32Red Sprint Cup – Haydock – Saturday 9th September
I was going to do a full in-depth trends preview on the Group 1 32Red, sponsored Sprint Cup to be run at Haydock on Saturday but that hasn’t been possible now. But here is a short preview of the race.
Harry Angel winner of the July Cup is a best priced 13/8 at the time of writing and the three-year-old clearly goes into the race with a favourite’s chance. The Tin Man who won the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot ran no sort of race in the July Cup but according to gallop reports he has been going really well of late and better is expected. He was second in last year’s race, on soft ground although he would prefer good or quicker. If he gets his conditions you can expect a much better run from him.
Blue Point was just ½ a length behind Harry Angel in the Commonwealth Cup. The three-year-old has run since that race but he goes well fresh and if the ground is good or quicker on Saturday, his present odds of 10/1 would be generous given he has little to find with the favourite. Both he and Harry Angel are favoured by the age stats with three-year-olds having won five of the last nine renewals.
If the ground is easier than good, I am with the Kevin Ryan trained Brando. The five-year-old came from an impossible position to get within 1 ¾ lengths of the more prominently ridden Harry Angel in the July Cup. He showed a tremendous turn of speed in the final couple of furlongs and can be considered an unlucky loser, given the modest early gallop and the good to firm going. He has subsequently improved even further to land the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest over 6 ½ f at Deauville last month.
Verdict: I really can’t see Brando being beaten if he gets an even gallop to chase and some ease in the ground! If the ground was to be good or quicker on the day it might pay dividends to have a saver on Blue Point.
Selection: Brando – 5/1 in the 16:10 Haydock
