HAYDOCK SPRINT CUP
Saturday 7th September Haydock, 3:35pm
Inisherin @ 7/2
Elite Status @ 5/1
Swingalong @ 13/2
Jasour @ 10/1
Monstassib @ 11/1
view odds
*prices correct at time of writing.
THE RACE
The Haydock Sprint Cup (3-35) is the first of the flat season’s top-notch autumn prizes, staged over six furlongs. In recent years, with some distinguished exceptions, the trend has continued that the race offers a Group One target for sprinters yet to completely establish themselves – so there is, as the form book abbreviation would have it, ‘ev chance’ that it’s as open as the field size might indicate.
THE MARKET
Inisherin has had a good break since disappointing as July Cup favourite (fifth) after tremendous performances dropped to this distance at Haydock and in the Commonwealth Cup; the question is whether Newmarket was a blip, barely three weeks after Ascot, caused by an unfavourable course, or whether the competition provided by older horses did for him.
The same owner’s Elite Status fits the profile for this race having won 2/2 this year, both times at Newbury, and on the second occasion accounting for the runner-up and fourth (the promising Kind Of Blue) behind Inisherin at Ascot. Elite Status’ stablemate Swingalong, last year’s fourth in this, is a terrific filly, a narrowly-beaten second – having been prominent throughout – in the Jubilee at Ascot and the July Cup.
Jasour was overly keen when putting up fine efforts in the Commonwealth and July Cups and it’s not hard to imagine that (like a few of these) his time will soon come. Montassib is best on soft turf and looked smart, with conditions right, at Doncaster in March. The beers were on Bucanero Fuerte during his fine old time as a juvenile, and a sole run this year resulted in a narrow defeat of the fast-finishing Givemethebeatboys in May.
Shouldvebeenaring has been runner-up in august company at Haydock twice, having finished behind Regional in the Sprint Cup twelve months ago today and behind Little Big Bear in the 2023 Sandy Lane. Annaf (seventh behind Regional) has been absent since netting not much short of £1m worth of Saudi oil dollars in late-February and has always performed well after a break; amongst his form is an excellent third at Royal Ascot last year.
Soft ground-loving Spycatcher (trained like Elite Status and Swingalong by Karl Burke) has form that makes him hard to completely rule out, and the same applies to Art Power and to the supplemented Flora Of Bermuda.
THE WINNER
Karl Burke may hold the key with marginal preference for Swingalong – what do you reckon?
CORN’S QUARTET
Eye-catching jockey booking alert: Ryan Moore riding Oneforthegutter for in-form Ian Williams (Haydock, 2-25) – they have a good record together.
American Affair (3-00) continues to perform well despite his weights rises and then, look, he has Amie Waugh’s claim deducted.
At Ascot, Amanda Perrett has been enjoying more luck lately, and Rebel Territory (1-35) did plenty of good work after a long lay-off at Goodwood last month.
And talking of good work at Goodwood, ditto Rohaan (3-55) from a less-desirable draw in the Stewards Cup – now he’s back at his fav track.
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