Views from connections and Man On The Spot verdict for the Haydock Sprint Cup
Views from connections and Man On The Spot verdict ahead of Saturday's feature action at Haydock.
16.15 Haydock - 32Red Sprint Cup Stakes (Group 1)
Click here for full racecard and free video form
Views from connections
Clive Cox - Harry Angel
"He wasn't just in tune to go to the July Cup which was a huge shame, but Haydock was logical after that. I'm really pleased to say he's pleased me very much at home, over the last two or three weeks especially, and fingers crossed we can repeat last year, which was pretty special. The ground hopefully isn't an issue, I'm quite relaxed in that respect. My team at home have worked really hard with him and I couldn't be more happy, he's always been a bit fractious but like a lot of sprinters, he just wants to get on with the job."
William Haggas - Tasleet
"His race is the one on Champions Day at Ascot as he appears to want really soft ground now. He was second in three Group Ones last year. He's only run once this year because the ground has been appalling for him so we've had to wait but he's ready to go and in great shape. I'm pretty happy with him."
Angus Gold, racing manager to Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum - Eqtidaar
"Although he won the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, he was still quite an immature horse earlier in the season. Sir Michael thinks Eqtidaar has come back to himself now. When Jim (Crowley, jockey) won on him at Royal Ascot he said the Group One sprint on Champions Day in October would be his absolute race. I am not sure the July Course at Newmarket really suited him last time out. I am not saying that is why he was beaten that day, but he is back in good form now after his break and Jim was very happy with the horse when he rode him the other day."
Aidan O'Brien - Gustav Klimt
"We were playing around with the idea of bringing Gustav Klimt back to six. He worked on Tuesday and we were very happy with him. He is by Galileo, but he is out of a very fast mare."
George Scott - James Garfield
"He came right back to form and some more last time. I think he just reset for sprinting and he'd had a break since Ascot. We put some headgear on him and a combination of those things saw him in his best light. It looks a mixed forecast and it will probably be on the soft side of good. It shouldn't bother him, he's shown good form with cut in the ground, the Acomb was almost a washout when he nearly won that and the Greenham was on soft ground as well. I think his preferred surface would be slightly faster, but I don't think we'll be using it as an excuse."
James Fanshawe - The Tin Man
"I'm not going to make too many predictions, but he's in good form going into the race and his races have been nicely spaced, so I hope he gets a bit of luck in running. You just hope you're near the pace because last time in Deauville (finished third in Prix Maurice de Gheest) we were away from the pace and he finished very well, but we were on the wrong side."
Kevin Ryan - Brando and Hey Jonesy
"We backed off him [Brando] after his last run and freshened him up. He's had a nice preparation, everything has gone to plan. We're very happy with him. We're hopeful he'll run a big race on Saturday. He [Hey Jonesy] ran very well at Ascot. He disappointed last time, but he seems in really good form now. It's a big step up, but the owners are very willing to let him take his chance and we're hopeful he'll run a nice race as well."
Gerald Mosse - Sir Dancealot
"I really believe he's a Group One horse. I think if the ground is on the soft side that will suit him. That would be better than if it is too quick coming back from seven furlongs to six. I think he might just struggle to find his stride if it was too quick, but I would prefer it softer and I think he would as well."
Man On The Spot verdict
James Garfield may well have won the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville last month had he steered a straight course. He still beat The Tin Man and Sands Of Mali, however, and given the recent record of three-year-olds in this is probably the danger to HARRY ANGEL. The Godolphin sprinter has his quirks but it’s easy to put a line through his run at Royal Ascot and he pulled well clear of Tasleet and The Tin Man in this last year. Subsequent July Cup runner-up Brando and Sir Dancealot were easily brushed aside on his reappearance at York, though the latter has been much-improved since and holds Gustav Klimt on his victory in the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury. Eqtidaar has something to find on the form book but looks the pick of the remainder.
14.25 Unibet Mile (Group 3)
Click here for full racecard and free video form
Views from connections
Clive Cox - Zonderland
"Zonderland is in excellent form and I was really pleased with his effort in the Celebration Mile. He ran a blinder to be fourth. Just for two strides we thought he was going to do it at Goodwood. He is a very solid Group Two horse that is dropping down to Group Three level. I wouldn't want too much rain. He is in extremely good form, but the ground would be my chief concern."
Andrew Balding - Here Comes When
"The ground looks like it will be right for him up there, so we are looking forward to that. Hopefully we can get a good run into him. He has not has his ground this season apart from the first time out, when he was too keen. He is working great at home. I think he is still full of enthusiasm."
Richard Hannon - Tabarrak
"He is just a little shy of winning a Group Three, but he is that tough that one might fall his way. This might just be the one that does."
Roger Varian - Emmaus
"The steady gallop didn't suit Emmaus at Deauville, but he boxed on well and saw the trip out nicely. He has good form on testing ground and I think these conditions could prove his optimum. Hopefully the cheekpieces can eke out a little more as well."
Man On The Spot verdict
None of the eight runners in this Group 3 can be dismissed out of hand but Regal Reality has won two of his three starts and had the disappointing Threading well beaten when scoring in this grade at Goodwood, despite being friendless in the market. Deauville fourth Emmaus will enjoy any give in the ground but finished just behind Here Comes When in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood in July. ZONDERLAND’s second in last year’s Celebration Mile shows what he is capable of. He looked to be coming to hand again when fourth in that same contest last month and did win in this grade in 2016. Tabarrak and Circus Couture both need to up their game and Master The World tends to struggle at this level.
GET THE FULL PICTURE: Don't miss out on FREE video replays and our fantastic My Stable tracker. Log in now and become a Sporting Life Insider.
Related horse racing links
Next Off
Most Followed
MOST READ RACING
