Sprint Cup Stakes (Group 1)

A big field of 17 goes to post for the Haydock Sprint Cup.

My Mate Alfie after winning at the Curragh last year

France’s Royal Ascot winner Lazzat heads the market having impressed in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes over this 6f trip. He went off a short price, 1/2F, on the back of that at Deauville in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest over a ½f further; however, he was turned over, finishing second.

Time For Sandals was another Royal Ascot winner. He won the G1 Commonwealth Cup and then finished third in the G2 King George Stakes at Goodwood over 5f.

Sky Majesty appears to be a progressive three-year-old; two visits to Naas have yielded wins at Listed and G3 level, and he’s moving forward.

Kind of Blue is returning to the sort of form that saw him win the British Champions Sprint Stakes last October. He ran third to Bucanero Fuerte in a G3 at the Curragh with My Mate Aflie second.

No Half Measures was a shock winner of the July Cup with Big Mojo back in second. We haven’t seen the former since; the latter found 5f at Goodwood too sharp, and he’ll benefit from a return to 6f.

If Lazzat reproduces his Ascot run (he won pillar to post), he’s the winner; he’s not invincible after Deauville and is very short in the market. Sky Majesty and Kind Of Blue are good alternatives, both are single-digit figures in the market; however, a chance is taken on an outsider, the Irish raider, My Mate Alfie, granted he’ll need a career best to get in the frame, but he makes the most appeal at the prices.

Recommendation

My Mate Alfie 22/1 ew