Haydock Sprint Cup Date is Saturday, 5 September 2020 (3:25)
Racecourse: Haydock Park
Type: Group 1 Weight for Age Stakes Flat Race
Age Of The Horses: 3 Years Old and Older
Distance: 6 Furlongs
Winner 2019: Hello Youmzain
The Haydock Sprint Cup was first run at Haydock Park in 1966 and held in November around a bend. In 1979, it moved to its current September slot and the principle behind the race has always been older sprinters against younger ones. When Haydock installed a six-furlong straight track for 1986, it moved onto that and attained Group 1 status in 1988. For some small periods of its history, the Sprint Cup was open to juveniles but has been for three-year-olds and up since 1994. Younger horses get a small but significant 2lb weight for age allowance for their elders here.
Page Contents
General Race Info
Runners & Tips
Stats & Trends
Past Winners
TOP 3 Betting Offers (September 2020)
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2020 Haydock Sprint Cup Info
As part of the established pattern for sprinters, it follows the Nunthorpe Stakes at York and is the penultimate Group 1 race in that division of the British Flat season. Often run on softer autumn ground that blunts the speed of horses who have performed on sounder surfaces during the preceding summer in races like the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, the Haydock Sprint Cup has an illustrious roll of honour yet no horse has won the race more than once since 1967. Among equine greats to earn victory in it are Danehill, Dayjur, Invincible Spirit, Dream Ahead, Society Rock and Harry Angel.
2020 Haydock Sprint Cup Runners & Favourites (Updated 01/09/2020)
There are 15 horses entered in the Haydock Sprint Cup of 2020. Of these, there are nine older horses and geldings, three four-year-old fillies and three three-year-old colts:
- Brando (Kevin Ryan)
- Dream Of Dreams (Sir Michael Stoute)
- Glen Shiel (Archie Watson)
- Hello Youmzain (Kevin Ryan)
- Khaadem (Charlie Hills)
- Oxted (Roger Teal)
- Summerghand (David O’Meara)
- Tabdeed (Owen Burrows)
- The Tin Man (James Fanshawe)
- Archer’s Dream (James Fanshawe)*
- Forever In Dreams (Aidan Fogarty, IRE)*
- Queen Jo Jo (Kevin Ryan)*
- Art Power (Tim Easterby)
- Golden Horde (Clive Cox)
- Lope Y Fernandez (Aidan O’Brien, IRE)
*a filly or mare
You can expect to find betting on the Haydock Sprint Cup well in advance of the day as it is an early closing race. The picture in terms of entries becomes much clearer nearer the time, however, so be sure to check back then to see which horses are running. Taking a punt in the ante post market remains an option open to you but, while you may well get a better price than waiting for the day, it is possible that your horse won’t line up.
That is one of the risks with such betting – you may not end up getting a run for your money. As a prestigious Group 1 prize, many of the best British sprinters will be running at Haydock seeking Sprint Cup success. Ahead of the 2020 running, here are some of the market principals in the betting.
Oxted (4/1)
Trainer Roger Teal has picked the targets of Oxted very carefully, and his decisions have been right. The four-year-old gelding has progressed under this tender handling to be a sprinter officially rated 120 by the handicapper going into the Haydock Sprint Cup. Oxted won the Portland Handicap over five-and-a-half furlongs at Doncaster last September off a mark of 105, meaning he is reckoned to have made more than a whole stone’s worth of improvement since.
He has certainly been progressive winning two subsequent starts this season in pattern company. After landing the Group 3 Abernant Stakes at Newmarket, the temptation to quickly turn him out again at Royal Ascot must have been there for his connections.
That did not fit in with Teal’s plan, however, and he skipped that to go for the July Cup back at headquarters. Group 1 glory followed for Oxted and, as he is better off at the weights with Golden Horde, he heads the Sprint Cup betting at 4/1 with 888Sport. A softer surface might pose the only problem for him.
Dream Of Dreams (5/1)
Sir Michael Stoute’s Dream Of Dreams has run two mighty races since being gelded. Although only eighth in the Haydock Sprint Cup last season, this six-year-old has no stamina doubts whatsoever. His sire, Dream Ahead, won this race back in 2011, so he is bred to get the job done and give a much better account of himself this time around.
ream Of Dreams comes into the Sprint Cup on the back of a career best effort too.
