13:25 Haydock 05 Sep 2026
Betfair Backs Opinions Superior Mile Stakes
Group 3 | Class 1 | 3YO plus
Winner £53,874 - 9 declared to run
Heavy
Draw Advantage: Low
Forecast: Sunny spells
Temperature: 11.3° - 18.5°
Rainfall: none
Wind: 6.4 mph NW
Last Update: 04/09/2026 12:00
- Winner
- Top 3 Finish
- Top 2 Finish
- W/O Needle Match
- W/O Dancing Gemini And Needle Match
- Top 4 Finish
- W/O Dancing Gemini
- Insure 2 Places
- Insure 3 Places
- Insure 3 Places
- Not To Win
Bookies best price percentage = 110.92%
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Verdict
Karl Burke has won the last two renewals and HANKELOW may well bounce back to form. Not at his best since finishing a terrific third in the French Guineas back in May, the son of Night Of Thunder should relish this return to a mile on soft ground and is taken to edge out Dancing Gemini, who has solid claims on his fourth in the Lockinge back in May. Persica cannot be left out of calculations, and the unexposed Needle Match merits a second look.
Expert View Verdict
A fascinating contest with horses bringing different profiles. The class angle in the race is Dancing Gemini a former French Guineas runner up who has raced solely at higher levels than this since last spring. He has been struggling this year but the Group 2 winner could bounce back down in class. He does however have some doubts surrounding the ground unlike the least exposed in the field Needle Match whose sole victory so far has come on soft. He may ideally want a bit further than this in time but he's already proven himself up to this level with the form of his Desmond Stakes second franked in the Yorkshire Oaks. He is greatly respected but the solid selection is PERSICA who has proven admirably consistent in this grade all year. The dual Group 3 winner is proven with plenty of cut in the ground and he was left with plenty to do in the Strensall last time. If ridden slightly more positively here he can gain a deserved victory.
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Previous Winners
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Good | 9 | Zeus Olympios | 5 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 11 | 35 days | K R Burke (100 miles) | William Buick | 11/ 4 | 1:37.90 |
| 2024 | Good | 7 | Holloway Boy | 7 | 4 | 9 5 | - | 435233 | 16 days | K R Burke (100 miles) | William Buick | 7/ 2 | 1:40.21 |
| 2023 | Good | 7 | Chindit | 3 | 5 | 9 5 | - | 68-1263 | 21 days | R Hannon (184 miles) | James Doyle | 5/ 2 | 1:41.04 |
| 2022 | Good to Firm | 4 | Triple Time | 2 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 3211 | 364 days | K A Ryan (45 miles) | Andrea Atzeni | 13/ 8 | 1:40.78 |
| 2021 | Good to Firm | 5 | Artistic Rifles | 2 | 5 | 9 3 | - | 1-31101 | 35 days | E Bethell (121 miles) | Andrea Atzeni | 15/ 2 | 1:39.85 |
| 2020 | Soft | 7 | Top Rank | 2 | 4 | 9 3 | - | 111-13 | 16 days | J Tate (191 miles) | P J McDonald | 11/ 2 | 1:46.60 |
| 2019 | Soft | 6 | Great Scot | 4 | 3 | 8 12 | - | 5-29304 | 23 days | Tom Dascombe (170 miles) | Richard Kingscote | 7/ 2 | 1:44.09 |
| 2018 | Heavy | 6 | Here Comes When | 2 | 8 | 9 3 | - | 319-549 | 39 days | A M Balding (188 miles) | Oisin Murphy | 3/ 1 | 1:49.60 |
| 2017 | Heavy | 9 | Ballet Concerto | 7 | 4 | 9 6 | - | 156411 | 23 days | Sir Michael Stoute (191 miles) | Richard Kingscote | 8/ 1 | 1:45.93 |
| 2016 | Soft | 8 | Hathal | 5 | 4 | 9 3 | - | 2-10721 | 351 days | W J Haggas (191 miles) | Frankie Dettori | 11/ 2 | 1:47.15 |
| 2015 | Good to Soft | 7 | Balty Boys | 4 | 6 | 9 3 | - | 215402 | 42 days | B Ellison (107 miles) | Silvestre De Sousa | 11/ 4 | 1:43.91 |
| 2014 | Good | 6 | Captain Cat | 6 | 5 | 9 7 | - | 12-2113 | 14 days | H & R Charlton (172 miles) | G Baker | 15/ 8 | 1:44.10 |
| 2013 | Good to Soft | 8 | Top Notch Tonto | 4 | 3 | 8 11 | - | 654312 | 28 days | B Ellison (107 miles) | Dale Swift | 22/ 1 | 1:43.35 |
| 2012 | Firm | 7 | Thistle Bird | 7 | 4 | 9 0 | - | 135-112 | 14 days | H & R Charlton (172 miles) | James Doyle | 3/ 1 | 1:40.77 |
| 2011 | Good to Firm | 9 | King Torus | 1 | 3 | 8 11 | - | 14117-4 | 14 days | R Hannon (184 miles) | Richard Hughes | 3/ 1 | 1:43.11 |
| 2010 | Good to Firm | 8 | Cityscape | 1 | 4 | 9 2 | - | 1220-42 | 129 days | H & R Charlton (172 miles) | S Drowne | 9/ 2 | 1:39.44 |
| 2009 | Good to Soft | 10 | Confront | 1 | 4 | 9 5 | - | 124221 | 15 days | Sir Michael Stoute (191 miles) | Stephane Pasquier | 7/ 2 | 1:47.43 |
| 2007 | Good to Firm | 9 | Harvest Queen | 9 | 4 | 9 0 | - | 845-150 | 43 days | P J Makin (184 miles) | Seb Sanders | 12/ 1 | 1:43.58 |
| 2006 | Heavy | 6 | Zero Tolerance | 3 | 6 | 8 11 | - | 401500 | 9 days | T D Barron (111 miles) | Jamie Spencer | 16/ 1 | 1:48.47 |
Race Favourite Stats
| Year | Favourite Finish Position | Winner Market Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 | 1 |
| 2021 | 4 | 5 |
| 2020 | 3 | 2 |
| 2019 | 6 | 2 |
| 2018 | 5, 3 | 3 |
| 2017 | 6 | 4 |
| 2016 | 4 | 4 |
Race Record
| Distance | Record Time |
|---|---|
| 7f 212y | 1:37.80 |