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Betfred Sprint Cup
Along with the British legs of the Global Sprint Challenge – the King’s Stand Stakes and the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and the July Cup at Newmarket – the Betfred Sprint Cup is one of the most important sprint races of the British Flat racing season.
The Group 1 contest, run over 6 furlongs at Haydock Park, regularly attracts the crème de la crème of sprinting talent from both sides of the Irish Sea. This year is no exception, with former Australian sprinting superstar, Starspangledbanner – now trained in Co. Meath by Aidan O’Brien – and Kargali, trained by Luke Comer, representing the Emerald Isle.
Despite finishing only second to the unheralded Sole Power (a 100/1 shot) in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York last month, Starspangledbanner (11/4 with Coral) heads the market on the back of wins in the Golden Jubilee Stakes and the July Cup on his two previous starts. Starspangledbanner beat Barry Hill’s Equiano (9/1 with Sporting Bet) by just a neck in the July Cup, but with that one finishing last of 12 in the Nunthorpe he looks a safe bet to confirm the form. Indeed, it is interesting to note that he has won just once over 5 furlongs – in his native land as a 2-year-old – but four times at Group 1 level over 6 furlongs, including on the forecast “good” going. He must be a major player returned to 6 furlongs and looks a worthy favourite despite the presence of several other Group 1 winners in the field.
One of those, Richard Hannon’s Paco Boy (4/1 with Totesport and Paddy Power) has not run over 6 furlongs since his 2-year-old days back in 2007 so it is a surprise to see him in the field at all and a bigger surprise to see him so short in the betting. Far be it from me to tell Messrs. Hannon, Snr. and Jnr., their job, but surely he must be better suited by the mile of the Prix Moulin at Longchamp, in which he is also engaged.
Another, Borderslescott (12/1 with Sporting Bet, Victor Chandler, Ladbrokes and Coral) only runs subject to a satisfactory result from a blood test conducted on Tuesday and even if he does run has something to find with Starspangledbanner on Nunthorpe running. He finished 2½ lengths behind Aidan O’Brien’s charge at Haydock and is another who looks safely held, at least on paper. That said, the Nunthorpe Stakes was a peculiar race for several reasons (not least the result) and it remains to be seen if the form will stand close inspection.
Punters would do well not to dismiss last year’s winner of this race, Regal Parade (4/1 with Sporting Bet and Coral), who has been in good form this season and accounted for William Haggas’ High Standing (11/1 with Victor Chandler and Coral) Barry Hill’s Prime Defender (33/1 generally) when winning over 7 furlongs at Deauville. His Group wins – one at Group 3 and two at Group One – have all come on “good” or softer going, so with good weather forecast on Merseyside for the rest of the week it may be that conditions are on the fast side for him come the weekend.
Sir Michael Stoute’s Kingsgate Native (12/1 generally) would have some sort of a chance on the form he showed when winning the Group 2 Temple Stakes over 5 furlongs on this course back in May and when fourth to Starspangledbanner in the July Cup, but is becoming disappointing. He may be capable of running into a place, but cannot really be considered with any confidence for win purposes.
Strictly on form in the book, Starspangledbanner looks the most likely winner, but anyone who fancies a punt on a horse unexposed at sprint trips could do worse than to invest a few shillings on Mark Johnston’s 3-year-old Rainfall (25/1 with Sporting Bet). Rainfall won the Group 3 Jersey Stakes over 7 furlongs at Royal Ascot in June and has subsequently run well in two Group 1 contests at Newmarket and Deauville. He is unexposed, having raced just five times in his career and only once over today’s distance and being a son of July Cup winner Oasis Dream he could still have a fair bit of improvement to come back at a sprinting trip. His trainer generally knows the time of day and is not one to overface his horses, so Rainfall could represent fantastic value at the odds on offer. He has won on “good to soft”, “good” and “good to firm” going, so he should run to form whatever the weather between now and Saturday.