He absolutely destroyed a Group 2 field in the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury over seven furlongs, bolting up by seven lengths. It was a most impressive performance under Oisin Murphy and Dream Of Dreams clearly built on his fast-finishing head second to Hello Youmzain in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
With a much lighter campaign behind him, he came into the Sprint Cup last year after four starts and has only had two this season, a bold bid looks assured. Dream Of Dreams is a 5/1 shot with Befred here.
Hello Youmzain (6/1)
Many have tried to win the Haydock Sprint Cup for a second time and failed, but Hello Youzmain clearly retains plenty of ability. Part of a potentially very strong hand for Yorkshire trainer Kevin Ryan in the race, the four-year-old Kodiac colt ran well at the highest level despite defeat in France last time out. Hello Youmzain has added to his Group 1 success in this 12 months ago with victory in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, where he just held Dream Of Dreams by a head.
The pair meet again off exactly the same terms, and the runner-up has advertised that form since. Although only fifth in the July Cup and beaten four lengths by Oxted, Hello Youmzain was far from disgraced when asking to back up his Ascot effort just three weeks later at Newmarket. He also went down fighting when headed close home by the thriving Space Blues in the Prix Maurice de Gheest over an extended six furlongs at Deauville. With the drop back in trip and return to Haydock where he is two from three starts both sure to suit, Hello Youmzain is 6/1 with William Hill to repeat in the Sprint Cup.
Golden Horde (6/1)
Clive Cox saddled Harry Angel to win this race in 2017, so his Golden Horde may be the pick of the three-year-olds in it this year. This colt by Lethal Force found an extended six furlongs in France stretched his stamina to the limit when last in action, but did win the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot on reappearance. Golden Horde has proved he is a top performer when taking on horses of his own age, so needs to prove he can hang in open company with his elders.
Although worse off at the weights with the likes of Oxted from Newmarket and Hello Youmzain from Deauville, he did run well in the mud on his previous start in France. That means Golden Horde handles a softer surface and shouldn’t be inconvenienced by it if the ground turns up that way for the Haydock Sprint Cup. After winning his main target for the season, it will be interesting to see if he can improve on third in the July Cup and fifth in the Maurice de Gheest. Golden Horde is 6/1 for the Sprint Cup with BetVictor.
Art Power (12/1)
If a horse misses the break in a sprint, then that can be all chance lost and that is exactly what happened with Art Power in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York. This progressive three-year-old is trained by Tim Easterby and turned a Royal Ascot handicap into a procession. Art Power was clearly a cut above that level and proved it with Group 3 success over in Ireland where he beat the useful filly Millisle in her back yard. That win in pattern company saw the grey Dark Angel colt sent off 11/4 second-favourite behind Battaash when down in trip at the Ebor Festival.
A line can be put through that effort, however, as trailing in a six-length sixth over the flying five furlongs is just too bad to be true. Easterby steps Art Power back up in trip for the Haydock Sprint Cup now and he won’t mind ease in the ground on Merseyside. The rapid improvement he made going into York was no accident, so owners King Power Racing will be looking for some compensation. They may well get it in the Sprint Cup too with Art Power definitely one to consider backing each-way at 12/1 with William Hill ante post.
Betting Offers
A race like the Sprint Cup is sure to be targeted by the bookies for offers and promotions, especially if it has a big field. Make sure you check back nearer the time of the race to view the latest bonuses that give you incentive to bet on this big day at Haydock.
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HAYDOCK SPRINT CUP Stats & Trends
The thing about statistics and trends is they exist to be defied, but you are more likely to make better betting decisions knowing them about a horse race than by ignoring them. It is no different with the Haydock Sprint Cup. As you will see below, younger horses have a fine recent record but that doesn’t preclude older ones from turning up at the track and winning it. Here are the stats and trends you should know:
- Most successful horse – Only Be Friendly has won the race twice, landing the first two Sprint Cup events in 1966 and 1967. Many have tried to emulate this horse since and failed.
- Leading jockey – Among the four jockeys to have won this three times are three famous jockeys from yesterday. The great Lester Piggott partnered Green God (1971), Abergwaun (1972) and Moorestyle (1980) to Sprint Cup wins. Pat Eddery, meanwhile, was aboard Record Token (1976), Dowsing (1988) and Danehill (1989). Willie Carson rode Boldboy (1977), Habibti (1983) and Dayjur (1990) to victory. Bruce Raymond is in very good company with his trio of winners after steering Runnett (1981), Petong (1984) and Sheikh Albadou (1992) to glory. Since 2001, there has been a different jockey to win this race every year.
