The first British Group 1 of a busy racing September is the Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday. The 6f contest is shaping up to be a highly competitive affair, and with 16 in the field, Joe Napier runs the rule over the runners in the 2024 renewal.
Last year’s running proved a red letter day for Ed Bethell and Callum Rodrigues, with Regional narrowly getting the better of 50/1 and 66/1 outsiders Shouldvebeenaring and Believing.
INISHERIN
(Kevin Ryan/Tom Eaves)
Proving a breakout star in the first half of the season, Inisherin is not bred to be a sprinter, but has been moulded expertly into one by Kevin Ryan in 2024. The three-year-old raced over 1m for the first three starts of his career, and could yet return there, but a wide margin win in the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes over course and distance, ensured he fell kindly into the sprinting sphere, winning his first Group 1 at Royal Ascot a month later.
However, he first showed signs that this may not be his true calling when only fifth in the July Cup when first racing older horses at Newmarket. He ultimately rallied quite well to finish within three lengths, but was outpaced at a crucial stage. The ground may be on the soft side of good on Saturday, which will help and he has enough talent to get himself involved, but he looks an opposable favourite.
ELITE STATUS
(Karl Burke/Clifford Lee)
A promising start to Elite Status’s career as a juvenile would have had connections dreaming, but heavy defeats in his two Group 1 starts at two put those dreams on ice. The champagne corks are now ready to be popped once again, as he has regained his form in likeable fashion at three.
The son of Havana Grey dropped to Listed company to win comfortably on his return at Newbury. Stepped back up to Group level, he defeated Lake Forest and Kind Of Blue, two horses behind Inisherin at Ascot, at Newbury. Though he did so by a shorter margin, he was well in control by the line and may prove the speedier horse. Like the favourite, he goes on any ground which may prevail at Haydock at the weekend too.
SWINGALONG
(Karl Burke/William Buick)
The shortest-priced of the older brigade, Swingalong has not proven a prolific winner, but is certainly classy. She has won Group races on two occasions, both at York over 6f, though this season, while winless, has been her best in terms of level of performance.
Though her reappearance was a disappointment, she has since stepped up to finish a close runner-up in two Group 1s, first when going down by just half-a-length in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at the royal meeting, and then when beaten a neck in the July Cup. She was easily ahead of Inisherin that day, and could have as much room for improvement, although this looks a stronger race.
JASOUR
(Clive Cox/Jim Crowley)
Havana Grey is responsible for another three-year-old participant in Jasour. Clive Cox has excelled with enough sprinters in his time to garner the requisite improvement out of his charge here, but it will certainly be necessary.
He returned in grand style by winning the Commonwealth Cup Trial at Ascot, then finishing third in that race itself behind Inisherin. That latter run was possibly a career best, as though he finished closer to the winner in the July Cup, he himself still finished only sixth. More is needed to down his classmates, let alone beat the rest of this field.
THE FIELD
Three-year-olds have some history to overcome, with only one winning this race in the last six seasons. Bucanero Fuerte has won four of his six career starts, including a comfortable win in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes as a juvenile, but he may not have been easy to train having not been seen often. Stall 3 is a poor draw, as stall 5 could be for Kind Of Blue even though that is more manageable for James Fanshawe’s charge. He has steadily improved, but is another who has plenty of form to overcome with his rivals.
Givemethebeatboys has not looked a great traveller given his form has generally dipped when racing outside of Ireland. Flora Of Bermuda is the final representative of that age group, and has improved at the quickest pace the last twice. Her fourth in France last time out hinted there could be more.
Given the recent trend of older horses having the youngsters’ measure, Montassib comes into play, especially if enough moisture seeps into the ground. Stall 2 is an issue, as may his hold-up style be. Conversely, Art Power will set his stall out from stall 9, and may be better placed than ever before to contend in this race.
Annaf was tipped up ante-post, and is still well-fancied; he goes well fresh and on any ground, with stall 12 to suit. He looks well placed to improve on last year’s run, which was far better than a seventh place number suggests. Spycatcher and Shouldvebeenaring are other consistent types who could well get involved for the places, as may the upwardly mobile Unequal Love, though Moss Tucker and Vadream may struggle, especially with inside draws a negative.
VERDICT
Inisherin may have to give best to fellow three-year-old ELITE STATUS, who is fancied to buck the recent trend of older horses winning. He shapes as a more natural sprinter, with the favourite having disappointed in the July Cup last time out, and looking as though he should step back up in trip. However, this is open, and ante-post fancy Annaf is still high on the shortlist given he may well have more to come at five, and goes well fresh. Art Power could give them the slip from the front, with Bucanero Fuerte and Montassib interesting if able to overcome draws in stalls 2 and 3, which have hindered others in the recent past.
- Elite Status
- Annaf
- Art Power
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