Sprint Cup Tips; Burke's First String To Prove Himself Elite
In what looks one of the deepest renewals of the Sprint Cup at Haydock for some time, there can be a strong case made for at least half a dozen in the field. Billy Grimshaw has attempted to sort the wheat from the chaff and has explained why he's come down on his fancy here...
We all know by now Haydock's propensity to turn heavy at the mere whispering of the word precipitation, however the weather gods look to be smiling on my local track with a scorcher on Friday followed by a mainly dry Saturday meaning we should avoid see this race run on genuine good ground. There were fears earlier in the week a deluge was coming and the real mudlarks would be the only surviving entrants, but that thankfully has not come to pass.
I've been guilty of underestimating Inisherin - the favourite in here - so far this season and although I am now in no doubt he is a group 1 animal, I'm once again taking him on in this race. I do at least think his high draw, with plenty of pace around him, should be a positive as I see the winner coming from the group of horses drawn middle to high. My reason for taking him on is that I think Haydock, especially on good ground, could end up being a bit too sharp a test of a horse who has looked more of a grinding sprinter than a speedball in his most impressive wins, notably at Ascot's stiff six furlongs in the Commonwealth Cup. Perhaps I will rue opposing him again, but he's off the shortlist.
If my prediction of middle to high being the place to be - as it was last year with winner Regional drawn in 13 - then Swingalong is one impossible to ignore for Karl Burke considering she placed in the race last year and if anything has looked a better proposition this time around. BetMGM are offering four places in this contest and while I could put no one off, I do think she struggles to win races and as such for all I like her place chances I can't in good faith tip her each-way with the win part of the bet looking highly unlikely.
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Jasour is another with a high draw I respect and indeed would not be surprised to see reverse form from Ascot with Inisherin (he was third that day) at a course that should play to his strengths. He pulled like a train in the Commonwealth Cup so it was a fine effort for third and if Clive Cox's charge settles better he should be in the mix. If my theory about the draw is totally wrong, the horse that most tempted me of those drawn low was Kindofblue, who is by far and away the most unexposed in here after not being seen as a juvenile.
He was fourth in the aforementioned Commonwealth Cup on just his third ever start and certainly caught the eye, before running a fine race for third next time out behind a horse I'm very sweet on (more on him later) in the Group 3 Hackwood. On his last start before heading here he was beaten just a head by the re-opposing Givemethebeatboys, and if there are any match bet odds floating around I'd be all over Kindofblue to reverse that form here with Givemethebeatboys surely not able to get a freebie off the front again considering the close proximity of Moss Tucker, a known front runner, and the highest rated horse in the race and usual leader Bucanero Fuerte. Adrian Murray's charge would be interesting if not for his long lay off and I think he'll be better next time out on softer ground, maybe Champions Day.
The presence of this pacey trio should set things up nicely for Kindofblue on his side and if he improves again he'll win that side in my opinion. However, that won't see him win the race as I think this is going to be a real breakout performance from ELITE STATUS. He is owned by the same man who owns Inisherin, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, and although it is interesting he is putting his two sprint stars against each other here for a prestigious prize, it does not put me off Karl Burke's charge.
He made a huge impression on debut at two, then did the same again on his second start in bolting in. This saw him sent to the Norfolk as 7/4 favourite and while he ran a fine race for third, he did not meet expectations. His season rather petered out after this and he was stuffed on his last two starts at two by Vandeek, however those poor runs were excused by his trainer who never lost faith that he had a star on his hands, albeit a tough to train star.
He has once again proved difficult to keep cherry ripe this season, only running twice and missing the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot where many - including this scribe - thought he was a knocking bet. His win last time out over Lake Forest and the aforementioned Kindofblue reads as very strong form I believe and while he was only workmanlike there, his win on seasonal debut was a fantastic visual display. I'm hopeful he has another win like that in the locker and I'm confident he'll win the battle with his ownership mate and the rest of the field. 5/1 is a great price.