- Leading trainer – John Dunlop saddled four Haydock Sprint Cup winners, sending out Runnett and Habibti in the early 1980s, then Lavinia Fontana (1994) and Invincible Spirit (2002). Sir Michael Stoute, James Fanshawe, Tim Easterby, Roger Charlton and Henry Candy are among active trainers who have won the race more than once.
- Leading owner – Godolphin supremo Sheikh Mohammed had four horses win the Sprint Cup in his own colours with Ajdal (1987), Wolfhound (1993), Cherokee Rose (1995) and Goodricke (2005) all triumphing. The all blue silks of his Godolphin operation also add to that with Harry Angel (2017), leaving him with five victories overall.
- Age – Three-year-old horses have a superb recent record in the Haydock Sprint Cup, winning it every year except 2018 since 2014. This may be due to the fact that they receive 2lb weight for weight under the race terms from their elders. It’s not unheard of for an older horse to finish first, however, and looking at the Twenty First Century to date, they are 11-9 ahead of the youngsters.
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HAYDOCK SPRINT CUP Past Winners
What has happened in recent runnings of the Sprint Cup? These are the last 10 winners and below you will find detailed race summaries of the previous three renewals:
What Happened in 2019?
A wide-open Haydock Sprint Cup went to Hello Youmzain, one of three 9/2 co-favourites who made all the running. When asked for approaching the final furlong by jockey James Doyle, the Kevin Ryan trained sprinter edged left but kept on well for a half-length victory over previous race winner The Tin Man, who was closing at the line and returned at 7/1. The front two pulled two lengths clear of 9/1 German raider Waldpfad in third. He was another going on at the finish and a head in front of another Ryan runner Brando, who was found to have bled from the nose by vets after the race.
Victory for Hello Youmzain continued the fine recent trend of three-year-olds landing the Sprint Cup. There were a number of disappointments in the race, however, with fellow co-favourites Dream Of Dreams in eighth and Stewards’ Cup scorer Khaadem last behind 11/1 Irish runner Forever In Dreams. This was compensation for Hello Youmzain after his unlucky break in the Commonwealth Cup earlier in the season.
2018 Haydock Sprint Cup Result
The Tin Man made it third time lucky at Haydock as James Fanshawe’s sprinting star landed odds of 7/1 in the Sprint Cup. Aged six, he had twice placed in the race before but finally got his head in front. Racing in midfield under Oisin Murphy early doors, The Tin Man came under a ride and stated making headway two furlongs from home. He led inside the last and kept on well for a half-length success over 14/1 chance Brando, who in turn was a neck ahead of 16/1 shot Gustav Klimt from the powerful Aidan O’Brien stable.
Previous Haydock Sprint Cup winner Harry Angel ran below that form in the defence of his crown, however, when a weakening sixth and sent off the 6/4 favourite. The William Haggas trained Tasleet at 6/1 and 7/1 chance Sir Dancealot also failed to live up to market expectations as they finished down the field in eighth and ninth respectively. The persistence of aiming The Tin Man at this race paid off at last for Fanshawe who had previously saddled Society Rock to success back in 2012.
2017 Haydock Sprint Cup Result
Harry Angel made it two wins from two at Haydock with Sprint Cup glory for owners Godolphin and trainer Clive Cox. Returned the 2/1 favourite, this Dark Angel colt followed-up on his Sandy Lane and July Cup victories with a scintillating four-length victory over 9/2 chance Tasleet. Racing enthusiastically in the hands of Adam Kirby, Harry Angel made all and drew clear inside the final furlong in impressive fashion.
Previous Sprint Cup runner-up The Tin Man was beaten a further 1½ lengths in third at 11/2. Harry Angel’s owner companion and Ascot conqueror Blue Point, sent off at 15/2, was back in fourth. He had the field well strung out on heavy ground which he had never encountered before. This extended Godolphin chief Sheikh Mohammed’s record of being the most successful owner in Haydock Sprint Cup history after four previous wins in his own colours.
Key Haydock Sprint Cup Trials
Many sprint contests in the British Isles can be considered trials for the Sprint Cup, but these six races in particular are all either over the course at Haydock and/or distance:
- Abernant Stakes – Oxted
- Sandy Lane Stakes – Not held
- Cecil Frail Stakes – Liberty Beach
- Diamond Jubilee Stakes – Hello Youmzain
- July Cup – Oxted
- Stewards’ Cup – Summerghand