Harry Angel heads Sprint Cup hopefuls at Haydock on Saturday

Clive Cox’s horse was last seen winning the Darley July Cup at Newmarket on July 15, so he’ll go into the contest on the back of a near two-month break as he bids to pick up the winning thread under regular pilot Adam Kirby.

Second to Caravaggio in the Group One Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, Harry Angel showed blistering speed to win the Group Two Armstrong Aggregates Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock prior to that so he has some exceptional course-winning form to draw upon.

"I've sat on him since [the July Cup] and he's in good nick. He's moving well and everything's good," Kirby told At The Races.

"He'll be fine in the ground. He'll go through anything. In my eyes, he's everything you need in one. He's settled down now.

"He's still not had many races yet. We're looking forward to it and I'll let him do the talking - I think he's very good."

Sky Bet make the Dark Angel colt 13/8 favourite in their ante-post market.

His owners Godolphin could also be represented by Charlie Appleby’s Blue Point (9/1), a horse last seen finishing third behind Caravaggio and Harry Angel in the Commonwealth Cup.

Caravaggio (9/1) himself has been left in the race at the six-day stage despite having an alternative engagement in the Group Two Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

His trainer Aidan O’Brien also has Cougar Mountain, Washington DC, Spirit Of Valor and Intelligence Cross as possibles.

Second favourite in the betting is Kevin Ryan’s Brando following his win in the Group One Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville last month.

Third to Harry Angel in the July Cup on the back of his own enforced absence, Brando is 9/2 to reverse that form now he has that first top-level victory under his belt.

Last year’s Sprint Cup winner Quiet Reflection was not among the six-day entries but The Tin Man, second in the race last season, could line up once again.

He's an 8/1 chance to go one better than his second in this race last year, but the Diamond Jubilee winner will have to bounce back from a below-par effort in the July Cup last time.

His trainer James Fanshawe said: "The Tin Man is fine. He worked on Saturday and we are looking forward to running him in the 32Red Sprint Cup at Haydock Park.

"I don't think he wants extremes of going, but we wouldn't mind a drop of rain ahead of Saturday.

"He is in good form. I don't want to make excuses for his last run when obviously he didn't run so well. We just want to get him back on track at Haydock this weekend."

Henry Candy's Limato (8/1) could also drop back in trip following his fourth-placed effort in the Group Two Lennox Stakes over seven furlongs at Glorious Goodwood last time.

Tasleet is similar to The Tin Man as he ran a fine race when second to Fanshawe’s horse at Royal Ascot but then completely bombed out in the July Cup last time.

Given time off to recover since, he was clipped into 8/1 from 10s with Sky Bet earlier in the week and he’s bang in the mix if returning to top form.

Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Hamdan Al Maktoum, said: "We gave Tasleet a bit of a break after Newmarket.

"Although he has never handled Newmarket particularly well, he was too keen in the July Cup and did not finish his race out. He just wasn't himself.

"I think on his best form he should run a very decent race in the 32Red Sprint Cup. He proved at York and Ascot that he is a very good horse and, if there is a bit of ease in the ground, he won't mind it.

"Whether he is good enough to beat Harry Angel and Brando, we will have to wait and see, but he is definitely in the mix."

The same could be said of Charlie Hills’ Magical Memory, third in the Sprint Cup two years ago, but he was slightly below-par when fourth to Brando in France last time.

Richard Fahey has four entries as he bids to win the Sprint Cup for the first time with Growl, Kimberella, Mr Lupton and Queen Kindly forming a quartet of hopefuls from Musley Bank.

Gifted Master, Koropick, Tupi and Spiritual Lady complete the 20 entries.

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