The last three winners of the Stewards' Cup (due off at 3.45pm) were priced at 40/1, 14/1 and 20/1, which suggests it is an almost impossible race to solve.
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However, there have been several successful gambles in recent years, including Zidane (6/1 ), Gift Horse (9/2), Pivotal Point (7/1) and Patavellian (4/1 ), suggesting it might not be such a lottery after all. Furthermore, the consolation race for those who fail to make the cut is being run earlier on the card (2.05) for the first time, giving punters more pertinent clues to any draw bias than might have been deduced from its old time slot.
That said, with 28 runners set to go to post, it's still going to take some cracking and the best policy might be to back a couple of horses, one from each side of the track.
Drawn highest of all is HIGH STANDING, whose name was first pulled from the hat and connections had little hesitation in plumping for stall 28 (nearest the stands' rail). They may well have been swayed by recent results as six winners in the last 10 years were drawn in stall 18 or higher and Bond Boy was drawn highest of all when successful in 2002.
The William Haggas-trained gelding is no stranger to success in big-field handicaps, having won the 2009 Wokingham Handicap, and he lines up here off just a 5lb higher mark, his lowest rating since. Furthermore, we know he loves the track as he was a winner over 6f on his last visit, which can't be said for some of the market leaders.
Last summer, he was good enough to run third in a Group 1 race at Deauville and he's continued to run well in Group company since, without getting his head in front. So, it was a good piece of placing by his trainer William Haggas to find a suitable conditions sprint at Haydock last time and he duly obliged. Unsuited by the soft ground on his previous start at Royal Ascot, he will find conditions ideal here and the 28/1 on offer with bet365, who are offering five places, looks like good business.
The pick of those drawn low (nearest the far rail) looks to be MAC'S POWER, who will come out of stall one. James Fanshawe's five-year-old won the race on the wrong side when eighth to stablemate Deacon Blues in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot and was again unlucky with the draw on his next visit to the Berkshire track, being forced to challenge wide and finishing third in a decent race.
His trainer has a terrific record with his runners in this race, having saddled one winner and two placed horse from just three runners since 2003, and Mac's Power looks an ideal type as the track favours hold-up performers like him. He will need the breaks to come at the right time of course but will have the running rail to help him and I can see him coming fast and late. OK, compared to the other selection, there's less to like about his price but I'm not going to turn my nose up at the 10/1 (BOG) offered by WilliamHill.
As for the dangers, where do you start? Hoof It (7/1 Coral), the winner of last weekend's Sky Bet Dash, has to be near the top of the list, although the 6lb penalty he picked up means he has to carry the welter burden of 10st. The unexposed Edinburgh Knight (12/1 William Hill), always well regarded and kept fresh since his Newcastle win, is a major player, as is the talented but enigmatic Pastoral Player (16/1 Betfred), while victory for any of David Nicholls' sextet of runners would hardly be a surprise given the trainer's record in the race.
Recommended Bets:-
High Standing 1pt each-way @ 28/1 bet365 (1/4 odds, 5 places)
Mac's Power 2pts @ 10/1 William Hill (BOG)