The races to keep an eye on at the 2025 Sprint Cup Festival

In what is one of the key meetings dominating the racing calendar, the Sprint Cup Festival at Haydock Park is one of the most prestigious and exciting events in the UK and Ireland, celebrating the speed, power, and finesse of some of the world’s elite sprinters.

It also provides an excellent meeting for those who bet on horse racing, with several competitive fields offering great value in the betting lines.

Taking place from September 4-6 this year, it marks the final major sprint meeting of the season and offers a thrilling mix of top-class racing that is sure to whet the appetite of avid and casual horse racing fans alike. The festival showcases some of the fastest and most talented sprinters from around the globe and offers a rich variety of racing classes across the two-day event.

For those following the action at Haydock Park closely, read on as we look at three of the most highly-anticipated fixtures on the agenda – including the festival’s feature race, the Sprint Cup.

The Sprint Cup

The highlight of the festival is the Group 1 Sprint Cup, which is run over six furlongs and boasts a £500,000 prize pool. It attracts the best sprinters in the world, including top British and Irish contenders and horses from Europe and beyond. The race is often the culmination of a sprinting campaign for many horses, with the winner earning a spot in the international racing spotlight.

William Haggas’ Montassib reigned supreme in 2024’s Sprint Cup, with the British horse holding on down the straight to win by a head from Kind Of Blue.

Old Borough Cup Handicap Stakes

Also taking place on Saturday, September 6 – another eagerly-awaited fixture at the Sprint Cup Festival is the Old Borough Handicap Stakes. Run over one mile and two furlongs, the race is known for its competitive fields and exciting finishes. It has established itself as one of the more reputable handicap contests on the UK and Irish horse racing calendar.

The Old Borough Handicap is one of those races that often provides a real spectacle, with its mix of established stars and rising contenders vying for a prestigious win.

That was evidenced at last year’s meeting – as highly-touted prospect Epic Poet finally got over the hump en route to his maiden career victory by a neck from Waxing Gibbous.

Superior Mile Stakes

The Superior Mile Stakes has long been considered one of the key miler races in Britain. It serves as a target race for horses aiming to show their potential for higher-class mile races, especially towards the end of the season. Additionally, it is often used as a stepping stone for horses looking to progress to top-tier Group 1 contests or as a final test for milers before autumn Group races.

Holloway Boy finished first past the post in last year’s race, with the gelding needing all of his power down the stretch to win by half a length from Dylan Cunha’s Prague.