Starman, who was successful last time out in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket on July 10^th, is 3-1 favourite with the sponsor to add a second Group One to his CV in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock Park next month (Saturday 4^th September). 

The Ed Walker-trained four year old Dutch Art colt, who is owned and bred by David Ward, will be bidding to become the first horse since Harry Angel in 2017 to win both six-furlong contests in the same season. The feat has only ever been achieved seven times, with Dream Ahead (2011), Ajdal (1987), Green Desert (1986), Habibti (1983), Moorestyle (1980), Lianga (1975) and Tudor Music (1969) all having completed the Newmarket-Haydock Park double.

Upper Lambourn handler Archie Watson is responsible for the next two in the betting – 5-1 chance Dragon Symbol, runner-up to Starman at Newmarket, and Glen Shiel (7-1), who went down by a length and a quarter to Dream Of Dreams in the 2020 running of the Betfair Sprint Cup before going on to Group One glory at Ascot on QIPCO British Champions Day.

Godolphin handler Charlie Appleby has left in Group Three Jersey Stakes victor Creative Force. And there are four remaining Irish-trained entries headed by the Joe Murphy-trained Gustavus Weston, impressive when successful in the Group Three Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Curragh earlier this month.

The Betfair Sprint Cup is part of the QIPCO British Champions Series.

 

Betfair Sprint Cup, Betfair odds:

• 3/1 Starman
• 5/1 Dragon Symbol
• 7/1 Glen Shiel
• 8/1 Creative Force
• 10/1 Art Power, Supremacy
• 12/1 Gustavus Weston
• 14/1 Kinross
• 20/1 Chil Chil, Fresh, Happy Romance, Romantic Proposal
• 25/1 Garrus, Line Of Departure, Measure Of Magic, Method
• 33/1 A Case Of You, Brando, Fivethousandtoone
• 40/1 Emaraaty Ana, Punchbowl Flyer
• 50/1 Summerghand, Vadream
• 66/1 Ainsdale, Nando Parrado

 

Betfair spokesman, Barry Orr, said: “Starman has been favourite since we first offered the race and at 3-1 he is very strong at the head of the betting.”

 

 

THE BETFAIR SPRINT CUP (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Six Furlongs

 

Haydock Park, Saturday 4^th September

• Ainsdale (GB) 4 9 3 Mr David W. Armstrong Karl Burke
• Art Power (IRE) 4 9 3 King Power Racing Co Ltd Tim Easterby
• Brando (GB) 9 9 3 Mrs Angie Bailey Kevin Ryan
• Emaraaty Ana (GB) 5 9 3 Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum Kevin Ryan
• Fresh (GB) 4 9 3 Clipper Logistics James Fanshawe
• Garrus (IRE) 5 9 3 Mrs Susan Roy Charles Hills
• Glen Shiel (GB) 7 9 3 Hambleton Racing XXXVI & Partner Archie Watson
• Gustavus Weston (IRE) 5 9 3 Mr Alfred Sweetnam Joseph Murphy
• Kinross (GB) 4 9 3 Mr Marc Chan Ralph Beckett
• Punchbowl Flyer (IRE) 4 9 3 The Punch Bunch Eve Johnson Houghton
• Starman (GB) 4 9 3 David Ward Ed Walker
• Summerghand (IRE) 7 9 3 Mr Hamad Rashed Bin Ghedayer David O'Meara
• A Case of You (IRE) 3 9 1 Gary Devlin Adrian McGuinness
• Creative Force (IRE) 3 9 1 Godolphin Charlie Appleby
• Dragon Symbol (GB) 3 9 1 Mr Yoshiro Kubota Archie Watson
• Fivethousandtoone (IRE) 3 9 1 King Power Racing Co Ltd Andrew Balding
• Line of Departure (IRE) 3 9 1 H.H. Shaikh Nasser Al Khalifa & F. Nass Roger Varian
• Method (IRE) 3 9 1 Manton Park Racing Martyn Meade
• Nando Parrado (GB) 3 9 1 Mrs Marie McCartan Clive Cox
• Supremacy (IRE) 3 9 1 Mr J Goddard Clive Cox
• Chil Chil (GB) 5 9 0 King Power Racing Co Ltd Andrew Balding
• Romantic Proposal (IRE) 5 9 0 Clipper Logistics Group Ltd Edward Lynam
• Happy Romance (IRE) 3 8 12 The McMurray Family Richard Hannon
• Measure of Magic (IRE) 3 8 12 J. P. Murtagh Racing J. P. Murtagh
• Vadream (GB) 3 8 12 Mr D. R. J. King Charlie Fellowes

 

25 entries remain