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1:25 Haydock: Betfair Backs Opinions Superior Mile Stakes (Group 3)

  • Distance 0m7f212y
  • Class Class 1
  • Age 3yo+
  • Going Heavy
  • Prize £53,874
  • Runners 9
  • Surface Turf

Haydock stages the Class 1 Betfair Backs Opinions Superior Mile Stakes (Group 3) on Saturday 5 September 2026 at 1:25. Run over 0m7f212y, on turf, with the going heavy. 9 runners are declared for a prize fund of £53,874. Needle Match heads the market at 3.9, from Persica at 5.8 and Dancing Gemini at 6.4. New customers at bet365 Bookmaker can deposit £10 and get £30 in Free Bets with code 365GMBLR.

Best odds for the Betfair Backs Opinions Superior Mile Stakes (Group 3)

Runner Best Bet365 Betfred Ladbrokes Bet
Balmacara Callum Hutchinson 42 Smarkets 40/1 33/1 40/1 Bet
Dancing Gemini William Buick 6.4 Smarkets 9/2 9/2 9/2 Bet
Fondo Blanco Ray Dawson 12 Smarkets 10/1 10/1 10/1 Bet
Persica James Doyle 5.8 Smarkets 4/1 7/2 7/2 Bet
The Lost King P J McDonald 9.6 Smarkets 15/2 8/1 8/1 Bet
Colori Forever Marco Ghiani 14.5 Smarkets 12/1 11/1 12/1 Bet
Hankelow Clifford Lee 7.8 Smarkets 6/1 13/2 6/1 Bet
Needle Match Tom Marquand 3.9 Smarkets 5/2 5/2 5/2 Bet
Redemption Road Hector Crouch 48 Smarkets 40/1 40/1 40/1 Bet

Prices as at 10:21, compared across 10 bookmakers. A price you can click is a firm we have a commercial arrangement with.

Runner by runner

Balmacara Callum Hutchinson · Eve Johnson Houghton

Balmacara shaped with promise when third four starts back, and he has experience over today's trip and going to call on, but he arrives winless in his last five starts and a 63-day absence from stall three off 131 lb makes this a stern test.

Dancing Gemini William Buick · Roger Teal

Winless in his last five starts but Dancing Gemini's rating of 123 marks him as the one to beat here, and a return after 42 days off, experience over today's trip and going, and a weight of 131 lb from stall seven all set the stage for a bold bid.

Fondo Blanco Ray Dawson · Roger Varian

Fondo Blanco showed he retains ability when runner-up last time out, and has run over today's trip, but two unplaced efforts in the runs before that and a ranking of seventh of nine on our figures make him hard to fancy at the weights.

Persica James Doyle · Richard Hannon

Persica steps out just 14 days after a winning effort two starts back, and his third last time out shows he retains form, with experience over today's trip and 118 on our figures marking him a clear threat; the concern is whether 131 lb from stall one ultimately stretches him.

The Lost King P J McDonald · Andrew Balding

Back-to-back wins make The Lost King the one to beat here; he arrives on a sharp 16-day turnaround carrying a hefty 131 lb, and that weight could be the sole stumbling block to a hat-trick.

Colori Forever Marco Ghiani · Marco Botti

Colori Forever brings solid recent form — a second last time out and a winner three starts back — though the unplaced effort two starts back and a 58-day absence are mild negatives to weigh against his distance-and-going experience and a rating of 109.

Hankelow Clifford Lee · K. R. Burke

Hankelow finished ninth and unplaced in his last two starts, and at a rating of 104 ranked eighth of nine runners he faces a stiff ask here; a third three starts back and a win four starts back offer some encouragement, and he has run over today's trip before, but recent form makes him hard to fancy.

Needle Match Tom Marquand · William Haggas

Needle Match showed up with a win four starts back and a placed effort last time out, but two disappointing runs in between temper expectations; he has experience over today's trip and returns after 30 days off carrying 126 lb from stall 2.

Redemption Road Hector Crouch · Michael Keady

Redemption Road has been winless in his last five starts, with three thirds offset by a pair of disappointing efforts, and 86 days off the track adds a fitness query; he has run over today's trip and going, but ranked bottom of nine on our figures, he is hard to fancy.

Trainer and jockey form

Horse Trainer Last 14 days Runners to form Jockey At Haydock
Needle Match William Haggas 9 from 48 · 1900% 69% Tom Marquand 0 from 298 · 0%
Persica Richard Hannon 1 from 52 · 200% 39% James Doyle 0 from 304 · 0%
Dancing Gemini Roger Teal 2 from 11 · 1800% 63% William Buick 0 from 326 · 0%
Hankelow K. R. Burke 10 from 39 · 2600% 53% Clifford Lee 0 from 268 · 0%
The Lost King Andrew Balding 8 from 53 · 1500% 67% P J McDonald 0 from 445 · 0%
Fondo Blanco Roger Varian 4 from 19 · 2100% 70% Ray Dawson —
Colori Forever Marco Botti 4 from 14 · 2900% 78% Marco Ghiani —
Balmacara Eve Johnson Houghton 4 from 33 · 1200% 47% Callum Hutchinson —
Redemption Road Michael Keady 0 from 11 · 0% 30% Hector Crouch —

Runners to form is the share of a yard’s recent runners judged to be race fit.

The breeding angle

How each sire’s progeny have fared at around 8f, which is the only form there is where a runner has yet to race.

Sire Runner Trip Runs Wins Strike
New Bay Balmacara 8f 862 0 0%
Camelot Dancing Gemini 8f 1080 0 0%
Ten Sovereigns Fondo Blanco 8f 281 0 0%
Kingman The Lost King 8f 2124 0 0%
Bated Breath Colori Forever 8f 1468 0 0%
Night Of Thunder Hankelow 8f 1146 0 0%
Without Parole Redemption Road 8f 138 0 0%

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