Haydock Park's Sprint Cup, first run in 1966, is a Group One dash for three-year-olds or older horses run over six furlongs.
The Sprint Cup is the biggest flat race of the season at the Lancashire track and among its big names are jockeys Lester Piggott, Pat Eddery and Willie Carson, all of whom won the event a record three times.
Let’s take a look at some of the horses looking to get their name on the silverware this year:
Vandeek (8/1) is very much on course to run in the Sprint Cup after a decent showing in the July Cup at Newmarket.
The son of Havana Grey, unbeaten during his juvenile campaign, did not take his place in the Commonwealth Cup due to an abnormal blood count, but ran with credit at Newmarket when finishing two lengths adrift of Mill Stream.
Vandeek won his maiden at Nottingham last July before stepping up to Group Two level to land the spoils in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood, and then completed a hat-trick in the Prix Morny in France, beating the useful Ramatuelle in the process.
He finished off his season with a Group One success in the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket. The Crisford runner looks very solid and he’ll have plenty of support in the betting.
If Kevin Ryan’s Inisherin lines up then he looks sure to go off the favourite and you can currently back him at odds of 7/1 in our horse racing betting.
Earlier this season Inisherin won the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock in commanding fashion, prompting the decision to supplement him for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, at a cost of £46,000.
That gamble well and truly paid off when he came home two lengths plus clear of his rivals.
Sent off the favourite for the July Cup at Newmarket he never really looked like winning it and finished 2¾ lengths behind Mill Stream. There’s every chance he will bounce back at Haydock and 7/1 will look generous.
Ralph Beckett’s Kinross (16/1) has been running at the top level for quite a few seasons now and it would come as no surprise if he struck at Haydock.
The Prix de la Foret perennial is a ten-time career winner and if there just so happens to be a shower or two on the day, I would fancy his chances even more in this six furlong dash.
Winner Market -
Those of you looking for a potential upset of sorts may want to side with the Tim Easterby-trained Art Power (20/1 in our betting).
Until recently many pundits and form students regarded the seven-year-old as a one-trick soft ground pony, but really decent showings in the Clipper, Greenlands, July Cup and Lennox Stakes have proven he’s very versatile and he could well be a decent each-way play for punters in this Haydock feature.
Suggested bet: Art Power @ 20/1 (E/W)
*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alamy*
