15:40
Betfair Sprint Cup Stakes (Group 1)
Group 1, Class 1, 6f, Flat, 3yo+, £226,840, 8 runners
Winning time 1m 15.00s
- Going
- Soft
- Surface
- Turf
Tip for this race
All today's tips ›Kind Of Blue No. 6, stall 6
James Doyle · James Fanshawe
✓ Top rated ✓ Distance winner ✓ Trainer in form (4/18, 14 days)
Kind Of Blue heads this competitive six-furlong Class 1 at Haydock on heavy ground narrowly ahead of a trio of dangers rated level with one another, and that slim edge at the top of the ratings may prove meaningful if he handles the testing conditions well. Big Mojo, Marvelman and Almeraq are all capable of making this tight, and the ground could play into any of their hands depending on how the race unfolds. The confidence here is modest given how closely matched this field is, but Kind Of Blue's position at the head of the ratings gives him a fractional claim over his rivals. Kind Of Blue is the selection.
Result
Tom Marquand
William Haggas
Settled at the back early - moved across towards the inside from 2f out - drifted right when asked for effort a furlong out - hit the front inside the last furlong - shot away quickly - stayed on well to the line
Daniel Tudhope
Edward Bethell
Held up towards the back - made ground into contention over 2f out - hit front a furlong out - pushed along when overtaken inside final furlong - stayed on for second unable to match winner
William Buick
Michael Appleby
Settled handy in the early stages - hit the front approaching 2f out - pressed when overtaken inside the final furlong - unable to match the top two - stayed on for third
Clifford Lee
Clive Cox
Settled off the pace early - progress out wide inside final furlong - stayed on well to grab fourth close home
James Doyle
James Fanshawe
Handy with front pack early - pushed along a furlong out - found little inside final furlong - faded late to finish fifth
Sean Levey
Richard Hannon
Held up towards the back - closed a touch inside final furlong before losing position - stayed on to finish sixth
Hector Crouch
Clive Cox
Held handy position on the stand rail - driven with a furlong left before dropping away fast approaching the closing stages - eventually well held in 7th
P J McDonald
Andrew Balding
Went straight into command early - pressed into effort once overtaken approaching 2f out - faded rapidly and slipped to the back inside the final furlong - beaten into eighth
Non-runners: American Affair
Racecard
Tom Marquand
William Haggas 9/48
Almeraq has won three times in his last five starts, including back-to-back victories two and three starts back, and has experience over today's trip; carrying 131 lb after a 56-day absence is the one thing punters must weigh up.
- Sire
- Dark Angel (IRE)
- Dam
- Manaajim (IRE) by Muhaarar
- Owner
- Shadwell Estate Company Ltd
- Foaled
- 8 Feb 2022
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 9 wins from 48 runs (19%)
- Trainer running to form
- 69%
- Ratings
- Perf 117, Speed 104
Paul Mulrennan
Jim Goldie 3/29
- Sire
- Washington DC (IRE)
- Dam
- Classy Anne (GB) by Orientor
- Owner
- Barraston Racing J S Goldie
- Foaled
- 16 Apr 2020
- Stable
- Uplawmoor, Lanarkshire
- Trainer last 14 days
- 3 wins from 29 runs (10%)
Sean Levey
Richard Hannon 1/52
Ranked bottom but one on our figures, Aramram has won once in his last five starts, with a fifth last time out doing little to encourage, though he has experience over today's distance and going and returns after a twenty-one day break carrying 131 lb from stall nine.
- Sire
- Blue Point (IRE)
- Dam
- Queen's Pearl (IRE) by Exceed And Excel
- Owner
- Ziad A Galadari
- Foaled
- 30 Mar 2021
- Stable
- Herridge, Wilts
- Trainer last 14 days
- 1 wins from 52 runs (2%)
- Trainer running to form
- 39%
- Ratings
- Perf 111, Speed 100
William Buick
Michael Appleby 3/25
Big Mojo arrives here in fine heart off a 27-day break, a winner last time out and carrying the fitness of a horse in form, with experience over today's trip and a solid rating of 117 backing his claims; the main risk is that his form in the four starts prior to that victory was notably weak.
- Sire
- Mohaather (GB)
- Dam
- Jm Jackson (IRE) by No Nay Never
- Owner
- Rp Racing Ltd
- Foaled
- 29 Apr 2022
- Stable
- Oakham, Rutland
- Trainer last 14 days
- 3 wins from 25 runs (12%)
- Trainer running to form
- 39%
- Ratings
- Perf 117, Speed 105
Clifford Lee
Clive Cox 1/15
Winless in his last five starts and ranked bottom of the field on our figures, James's Delight faces a stiff ask here, though he has run over today's trip and going before and arrives in fair nick 27 days on from a placing.
- Sire
- Invincible Army (IRE)
- Dam
- Heavens Peak (GB) by Pivotal
- Owner
- Paul Clare Rooney
- Foaled
- 16 Mar 2021
- Stable
- Lambourn, Berks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 1 wins from 15 runs (7%)
- Trainer running to form
- 54%
- Ratings
- Perf 110, Speed 101
James Doyle
James Fanshawe 4/18
Consistent when in the mood but winless in recent starts, Kind Of Blue shaped with plenty of promise when second two starts back and third five starts back; he has run over today's trip and, rated 118, looks the one to beat if bouncing back after 77 days off.
- Sire
- Blue Point (IRE)
- Dam
- Blues Sister (GB) by Compton Place
- Owner
- Wathnan Racing
- Foaled
- 25 Feb 2021
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 4 wins from 18 runs (22%)
- Trainer running to form
- 60%
- Ratings
- Perf 118, Speed 104
P J McDonald
Andrew Balding 8/53
Marvelman shapes as a leading threat here, returning on a quick 14-day turnaround with experience over today's trip and going, and his two most recent outings include a third last time out and a second three starts back; the main risk is he remains winless in recent starts.
- Sire
- Invincible Spirit (IRE)
- Dam
- Varamini (FR) by Siyouni
- Owner
- Bond Thoroughbred Limited
- Foaled
- 17 Mar 2022
- Stable
- Kingsclere, Hants
- Trainer last 14 days
- 8 wins from 53 runs (15%)
- Trainer running to form
- 67%
- Ratings
- Perf 117, Speed 103
Daniel Tudhope
Edward Bethell 3/22
Paborus won two starts back and was third three starts back, showing he can compete at this level, but an eighth last time out raises questions, and he carries 131 lb from stall 8 over a trip he has run over before.
- Sire
- Recoletos (FR)
- Dam
- Patuano (IRE) by Choisir
- Owner
- Wathnan Racing
- Foaled
- 12 Mar 2021
- Stable
- Middleham, N Yorks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 3 wins from 22 runs (14%)
- Trainer running to form
- 60%
- Ratings
- Perf 112, Speed 99
Hector Crouch
Clive Cox 1/15
Coppull won last time out and has run over today's trip, giving him solid claims, but his two losses in the three starts before that and a rating of 112 from stall two suggest he sits just below the top echelon here.
- Sire
- Bated Breath (GB)
- Dam
- Springwood Drive (GB) by Mayson
- Owner
- David W Armstrong
- Foaled
- 30 Mar 2023
- Stable
- Lambourn, Berks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 1 wins from 15 runs (7%)
- Trainer running to form
- 54%
- Ratings
- Perf 113, Speed 102
Draw in brackets. Headgear: b blinkers, v visor, h hood, t tongue strap, p cheekpieces, e/s eye shield; ¹ first time. C course winner, D distance winner, CD course and distance winner. Form reads oldest to newest.