September 05 / 15.40 Haydock

15.40

Soft

Betfair Sprint Cup Stakes (Group 1)

  • Prize money: £226840
  • 0m 6f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 8 runners
ITV
View Course
Betfair Sprint Cup Stakes (Group 1)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.45

Form: 1F-119 D

Last run: 56 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 4yo who took the leap in grade in his stride for last-gasp win in the Group 1 Jubilee at Royal Ascot (6f, good to firm) in June; disappointing in the July Cup at Newmarket since but perhaps a second encounter in a row with fast ground was an issue; has won on soft/good to soft; leading claims if bouncing back from last time and rediscovering his best form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(8)

17th Oct 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

Almeraq

9st 4lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

Top-class sprinter; got up close home in the Group 1 Jubilee over C&D (good to firm) in June and routed his seven rivals in the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock (soft; best effort) in September; drying ground might be a slight concern (he folded tamely in the July Cup on good to firm in between those wins) but he's clearly the one to beat if repeating the Haydock form.

5/4

1st

1

(4)

5th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:40 Haydock

Almeraq

9st 5lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

Lightly raced 4yo who took the leap in grade in his stride for last-gasp win in the Group 1 Jubilee at Royal Ascot (6f, good to firm) in June; disappointing in the July Cup at Newmarket since but perhaps a second encounter in a row with fast ground was an issue; has won on soft/good to soft; leading claims if bouncing back from last time and rediscovering his best form.

11/4

9th

1

(4)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

16:35 Newmarket (July)

Almeraq

9st 8lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

Progressive colt who got up on the line in a very tight finish to the 6f Group 1 at Royal Ascot (good to firm) most recently, taking record in completed starts to 4-6 and confirming that a heavy fall last September has not left a long-lasting mark; an emerging force in the sprinting division and he's from the family of a July Cup winner (Dream Ahead); major contender.

11/2

11/2

  • Place: £2.20

Form: /13-18 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
5yo who has had a few interruptions in his career and returned from latest absence with a win in the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle (6f, AW) in June; has won on soft ground; ran well for a long way when eighth in the Group 1 City Of York (7f, good to soft) a fortnight ago and could benefit from the return to sprinting, but others have more substance to their claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

9

(1)

17th Oct 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

Paborus

9st 4lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: Edward Bethell

Lightly raced 5yo; readily beat Marvelman to win the Group 3 Chipchase at Newcastle (6f, AW) in June and was Almeraq's closest pursuer in the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock (6f, soft) last month; should give his running again but has just over 4l to find with the hot favourite.

11/1

2nd

8

(8)

5th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:40 Haydock

Paborus

9st 5lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: Edward Bethell

5yo who has had a few interruptions in his career and returned from latest absence with a win in the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle (6f, AW) in June; has won on soft ground; ran well for a long way when eighth in the Group 1 City Of York (7f, good to soft) a fortnight ago and could benefit from the return to sprinting, but others have more substance to their claims.

11/2

8th

5

(13)

22nd Aug 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:00 York

Paborus

9st 8lb

J: James Doyle

T: Edward Bethell

Strike-rate of 5-8 and long absences are a feature in his profile; back from another to produce career-best form in beating Marvelman at Newcastle in June (6f AW) but he'd be no certainty to confirm those placings on 5lb worse terms, while there are plenty of others to worry about; on the plus side, he remains a relative unknown quantity and trip/ground will be fine.

16/1

10/1

  • Place: £2.55

Form: 0-7801 CD

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Won this last year (good); in and out since but he returned to form with a win in the Group 3 Phoenix Sprint at the Curragh (6f, good to firm) four weeks ago; showed promise on sole encounter with good to soft ground (unraced on softer); entitled to respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

(7)

5th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:40 Haydock

Big Mojo

9st 5lb

J: William Buick

T: Michael Appleby

Won this last year (good); in and out since but he returned to form with a win in the Group 3 Phoenix Sprint at the Curragh (6f, good to firm) four weeks ago; showed promise on sole encounter with good to soft ground (unraced on softer); entitled to respect.

