Racing tips: Haydock Sprint Cup runners and riders: Your Pinstickers’ guide to the big sprint live on ITV t – The Sun
DREAM on in the Sprint Cup. With Advertise pulled out after a bad scope and Ten Sovereigns out because of the testing ground, Sir Michael Stoute’s DREAM …
With Advertise pulled out after a bad scope and Ten Sovereigns out because of the testing ground, Sir Michael Stoute’s DREAM OF DREAMS can lift the prize. He ran the brilliant Blue Point to a head at Royal Ascot over this trip and can be forgiven his run in the July Cup when not getting the best of runs.
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BRANDO 3/5
ACT on Brando. Grand old campaigner who is holding his form well at the age of seven. Good second in this last year and chased home Advertise in France last time. He has no issues with soft ground and saves his best for this distance. Needs a personal best to win but every chance if finishing in the shake-up again if things fall right
DREAM could be on. Wasn’t the only one to be left in Ten Sovereigns’ wake in the July Cup but he’s better than that tenth-place effort. Had earlier pushed the high-class Blue Point all the way at Royal Ascot over this distance after winning a Listed race well at Windsor in May. Has won with cut in the ground so should be fine with underfoot conditions.
INVINCIBLE ARMY 2/5
ARMY needs to march. Was well off the pace behind Advertise and Brando in France last time when Group 1 level again seemed too much. Did manage to land decent wins at Newcastle and York earlier and is best over this distance. Interesting to see trainer James Tate — who is having his best ever season — reach for cheekpieces for the first time on the back of that poor French effort. They need to work if he’s to bounce back.
MAJOR JUMBO 1/5
HEAVY for Jumbo. Was a convincing winner of a Chester Listed race in soft ground last time but came up well short in this class in the July Cup at Newmarket. Was beaten by Invincible Army in the Duke Of York Stakes earlier this season and faces a tough task to turn that form around. Even that shouldn’t be enough to take this.
THE TIN MAN 4/5
TIN can. Last year’s winner hasn’t looked the force of old this season but coming back to Haydock on soft ground that suits could work miracles. He’s been given a nice break since a modest effort at Newmarket in July which could also help. Trainer James Fanshawe has his horses in good form and we know he has the quality to win this. At the prices he looks a solid each-way play.
WALDPFAD 2/5
WALD wonder. German raider who sprung a 33-1 surprise in the Group 3 Hackwood Stakes at Newbury in July over this trip on similar ground to today’s. He was a solid second at Baden-Baden last time and has few miles on the clock for a five-year-old. He needs to raise his game again to be competitive in this company and that’s not impossible.
HELLO YOUMZAIN 3/5
YOUM can zoom. Looks a potential improver after a fast-finishing third in the Commonwealth Cup behind Advertise last time. He hasn’t been out since so should be a bit fresher than some of these rivals. Before that Ascot run he won the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes here ahead of Calyx and landed a big win in France with cut in the ground. He wouldn’t want to miss the break again but could take a step forward.
KHAADEM 3/5
KHAA has gears. Was backed off the boards before winning the Stewards’ Cup at Glorious Goodwood. That may be a handicap but it was a Group-class performance and trainer Charles Hills has a way with sprinters. It will take improvement to figure here in very different conditions but he has a live chance.
FAIRYLAND 1/5
FAIRY story. Has run well in a clutch of Group 1 races this season – including the 1,000 Guineas over a mile – without really looking like winning one. He was a fair third in the July Cup over this trip before 5f looked too sharp in the Nunthorpe last time. Needs to raise his game to come out on top today.
FOREVER IN DREAMS 3/5
DREAMS alive. Clocked a big personal best when second to Advertise in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot on his last outing. Earlier won a Listed race over course and distance and doesn’t mind ground with some cut. Looks a tall order but is only three and has scope for improvement.
SO PERFECT 1/5
SO what? Fair third over 5f in the Nunthorpe at York last time but was almost five lengths off the pace crossing the line. Struggled to land a blow in France behind Advertise and was off the pace in the July Cup. Hard to fancy.
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