Alex Hammond: Star appeal

Group One action this weekend with the Sprint Cup at Haydock. Who do you fancy in an open-looking renewal?

It looks a cracker doesn’t it?

I think given the good form of James Fanshawe’s horses The Tin Man will be a popular choice and he is an improving sprinter that looks capable of stepping up to the mark. He disappointed at Royal Ascot when it was thought the ground was too soft for him and he bounced back on quicker ground in a Group Three at Newbury last time out. He handles some cut in the ground and if it stays on the soft side it won’t worry me. Like many stables in Newmarket, Fanshawe’s horses have been afflicted by the dreaded virus, but this horse has come out of the other side of it and is reported to be back in good form. He must go very close.

He faces some stiff competition though with Karl Burke’s three year-old filly Quiet Reflection Sky Bet’s ante-post favourite at 7/2. She finished third in the July Cup behind Limato and Suedois and given an easier surface at Haydock on Saturday must have a chance of turning that form around. The fact that the first two home have both had tough races since Newmarket and Quiet Reflection hasn’t run since Newmarket must give her an advantage. The memory of her impressive win in the Sandy Lane over this course and distance is difficult to forget and on an easy surface it’s hard to see her out of the shake up.

Henry Candy is in an enviable position; he could run Limato if the ground comes up fast and if it’s on the easy side of good he has last year’s winner Twilight Son to rely on. Predictions are it’s more likely to be on the soft side which plays into Twilight Son’s hands and back on his favoured surface he is another right in contention for this Group One prize. He was beaten in the July Cup last time out, but he just doesn’t act on the good to firm ground that he encountered there.

One horse I’m certainly not discounting in an open race is Andrew Balding’s potential star sprinter, Dancing Star, who is 7/1 with Sky Bet. I’ll certainly be having a small investment on her after she did us a favour in the Stewards’ Cup at Glorious Goodwood and she looked like a three year-old going places. Whilst she is taking the leap from handicaps to a Group One, the Stewards’ Cup is no ordinary handicap and she deserves to take her chance at this level before the season is out. She has been supplemented for this race and I think she offers each-way value at that price and apparently Franny Norton has been booked to ride which is a big plus.

Magical Memory is another in with a shout for Charlie Hills and Frankie Dettori, but he was a touch disappointing on his favoured fast ground in the July Cup. So, as you can see, it’s a top notch contest and any one of half a dozen horses are in with a serious chance of winning. I think Dancing Star offers a bit of value and I’m certainly not abandoning her now and The Tin Man is another I want to keep on side.

Plenty …

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