Betfred Sprint Cup 2011

3.35 Haydock

Betfred Sprint Cup (Group 1) (Class 1)  (3YO plus)

Winner £133,722

Advice: 0.5 pt e/w Society Rock (15/2 Paddy Power) 

Bated Breath: Unbeaten in first three and excuses when beaten on first tires in Group company last year; First run was write off & very impressive in his two wins this season; New career best on ground that wouldn’t have suited when fifth in the Golden Jubilee and better still when second in July Cup, with run in Nunthorpe (slower ground than he wants) forgiven; Can go well here.

Dalghar: Brought from Alain De – Royer Dupre after series of promising performances last season, but hasn’t found best form for new yard and hood now tried; Wouldn’t rule out return to form but had more than enough chances.

Delegator: Not long ago since he was taking big hand in high class mile races, and shaped as if ability was there last season before injury (bruised foot) intervened; Made successful return to sprinting when mowing down field in Duke Of York Stakes; Bettered that form when unlucky in July Cup, doing best of those drawn wide (he was 17 of 17) and if he’s over his injury in the Lennox Stakes, he should go well here.

Doncaster Rover: Listed win at York probably no more than he deserves and below par effort at Goodwood isn’t his real form but this should be too good for him.

Genki: Smart handicapper/group horse who held himself up with high credit, namely when third in Betfair Sprint Cup and also winning his group in Wokingham; Has confirmed himself solid horse at this level and probably primed to peak here so interesting outsider.

Hitchens: Found career bests twice this season when winner of Group 3 in Ireland before July Cup third; Would hold a big chance based on that although consistency a possible issue and feeling that he might still be flattered by those efforts.

Hoof It: Has proven hugely progressive this year and put up one of the handicap performances of all time at Goodwood according to ratings when picking up the lead well over a furlong from home and running way with Stewards Cup under 10 stone; Disappointed some at York when only sixth in Nunthorpe but drop back to 5f might have hindered him and really needed a better break; Should go well back up in trip.

Kingsgate Native: Top class when at peak form, a prime example Temple Stakes win last year (also past winner of Nunthorpe for previous yard); Hinted at return to form when fourth in same race last time but does not look at all trustworthy.

Masamah: Impressive when blitzing opposition at York and probably in wrong place when eighth in Epsom Dash next time, as showed when once again coming late and hard to win Listed event; Explosive pace when never in danger of losing Goodwood Group 2 (weak race) but found out in Nunthorpe last time out.

Society Rock: Impressive winner of 6f Ascot Listed event on reappearance last year; Beaten when travelling like much the best in Newbury Sprint, but career – best when second in Golden Jubilee (Seventh in July Cup afterwards); Went one better in that event this season and holds a big chance if able to repeat his effort when he had 3 of these behind when runner-up in Prix Maurice de Gheest last time.

Sole Power:  Seemed to have proven that his Nunthorpe win was no fluke when a ready winner of Temple Stakes, and while he’s not been in the same form since, he can’t be written off (ground has come right for him); This a stiff task at 6f though.

Tiddliwinks: Back to something like his best when winning minor event at Nottingham, having resumed the progress he made in 2 Graded events in Ireland; Needs to find more having been left behind in Nunthorpe.

Dream Ahead: Brilliant juvenile over 6f, bolting in by 9 lengths on debut, & Coped with fast – track to Group 1 in exemplary fashion when smoothly winning Prix Morny in great style; Ran above even that when running away with Middle Park (soft ground seemed to suit & no surprise that his first win came in July Cup when dropped back to sprinting trip; Serious worry that he couldn’t back that up on ground which should have suited at Deauville and while he’s been pleasing at home, question mark over him; Best horse in race but that if firing.

Elzaam: Successful juvenile campaign, only just being caught by Strong Suit in the Coventry before muddling defeats in conditions contest (behind July Stakes winner) and when caught close home in Horris Hill; Made amends for not staying 7f on reappearance when bolting up in Listed contest and unsuited by ground (like many others) in Golden Jubilee when he was fourth; Didn’t seem to like Newmarket when eight in July Cup and could be one to surprise a few.

Wotton Bassett: Five from five in marvellous juvenile campaign last year, topping sales race double with decisive all the way thrashing in Prix Jean Luc (form upheld since); Unable to show that form this season thanks to poor draw in French Guineas & below par at Royal Ascot, so good to see him back to some form in Maurice De Gheest; Might find a few too good.

Bewitched: Took giant steps forward last season when winning 4 times, including a Group 3 double at the Curragh (notably on soft ground) and Ascot (also won two listed races); Better than ever when covering Zoffany with ease on debut (form obviously boosted); Royal Ascot failure explained by lameness behind and a big contender here.

VERDICT: The title of top sprinter has been up for grabs on multiple occasions this season but the reality is that the three best sprinters in the world are in another hemisphere and in any case the winner of this is unlikely to better what Moonlight Cloud did a few weeks ago. That should not take away from a quality event though, which is devilishly hard although it offers a good betting challenge at least. Dream Ahead should win if ay his best but it’s hard to know what version turns up and It’ worrying that he had no excuses for his failure last time. Hoof It is sure to be happier back at this trip and can go well but the suggestion for a place based on his career record is SOCIETY ROCK, who backed up his Golden Jubilee win with a good second in the Maurice De Gheest last time out. Bated Breath and Bewitched are best of the rest.