G1 Betfair Sprint Cup

After his eclipse in the G1 July Cup, it is fair to say that Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) has something to prove and he will have to with the opposition strong in Haydock's G1 Betfair Sprint Cup on Saturday. Successful against lesser lights on easy ground in the G2 Sandy Lane Stakes over this course and distance in May, the homebred thrived over Ascot's stiff six furlongs when capturing the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot before finding the Newmarket feature too sharp. Forced into consecutive...

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's G1 Commonwealth Cup winner Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) heads a field of 16 sprinters confirmed for Saturday's G1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock. Rested since his fifth as favourite for the G1 July Cup, the Kevin Ryan-trained homebred returns to the scene of his success in the G2 Sandy Lane Stakes in May with regular rider Tom Eaves retaining the ride. "Inisherin is in great form," his trainer said this week. "We've had an uninterrupted preparation and all his work has gone to plan when we...

Group 1-winning sprinter Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) faces 21 rivals in Saturday's G1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock at the latest entry stage. Trained by Kevin Ryan, the 3-year-old colt won the G3 Sandy Lane Stakes in the spring, before prevailing in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. Favoured for the G1 July Cup, he could only manage fifth, and has been benched since. Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), successful in that July Cup, was followed home by Swingalong (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), who is trained by Karl Burke for Sheikh...

The much-anticipated third encounter between Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) will take place in Saturday's G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown, as the Derby one-two featured among the nine heavyweights on Thursday. Ryan Moore is on Auguste Rodin in the 10-furlong feature of the Irish Champions Festival, with the Ballydoyle first string looking to bounce back from a below-par showing in Ascot's King George in which Amo Racing's King Of Steel was third. Auguste Rodin is in two, next door...

Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}), a dual Group 1-winning sprinter in the colours of Hughes, Rawlings, and O'Shaughnessy, will shortly begin his fast work in preparation for the G1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock on Sept. 9. Trained by Julie Camacho, the 3-year-old is eight-for-seven and claimed both the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and the G1 July Cup S. in July. "Shaquille is in really good form," said Camacho's husband and assistant Steve Brown. "We purposely gave him a quiet couple of weeks after Newmarket which was always...

Haydock missed the rain on Friday night and Saturday and so the depleted line-up for the feature G1 Betfair Sprint Cup needed a stimulant. It got that and then some in the form of Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who came to the fore in scintillating fashion to become yet another in a long line of star sprinters operating in the Shadwell livery. Looking ready for this career-defining moment when storming to success in Newbury's G3 Hackwood S. on a similarly fast surface over this six-furlong trip July 16, the 7-2...

There is no concern with small field sizes in an ultra-competitive edition of Haydock's G1 Betfair Sprint Cup on Saturday, with a maximum line-up of 17 sprinters heading to post after the draw was made on Thursday. In the past 10 runnings, only Dream Of Dreams (Ire) (Dream Ahead) and G Force (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) were drawn in double figures, so connections of the leading fancies Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Art Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) would have been buoyed...

Starman (GB) (Dutch art {GB}), the winner of the G1 July Cup, will aim for a start in the G1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock on Sept. 4 after running a close third in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville on Sunday. A winner of his first three starts last fall, including the Listed Garrowby S. at York in September, the 4-year-old colt did not care for the soft ground in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S. and ran unplaced in October. he was back on top...