Superior Mile Stakes Guide 2021

Lord Glitters was a Group 1 winner in the UAE in the spring (9f), however was well off the pace when trying to replicate that level of success back on British soil at Newbury in the Lockinge, finishing a 10.25 length 4th behind Palace Pier.

The 8yo gelding bettered that margin when again finishing 4th next time out in the Queen Anne, this time 3.25 lengths behind Palace Pier.

A step down to a Group 3 had him only beaten by a quickly improving Saeed Bin Suroor runner in Real World and that form has him down as a leading contender for this affair now racing at the same level once more.

In-form William Haggas has an impressive 23% strike rate at Haydock across the last 5 seasons and he teams up with Tom Marquand aboard My Oberon, who was impressive on his seasonal re-appearance to land a small field Group 3 at Newmarket (9f), a field size he's expected to appreciate once more.

The son of Dubawi was down the field in the Lockinge when stepping back down to 8f, 3.25 lengths behind Lord Glitters, before subsequently going close in France for the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan when finishing a head 3rd back up at 9f.

A 4th placed finish in a Group 1 at Ascot is very respectable form at this level, 3.25 lengths behind Love, however 10f was a stretch too far.

He was already chasing proceedings when struck by an opponents whip last time out at York when finishing 3.5 lengths behind Lord Glitters and it'll be an interesting match up between the two once more here back down at 8f, although My Oberon does look to have a bit to find on his market rival.

Mark Johnston won the very first running of this race in 2003 and plays his hand with Goodwood Golden Mile winner Maydanny who steps up from his high level of handicap form into his first Group race.

Costing 1.35million Guineas as a yearling, Maydanny may now improve for the step up to Group racing and should appreciate a galloping mile at Haydock given progeny of Dubawi have an impressive 17% strike rate at the track.

Only 4 of the last 12 winners of the Superior Mile stakes had won a Group race prior to the affair, paying further dividends to the chances of Maydanny in this.

Andrew Balding has 5 wins in 14 runners here at Haydock this season (36% S/R) and is operating at a +£15.58 profit margin from £1 level win stakes on all those runners.

The trainer enters Bell Rock who was 4th last time out York , just 1 length behind Lord Glitters over 8.5f in the Strensall stakes.

He got the better of Maydanny by a 2.5 length margin in the Suffolk stakes handicap back in May over 9f before subsequently finishing 3rd back down at 8.5f, keeping on at the finish.

Progeny of Kingman have an impressive 22% strike rate at Haydock so it would be no surprise to see him run well at the track, however the drop back to 8f may leave him exposed.

Artistic Rifles for Edward Bethell is another stepping into Group company for the first time in the Superior Mile stakes on the back of an easy Class 2 handicap win last time out at Hamilton, 2.25 lengths ahead of Maries Diamond.

The win marked another solid handicap win after winning the Spring Mile at Doncaster in a 20 wide field before subsequently comfortably landing a class 3 at Ripon by 4.5 lnegths.

The 5yo son of War Command appears worthy of a go in this company and if able to improve from some already impressive recent handicap wins and may fly under the radar in this.

Especially given how well progeny of War Command run at the track with a 46% place rate here and outperforming their expected wins.