Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal), an impressive winner of last month's G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, and last year's unbeaten two-year-old Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) head the sponsor's ante-post betting for the G1 Betfair Sprint Cup Stakes at Haydock on Saturday, September 7, with both horses featuring in a list of 35 as the first entries were released on Tuesday.
Barry Orr, head of racing PR at Betfair, said, “This is a top list of entries, although there is a lot of water to pass under the sprinting bridge between now and September. In early skirmishes, the three-year-olds, Inisherin and Vandeek, are at the top of the market at 3-1 and 5-1, respectively.”
Inisherin and Vandeek are first set to clash in Saturday's My Pension Expert July Cup, having been named among 13 confirmations for that Group 1 on Monday. Their rivals at Newmarket could include back-to-back Royal Ascot winner Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), prolific seven-year-old Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and last year's Sprint Cup scorer Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}), all of whom are in contention to run at Haydock as well.
Of the 10 Irish-trained entries, Aidan O'Brien is responsible for four, including another July Cup contender in River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), while Adrian Murray's Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is being prepared for an autumn campaign after a setback ruled him out of both the Commonwealth Cup and July Cup.
Other notable entries include Saudi hero Annaf (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}), who won the G2 1351 Turf Sprint when last seen in February, the long-absent Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}), successful in last year's G1 King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, and the battle-hardened Shouldvebeenaring (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), runner-up to Regional in the 2023 Sprint Cup.
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