15:35 Haydock

Saturday 9 September 2023

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:15

Betfair Sprint Cup Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Off time: 15:39 | Winning time: 1m 10.6s

(6)

Annaf¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 106| D

66/1

Smart performer on the AW, completing 6f hat-trick in listed company at Lingfield in February. Ran his best race on turf when third in King's Stand at Royal Ascot but he had no excuses behind Lezoo at Newmarket last time and has a mountain to climb here.

Form: 483476

(12)

Garrus¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: B A Curtis| T: C Hills| OR: 112| D

80/1

Smart gelding who took the Abernant Stakes at Newmarket (6f, good to soft) on second start this year. Runner-up in French Group 3s the last twice, latterly chasing home Mill Stream at Deauville, but he's 0-6 at the highest level and likely to come up short once more.

Form: 0-81422

(8)

Khaadem¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: J P Spencer| T: C Hills| OR: 117| D

18/1

Improved when scoring twice in Group company last year and produced a clear career-best when edging out Sacred in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. However, put in his place both subsequent starts and similar scenario likely here.

Form: 603157

(13)

Regional^t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: E Bethell| OR: 109| CD

10/1

Lightly raced 5-y-o who has raised his game this season, landing a York handicap and listed race here (both at 5f) prior to finishing a creditable fifth in the Nunthorpe. Return to this trip is unlikely to pose a problem and he's in with an each-way squeak.

Form: 305-115

(2)

Rohaan⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: N Callan| T: P D Evans| OR: 102| BF| CD

33/1

Smart on his day and was a fine third in this race last year prior to landing a Group 3 at Ascot. Hasn't hit the same heights this time round, though, and it would be something of a surprise were he to resume winning ways in this contest.

Form: 807076

(15)

Run To Freedom^p⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: T E Whelan| T: H Candy| OR: 116| D

18/1

Took a sizeable step forward when runner-up in the British Champions Sprint at Ascot on final start of 2022. Performed to a similar level when second to Shaquille at Newmarket (6f, good to soft) last time, despite looking less than straightforward, and he's a live each-way candidate.

Form: 42-4192

(14)

Saint Lawrence^b³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: L Morris| T: A Watson| OR: 109| D

40/1

Snapped a long losing run with blinkers refitted when accounting for 26 rivals in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot. Close third in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville (6.5f, soft) since, just behind Spycatcher, and a reproduction of that would put him in the picture.

Form: 00-6013

(9)

Mill Stream¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Marco Ghiani| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 111| D

8/1

Well held in the C&D Sandy Lane Stakes on return in May but hasn't looked back since, successful in listed and Group 3 company (both over 6f on slow ground at Deauville) the last twice. This is more demanding but he's clearly on the up and is well worth his place in this line-up.

Form: 4-63211

(3)

Rumstar³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Rob Hornby| T: J G Portman| OR: 109| D

50/1

Progressive 2-y-o last term, culminating in a Group 3 success over 5f at Newmarket. Best effort so far this season when fifth of 13 to Shaquille in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot but it's hard to envisage him turning the tables on that rival here.

Form: 41-656U

(5)

Shaquille^h⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: James Doyle| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 120| D

11/10

Has quickly developed into a very classy sprinter, producing a remarkable performance in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot before following up in the July Cup at Newmarket, despite again forfeiting ground at the start. 6-6 at this trip and he's hard to oppose.

Form: 11-1111

(10)

Shouldvebeenaring¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 107| D

50/1

Talented colt who was a good second in the C&D Sandy Lane Stakes in May. Has failed to match that level of form in 4 subsequent starts, though, and he was almost 7 lengths adrift of Shaquille at Royal Ascot.

Form: 127594

(16)

The Antarctic⁷⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Cieren Fallon| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 110| D

50/1

Didn't do much wrong at 2 yrs and built on reappearance effort when making all in a big-field Naas Group 3 (6f, good to firm) in May. However, he was out with the washing in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot the following month and has been absent since.

Form: 132-310

(7)

Sacred^p,t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 113

9/2

Smart mare who made winning return in a Group 3 at Lingfield in May before going down narrowly to Khaadem in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee at Royal Ascot. Not in the same form back from a short break over 7f at York recently but capable of a bold show if responding well to first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 612-125

(17)

Believing^t²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jason Hart| T: G Boughey| OR: 108| D

66/1

Useful filly who got back on track following a blip in France when arriving late on the scene to land a listed race at Pontefract (6f, good) last month. Won with a bit more in hand than the margin of victory would imply that day but this is a much tougher assignment.

Form: 3-51101

(1)

Lezoo¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 112| D

14/1

Won 4 of her 5 starts at 2 yrs, signing off with victory in the Cheveley Park at Newmarket. Viable excuses for defeats on first 2 starts of present campaign and back on track with a listed success returned to Newmarket (6f, good) a fortnight ago. Place possibilities.

Form: 211-801

(18)

Swingalong⁵⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 107| D

14/1

Group 2 winner as a juvenile and put in a fine shift when third to Shaquille in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot (6f, good to firm) in June. Back on the scoresheet at a lower level at York last time but likely to find a few too good here.

Form: 14-3031

Non-Runners

(4)

Spycatcher³⁴

Weight: 9-5| Age: 5

T: K R Burke J: J Fanning

Forecasts

Shaquille (11/10), Sacred (9/2), Mill Stream (8/1), Regional (10/1), Spycatcher (10/1), Swingalong (14/1), Lezoo (14/1), Khaadem (18/1), Run To Freedom (18/1), Rohaan (33/1), Saint Lawrence (40/1), Shouldvebeenaring (50/1), Rumstar (50/1), The Antarctic (50/1), Believing (66/1), Annaf (66/1), Garrus (80/1)

A Group 1 hat-trick beckons for SHAQUILLE, who has come a long way in a relatively short space of time and his big-race victories at Royal Ascot and Newmarket were all the more meritorious given his antics at the start. He appears to be versatile both ground and tactics-wise and there could easily be more to come from this colt. The progressive Mill Stream gets the nod ahead of Spycatcher, Saint Lawrence and Sacred for forecast purposes.