Inisherin is set to face 15 rivals in the Sprint Cup at Haydock as the Commonwealth Cup winner bids to land a second Group 1 of the campaign.
The favourite in Paddy Power’s betting for Saturday’s 15:35 is joined by ownermate Elite Status, who will attempt to build on victories in the Carnarvon Stakes and Hackwood Stakes.
The hat-trick seeker is one of three runners for Karl Burke as July Cup second Singalong and Spycatcher – a recent winner in a Group 3 contest at Deauville – also take their chance.
An Irish-trained winner of the Sprint Cup is a rare beast but Bucanero Fuerte has a crack more than 100 days after beating Givemethebeatboys in the Lacken Stakes and last season’s Flying Five scorer Moss Tucker is also in the line-up.
Shouldvebeenaring was beaten a neck in last season’s renewal and bids to go one better, although inconsistency has plagued the four-year-old this term.
The latest Sprint Cup odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
Sprint Cup 2024 verdict
Timeform: INISHERIN disappointed in the July Cup when last seen but he’d left the impression he could dominate the sprinting division given the manner of his win in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot so is well worth another chance. Fellow 3-y-o Elite Status put himself firmly in the mix for this when winning a strong Group 3 at Newbury and is next best ahead of his stablemate Swingalong, who backed up her excellent second in the Golden Jubilee when just denied in the July Cup.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Sprint Cup 2024 runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the Sprint Cup 2024.
Annaf
Trainer: Michael Appleby Jockey: Rossa Ryan Age: 5 Weight: 9st 5lbs Draw: 12
Only seventh in this last year but has improved since, winning 3 of next 4 starts, namely Portland Handicap at Doncaster, Group 3 Bengough at Ascot and Group 2 Turf Sprint at King Abdulaziz when last seen in February. Not to be underestimated.
***
Art Power
Trainer: Tim Easterby Jockey: Joe Fanning Age: 7 Weight: 9st 5lbs Draw: 9
Very talented on his day, signing off 2023 with Group 1 success at Ascot. Some respectable efforts in defeat this year without winning and needs testing conditions to be seen at his very best.
**
Montassib
Trainer: William Haggas Jockey: Cieren Fallon Age: 6 Weight: 9st 5lbs Draw: 2
Smart performer who was confidently ridden when taking listed Cammidge Trophy on seasonal bow at Doncaster (6f, heavy) in March. Not disgraced faced with quicker conditions when mid-field in Group 2 Duke of York before resuming winning ways with a career best in Group 3 at Newcastle. This tougher.
***
Moss Tucker
Trainer: K. J. Condon Jockey: William James Lee Age: 6 Weight: 9st 5lbs Draw: 1
Hit and miss last season but did win 3 times, notably Group 1 Flying Five at the Curragh. Looked as good as ever when defying a Group 1 penalty in listed race at Naas on return but disappointed at the Curragh since. Type to bounce back after a break.
***
Shouldvebeenaring
Trainer: Richard Hannon Jockey: Sean Levey Age: 4 Weight: 9st 5lbs Draw: 14
Acquitted himself well in some Group 1s last year, notably when just denied in this. Best effort this season when good second in Duke of York at the Dante Meeting, just failing in a tight finish. Mixed record since but picked up a Group 2 at Deauville on penultimate start. Respected.
***
Spycatcher
Trainer: K. R. Burke Jockey: Ryan Moore Age: 6 Weight: 9st 5lbs Draw: 16
Developed into a smart sprinter last season, winning twice and best of those held up when third in Champions’ Sprint at Ascot final start. Returned with a solid third in Abernant Stakes and best effort since when narrow winner of Group 3 at Deauville 2 weeks ago. Ideally wants testing ground.
***
Bucanero Fuerte
Trainer: Adrian Murray Jockey: David Egan Age: 3 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 3
Won the Group 2 Railway and Group 1 Phoenix over 6f at the Curragh last season. Not seen since defying a penalty in Group 3 at Naas on return in May but remains unexposed.
***
Elite Status
Trainer: K. R. Burke Jockey: Clifford Lee Age: 3 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 11
Smart colt who took his form up a level when landing 6f listed race at Newbury on return and backed that up when following up in a strong Group 3 over the same C&D 7 weeks ago. Improving 3-y-o who’s worth another crack at this level.
****
Givemethebeatboys
Trainer: Mrs J. Harrington Jockey: Shane Foley Age: 3 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 7
Clearly hadn’t done himself justice when well backed for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot (reportedly had an abscess under his lip) but quickly bounced back when just holding off Kind of Blue in Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Curragh. Another who’s not taken lightly.
***
Inisherin
Trainer: Kevin Ryan Jockey: Tom Eaves Age: 3 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 10
Has proved a revelation dropped to sprinting, producing a very smart effort when making all in the Group 2 Sandy Lane over C&D before picking up impressively to land Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. Disappointed in July Cup next time but has been freshened up since and expected to bounce back.
*****
Jasour
Trainer: Clive Cox Jockey: Jim Crowley Age: 3 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 13
Looked potentially very smart when winning Ascot listed event on return but ruined his chance when pulling too hard in a couple of Group 1s since. Risky, but clearly has a bigger performance in him.
***
Kind Of Blue
Trainer: James Fanshawe Jockey: Daniel Muscutt Age: 3 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 5
Has come a long way since winning first 2 starts in the spring, making the frame in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot before only a length behind Elite Status in Group 3 at Newbury. Only just failed to peg back Givemethebeatboys in Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Curragh since and not taken lightly.
***
Swingalong
Trainer: K. R. Burke Jockey: William Buick Age: 4 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 15
Won Group 3 Summer Stakes at York last summer. Acquitted herself with plenty of credit in Group 1s either side of that victory and stepped up considerably on her reappearance when second in Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee at Royal Ascot. Backed that up when going close in July Cup and high on shortlist.
****
Unequal Love
Trainer: William Haggas Jockey: Daniel Tudhope Age: 4 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 6
Returned better than ever with 6f listed win at Newmarket and, after shaping well in Ireland, resumed progress with an excellent display to land the Wokingham at Royal Ascot. Not seen to best effect ¾-length third to Flora of Bermuda in Summer Stakes at York since but career best required here.
**
Vadream
Trainer: Charlie Fellowes Jockey: Hollie Doyle Age: 6 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 4
Smart mare but she arrives in just fair form, and easy to oppose at this level with conditions unlikely to be testing enough.
*
Flora Of Bermuda
Trainer: Andrew Balding Jockey: Oisin Murphy Age: 3 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 8
Improving filly who took form to another level when winning Group 3 Summer Stakes at York and backed that up when 3¾ lengths fourth of 16 in Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville (6.5f, good), staying on well. Likely to find a few too speedy at this level back at 6f, however.
**
Saturday’s Racing Tips
- Matt Chapman’s ITV Racing tips for Ascot, Haydock and Kempton
- Mick Fitzgerald’s Lucky 31 tips for Ascot and Haydock
- A 3/1 play features in Timeform’s Kempton tips
- Jason Weaver’s ITV Racing tips include an 8/1 play
Read More
- Gallop over to Paddy Power News for all the latest horse racing tips
- When is the St Leger 2024? Doncaster date, start time, runners and betting
- When is the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe 2024? Longchamp date, start time, runners and betting
The Paddy Power Guide To Safer Gambling – Everything You Need To Know
