The Group 1 Sprint Cup has attracted a relatively select field of just eight runners, but remains the feature race this Sunday. Britain’s only top level contest of the week is still sure to be a quickfire contest despite potentially soft conditions.
We preview this year’s edition of the Sprint Cup below, giving you a rundown of all eight runners, as well as some key trends and our verdict.
Race Info
- Race: Betfair Sprint Cup (Group 1)
- Course: Haydock Park
- Date/time: Saturday 5 September 2026, 3.40pm
- Distance: 6f
- Going: Heavy
- Prize fund: £400,000 (winner: £226,840)
- Runners: 8
Horse-by-Horse Verdict
1.Almeraq – Winner of the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes in which he downed some high-class global sprinters. That was the culmination of his steady improvement, which hit a rock when only ninth in the July Cup. Copes with soft ground and should bounce back from what was likely just a blip at Newmarket.
2. American Affair – Non-Runner
3. Aramram – Soft ground scorer on two occasions, including in high quality handicap at Ascot last season. Listed winner on reappearance, then second in Newmarket Group 3. Efforts this season have often come from wrong side of the draw, whcih will not be an issue. Can outrun his odds.
4. Big Mojo – Defending champion who returned to form last time out. Won commandingly a year ago before seeming to lose his way in top level company. Much more like it at the Curragh though, so clearly retains ability. The ground would pose a new question though, as he’s never run on slower than good-to-soft.
5. James’s Delight – Has won on heavy and is a Listed winner on soft. Caused 22/1 upset in Group 2 company a year ago at the Curragh before last of 17 in this race in 2025. Form subsequently is solid, but below the required level here and even underfoot conditions are unlikely to enable him to win this.
6. Kind Of Blue – Won Group 1 on British Champions Day on soft ground in 2024. Otherwise a frustrating type, with three wins from 14 career starts much too low a strike rate for his ability. Second in the last two runnings of this though, so plenty augurs well, albeit he comes here relatively lacking in match practice.
7. Marvelman – Ready Group 2 winner on soft ground at Doncaster last term. That is one of only two victories in 14 starts, but has placed on seven other occasions. Third in 7f City Of York Stakes came behind top-class winner. Worth a drop back to 6f and can go well, though meets seasoned sprinters at this trip.
8. Paborus – Unexposed type with excellent strike rate of five wins from nine starts. Won Group 3 after nearly a year off at Newcastle on return. Only eighth in City Of York Stakes and while he won on soft as a novice, he has been a non-runner since when going description on the slower side. Has more to prove than most.
9. Coppull – Solid sprinter with Group 2 successes in both seasons so far. Was not too far short of contention in the Commonwealth Cup or July Cup over the summer and this race undoubtedly easier on quantity alone. Never raced on slower than good, but his dam did win on soft. Likely to find one or two a bit stronger under these conditions.
Trends & Stats
Here are three key stats to look out for when placing a bet on the 2026 Sprint Cup:
- No favourite has won the Sprint Cup since 2020
- Older horses had dominated until Big Mojo became the first three-year-old winner for six years last season
- Only three of the last ten winners had won on their previous outing
Sprint Cup Selections
Having regularly overperformed given restrictions due to the draw, ARAMRAM is worth chancing given his previous soft ground form. He is once again drawn on the wing here in stall nine, but this small field should ensure that matters little. He impressed earlier on this campaign on good-to-soft at Doncaster and looks much too big a price in a relatively weak Group 1. Almeraq should bounce back from his aberration in the July Cup while Kind Of Blue has been a fixture in this race and will like underfoot conditions.
- Aramram
- Almeraq
- Kind Of Blue