Montassib lands shock 25-1 win in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock Park

Montassib caused a 25-1 shock victory in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock Park on Saturday afternoon – and even his trainer William Haggas didn't see it coming.

Newmarket handler Haggas’ six-year-old has really thrived since switching to six furlongs, winning three of his last five starts. But all those have been in handicaps or at a lower grade, so he was sent off one of the outsiders at 25-1 for the Group One feature at the Merseyside track. But under Cieren Fallon, who hails from nearby Wigan, the gelded son of Exceed And Excel scored for the first time at the top level in the Group One feature at Haydock.

Having not run since winning the Group Three Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle in June due to the fast ground, Montassib came through late to just grab victory by a head from the James Fanshawe-trained Kind Of Blue (14-1). Another Haggas-trained runner Unequal Love – who herself stepped up to Group One company for the first time following her fine success in the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot and finishing third in the Group Three Summer Stakes at York – kept on to be three-quarters-of-a-length back in third. Another outsider, 50-1 shot Vadream, was the same distance back in fourth.

Haggas said: "I didn't really expect that at all. I thought Unequal Love might run well as she's such a genuine filly, but I thought the ground would be too quick for Montassib. I also thought all the action would be on the stands rail. I thought they were both draw away from the real action. We relied on Bucanero Fuerte to go forward, which he did. Unequal Love was always travelling well but Cieren (Fallon) had to get after Montassib. On softer ground, they come back to him, which it better. But I am delighted with his run.

"Now we have found his right trip, I've been running him over seven furlongs and a mile before. He's pretty effective at six furlongs. I don't like beating James at all because he's my mate and we see each other every morning on the gallops, but we're delighted to win. Cieren is doing really well, he's had a couple of injuries which has been upsetting for him and annoying for us, but he's riding with lots of confidence and gets a tune out of this horse, which is terrific.

"We were going to go to Ireland for a warm up for Ascot, but I guess it will be straight there (Champions Day) now. That six furlongs there if we get the soft ground should suit him well. I'm thrilled to bits, didn't expect that at all and I can't tell you how pleased I am. You don't win Group Ones everyday and I am absolutely thrilled."

On third home Unequal Love, he added: "She is a lovely filly and very genuine. It all went wrong last time. She won the Wokingham with a lot of weight and filly has never done that. I don't think Unequal Love wants it too soft. She is definitely a Group One filly. She ran a fantastic race."

Jockey Fallon was delighted to land a Group One at his local track. He said: "What a performance, he's a horse you have to have confidence in and take your time. He's done nothing but improve and I'm very lucky to keep on him. To ride a Group One for Mr Haggas and Maureen (Haggas), I wouldn't be in the position I'm in today without them."

The 5-2 Favourite Inisherin, who had won over course and distance in the Group Two Sandy Lane Stakes back in May and at the top level in the Group One Commonwealth Cup at the Royal meeting the following month, disappointed again. Having initially been up with the pace the Kevin Ryan-trained three-year-old faded to finish 13th. Fellow Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum three-year-old Elite Status, trained by the Liverpool FC fan Karl Burke – also flattered to deceive after initially looking like he play a hand in the finish and ended up eighth.