Almeraq heads the market for Saturday's Betfair Sprint Cup, with connections hoping to see his true colours again at Haydock Park.
The William Haggas-trained four-year-old features among a final field of nine for the Group 1 sprint as the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes winner looks to get back on song following a well-held ninth in the July Cup at Newmarket when last seen on July 11.
Angus Gold, representing Almeraq's owners Shadwell Estate Company Ltd, told Sky Sports Racing: "It's interesting, whether the ground has put a few people off... they've had the rain and it sounds like they're going to get a bit more.
"Hopefully we'll be there with a squeak.
"He's got form on soft and he's got the feet that would suggest he'll handle soft ground, I don't think that'll bother us.
"At Ascot, everything went a bit better for him (compared to the July Cup), when he settled back in the pack and came through with his run. At Newmarket, he broke without any cover and was a bit bold early. It was faster ground than Ascot and Tom said he thought cover was important for this horse, just to get him to relax and finish off his race, and he said that he could feel him changing his legs like the ground was a bit too quick for him.
"He's drawn in the middle so hopefully he can get a lead early and get him to finish off."
On his final start of 2025, Almeraq fell after clipping heels in a Listed race at York, resulting in a career-ending injury for jockey Jim Crowley. For the colt to have returned to action at such a high level in 2026 has pleased Gold enormously.
"I was thrilled to see him comeback mentally, to win his first race at Salisbury, Harry Davies won on him there and the horse didn't seem to turn a hair," Gold said. "He didn't seem worried about anything and all of a sudden the horse went to Ascot and stepped up a few grades there.
"He was lucky to walk away from the fall (at York), let alone win a Group 1, but it was particularly special to make him a Group 1 winner."
Last year's returning winner Big Mojo, Jim Goldie's American Affair and the James Fanshawe-trained Kind Of Blue are other previous Group 1 scorers in the race.
Fanshawe's son Tom, who will officially be joining his father on the licence from 2027, told the Nick Luck Daily Podcast on Thursday: "I've worked for a few different trainers and from then on in it became clear that I really wanted to be in the training side of things.
"I don't think there will be too many changes, we've got the same systems in place that we've had for quite a long period of time. But as you've seen this season, we've had a few two-year-old winners and in general the horses have been running well from April to October, hopefully we can maintain the form of the horses all year round."
Regarding the home-bred Kind Of Blue, who has been runner-up in the race twice in the past, Fanshawe said: "He seems to have a real liking for the course. Obviously, he ran a great race in the Sprint Cup last year, on quick ground.
"Between Ascot and Haydock, for the last couple of year he's been to Ireland which we decided not to do this time and keep him fresh for the Sprint Cup. We decided to space his races out and it was a decision Dad and Richard Brown (of Wathnan) made between them, just to save him for the Sprint Cup and the Champions Sprint because they are the two races.
"He seems in really good order, he seems to be just about peaking and is in good form. Fingers crossed for a good run."
Aramram, James's Delight, Marvelman, Padborus and Clive Cox's promising three-year-old Coppull completing the declarations.
Betfair Spokesperson James Mackie said: "The 2026 Betfair Sprint Cup sees a field of nine runners head to post for Haydock’s Saturday feature contest at the final declaration stage, and I am very much looking forward to seeing a competitive renewal of the valuable Group One.
"Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes winner, Almeraq, is the 5/2 favourite and is looking to land a Royal Ascot and Betfair Sprint Cup double this season. Clive Cox’s Coppull is the big mover in the field at this stage now the 7/2 second favourite from 9/2.
“Last year’s second in the race Kind Of Blue is looking to go one better this year and is priced at 4/1 for the Wathnan Racing team. Big Mojo will be seeking to retain his Group 1 Haydock crown and is priced attractively at 7/1 to do so."
Latest Betfair odds: 5/2 Almeraq, 7/2 Coppull, 4/1 Kind Of Blue, 6/1 Marvelman, 7/1 Big Mojo, 12/1 Paborus, 16/1 American Affair, 33/1 Aramram, James’s Delight.
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