colt has not finished off the board since his first start thirteen races ago when fourth in a maiden at Nottingham. The multiple Group 1 winner has rattled off a pair of scores this year – finishing second to living legend Frankel on both occasions – hardly a disgraceful finish.

He scored in the Group 3 Gladness Stakes and also captured the Jacques Le Marois, a Group 1 encounter at Deauville. He boasts some real versatility and can be campaigned at virtually all distances. Look for him to put in a solid performance, despite being up against specialist sprinters. Punters will also find Excelebration priced around 5/1.