10/1

1st

2

(1)

9th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

15:25 Curragh

Big Mojo

9st 7lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Michael Appleby

Won the Sprint Cup at Haydock last season when his form also featured a fine second in the July Cup; towards the rear in this year's edition of the Newmarket showpiece last month; previously found 5f a bit sharp in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot; best treated at the weights but questions to answer.

5/4

20/1

Form: 00-633 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Third in 6f Group races at the Curragh on his last two starts (good/good to firm), most recently behind Big Mojo; he likes slow ground but that's not enough of a positive to suggest he'll be a serious player today, as he has quite a bit to find with the principals.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

4

(16)

17th Oct 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

Jamess Delight

9st 4lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Clive Cox

Sole success since 2024 came in 6f Curragh Group 2 in May 2025; beaten a long way into fourth by Almeraq in the Sprint Cup at Haydock last time and finished down the field in this race 12 months ago; opposable.

50/1

4th

5

(3)

5th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:40 Haydock

Jamess Delight

9st 5lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Clive Cox

Third in 6f Group races at the Curragh on his last two starts (good/good to firm), most recently behind Big Mojo; he likes slow ground but that's not enough of a positive to suggest he'll be a serious player today, as he has quite a bit to find with the principals.

20/1

Form: 320-20 D

Last run: 77 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Won the Group 1 Champions Sprint at Ascot (6f, soft) in 2024 and has finished second in the last two runnings of this race (good); also runner-up in Group 2 Minster Stakes at York (6f, good) on this season's reappearance; merely mid-division at Royal Ascot in June last time (6f, good to firm) but getting back on slower ground should help; he's firmly in calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

6

(10)

17th Oct 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

Kind Of Blue

9st 4lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: James Fanshawe

High-class sprinter on his day; enjoyed his finest hour when winning this event (soft ground) in 2024, but mostly disappointing since and only 11th in this 12 months ago; had a confidence-boosting victory in an AW conditions race last month but he'll need more back in the highest grade.

12/1

1st

2

(1)

30th Sep 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Kind Of Blue

9st 5lb

J: James Doyle

T: James Fanshawe

Won the 2024 Group 1 Champions Sprint at Ascot (6f, soft) but is 0-8 since; held in Group 1s on his last two starts, including in the Sprint Cup at Haydock last time (runner-up the previous two years), but he was runner-up in Group 2 at York in June and has a good chance at the weights on his return to the AW.

9/4

5th

6

(6)

5th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:40 Haydock

Kind Of Blue

9st 5lb

J: James Doyle

T: James Fanshawe

Won the Group 1 Champions Sprint at Ascot (6f, soft) in 2024 and has finished second in the last two runnings of this race (good); also runner-up in Group 2 Minster Stakes at York (6f, good) on this season's reappearance; merely mid-division at Royal Ascot in June last time (6f, good to firm) but getting back on slower ground should help; he's firmly in calculations.

7/2

20/1

Form: -12505 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Listed winner at Doncaster (6f, good to soft) in March before close second in Group 3 Abernant at Newmarket (6f, good); returned to form when first of four in the far-side group in the Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon (6f, good) three weeks ago; has something to find in today's company but he's 2-3 on soft ground and is not ruled out each-way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(10)

3rd Oct 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Ascot

Aramram

9st 3lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

Escapes a penalty for his Listed win at Doncaster (6f, good to soft) in March; his last two runs haven't been his best but there have been mitigating factors; has a course win on his record and he should go well.

16/1

18th

3

(18)

19th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:40 Ayr

Aramram

9st 10lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Richard Hannon

Only seventh in this race 12 months ago when 10lb lower; his improved form this spring has warranted this lofty mark and he ran well in the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon last month (off 1lb higher), doing best of the far-side group; still looks up against it here.

40/1

6th

3

(9)

5th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:40 Haydock

Aramram

9st 5lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

Listed winner at Doncaster (6f, good to soft) in March before close second in Group 3 Abernant at Newmarket (6f, good); returned to form when first of four in the far-side group in the Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon (6f, good) three weeks ago; has something to find in today's company but he's 2-3 on soft ground and is not ruled out each-way.

20/1

13/2

Form: 3-1841 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Fine fourth against older horses in the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket (6f, good to firm) and won the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury (7f, good to firm) three weeks ago, which was a third Group-race win; 3yos have enjoyed plenty of success in this race and this progressive colt could be in the mix provided he handles conditions (unraced on ground slower than good).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

11

(5)

17th Oct 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

Coppull

9st 3lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Clive Cox

Seems best on good ground or firmer and had his conditions when a fine fourth in the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket and when beating Prince Of India and seven others in the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury; presumably failed to handle much softer going when well beaten by Almeraq at Haydock six weeks ago; commands respect if the rain stays away.

9/1

7th

9

(2)

5th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:40 Haydock

Coppull

9st 3lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Clive Cox

Fine fourth against older horses in the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket (6f, good to firm) and won the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury (7f, good to firm) three weeks ago, which was a third Group-race win; 3yos have enjoyed plenty of success in this race and this progressive colt could be in the mix provided he handles conditions (unraced on ground slower than good).

13/2

1st

6

(9)

15th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:10 Newbury

Coppull

9st 2lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Clive Cox

Has raced only at sprint distances; ran well in the face of a stiff task when fourth of 11 in the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket (6f, good to firm; 28-1) last month; that makes him one of the leading contenders on form but he does need to prove his stamina for today's longer trip.

7/2

Form: 0-9263

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
His career-best RPRs have coincided with his last two encounters with slow ground, specifically a dominant win in the Group 2 Park Stakes at Doncaster (7f, soft) last September and a very creditable third in the Group 1 City Of York Stakes (7f, good to soft) last month; he travelled well in the lead at York and the return to 6f on slow ground could be right up his street.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

7

(13)

17th Oct 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

Marvelman

9st 4lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Best effort when third in the Group 1 City Of York Stakes (7f, good to soft) in August, but hammered by Almeraq at Haydock next time and still a bit below par when fourth at the Arc meeting (7f, good); each-way claims if he's on a going day but well held on both runs at Ascot and carries clear risks.

25/1

8th

7

(5)

5th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:40 Haydock

Marvelman

9st 5lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

His career-best RPRs have coincided with his last two encounters with slow ground, specifically a dominant win in the Group 2 Park Stakes at Doncaster (7f, soft) last September and a very creditable third in the Group 1 City Of York Stakes (7f, good to soft) last month; he travelled well in the lead at York and the return to 6f on slow ground could be right up his street.

4/1

3rd

2

(3)

22nd Aug 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:00 York

Marvelman

9st 8lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Unraced at York but he does go on any ground, and his career-best form came on soft when impressing in a 7f Group 2 at Doncaster last September; creditable effort conceding weight all round when runner-up to Paborus in a Group 3 over 6f (AW) on his return to Britain in June and it's best to put a line through his run behind Lake Forest at Glorious Goodwood (7f) as he raced far too freely off a slacking pace; with a truer gallop on the cards and no ground issues, he could be a lively one.

18/1

Non-runners

American Affair

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £14.90
Straight Forecast £13.38
Tricast £83.08
Trifecta £108.50

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Kind Of Blue

SPOTLIGHT:

Marvelman

D Express:

Almeraq

The Times:

Paborus

TOPSPEED:

Big Mojo

LAMBOURN:

James's Delight

The Star:

Almeraq

POSTDATA:

Marvelman

Telegraph:

Marvelman

The Sun:

Marvelman

NEWMARKET:

Kind Of Blue

Daily Mail:

Kind Of Blue

Daily Mirror:

Kind Of Blue

Daily Record:

Kind Of Blue

The Guardian:

Paborus