Last updated September 5th, 2020
The Group 1 6f Haydock Sprint Cup 2020 is one of the highlights of the season for the speed merchants and this year’s field is certainly not lacking in quality (3.25pm Saturday). As is often the case at Haydock at this time of year, you need to be looking for a horse that acts well on a soft surface.
As part of our Haydock Sprint Cup preview, here is an analysis of the main contenders, along with a concluding betting tip:
Dream Of Dreams is the current favourite which is logical because the horse has the highest Official Rating (OR) of the 13-runner field. He was very impressive in winning the last start at Newbury three weeks ago, beating a decent field by seven lengths and more in the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes on good to soft ground. The winning margin suggests Sir Michael Stoute’s charge will not be out of place at the highest level and it will take a good performance to finish in front of him. Dream Of Dreams was beaten by a head by Hello Youmzain in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot but showed some improvement at Newbury which was just his second outing of the season.
Hello Youzmain is closely matched with Dream Of Dreams on Royal Ascot form. The duo are racing off the same weight in the Sprint Cup so in theory Hello Youmzain has a marginal form edge. However, in two subsequent starts jockey Kevin Stott’s mount has finished fifth in the July Cup and second in a Group 1 race in France. Those runs still represent excellent efforts but Hello Youzmain has now won just one race in four starts. The horse has run to an OR of 118 in his last three British races and will have to produce a little more to win at Haydock this weekend. He has finished first and second on the track and may have to settle for second place this time.
Golden Horde is a colt aged three so carries two pounds less than the first two horses in the betting. He has a slight ratings disadvantage and over six furlongs there is little scope to make that up on the two runners reviewed above. Golden Horde readily won the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. The race distance was six furlongs and only horses aged three could take part. Lope Y Fernandez finished 11th, nine and a half lengths behind the winner carrying the same weight. Golden Horde finished two and a half lengths ahead of Hello Youmzain in the July Cup but behind that horse in the French race. The form suggest Hello Youmzain and Golden Horde are the same level which is just behind Dream Of Dreams.
Lope Y Fernandez has collateral form with Hello Youzmain and Golden Horde which suggests he has to produce a career best to win the Sprint Cup. However, the son of Lope De Vega is trained by Aidan O’Brien who must feel a trip from Ireland is worth the time and money. Lope Y Fernandez is a three-year-old so gets the two pounds allowance from the older horses. He does have the profile and form to win a Group 1 race but other horses have marginally stronger claims. We can expect a solid race in line with the OR but he could come up short because of the quality of the opposition. The trainer might be taking some place money back to Ireland.
Art Power has something to prove on form and ratings but the horse is progressive and another move forward could see him contend for this race. He won in handicap company at Royal Ascot from near the top of the weights and graduated into Group company. The Group 3 win in Ireland was followed by an eighth place finish behind Battaash in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Sakes at York last month. The six lengths margin suggests Art Power has found his level and will struggle to deliver the improvement to win the Sprint Cup. The soft going should not be an issue for a horse who has won four races in six career starts.
Tabdeed is another improver who needs to take another big step forward to win at Group 1 level. He has posted a higher rating in his last two starts compared to the previous run. Winning the Group 3 Hockwood Stakes at Newbury on the last start in July was a sound effort. However, he beat The Tin Man in second place by just half a length and that form is not good enough for this race. The horse has moved from handicaps to Group races this season but competing in Group 1 contests has shown he is not quite good enough to win this Haydock race.
Our Preview’s Haydock Sprint Cup Betting Tips Verdict
Glen Shiel does not have the form to win this race while veterans The Tin Man and Brando are fully exposed. Summerghand is a handicap winner who might be found wanting at this level. Hello Youmzain should be in the shake-up while Golden Horde has a small ratings disadvantage.
Lope Y Fernandez is exposed in this company while Art Power and Tabdeed might not progress enough to be competitive. So the rapidly improving Dream Of Dreams is preferred and can justify favouritism.
- Bet on DREAM OF DREAMS at current best odds of 100/30 with Betfair. Keep an eye on the latest betting moves in the odds comparison table below.
Compare Haydock Sprint Cup Betting Odds from Best Bookies
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dream Of Dreams (stall 11) | 10/3 | 10/3 | 3/1 | 10/3 | 10/3 | 10/3 | 10/3 |
| Hello Youmzain (12) | 4/1 | 4/1 | 7/2 | 10/3 | 10/3 | 4/1 | 7/2 |
| Art Power (10) | 6/1 | 11/2 | 11/2 | 5/1 | 5/1 | 5/1 | 11/2 |
| Golden Horde (6) | 8/1 | 15/2 | 15/2 | 15/2 | 15/2 | 8/1 | 15/2 |
| Lope Y Fernandez (13) | 8/1 | 15/2 | 15/2 | 8/1 | 8/1 | 7/1 | 15/2 |
| Tabdeed (5) | 10/1 | 10/1 | 9/1 | 10/1 | 10/1 | 9/1 | 10/1 |
| The Tin Man (1) | 14/1 | 14/1 | 14/1 | 12/1 | 12/1 | 14/1 | 14/1 |
| Archers Dream (2) | 25/1 | 25/1 | 25/1 | 25/1 | 25/1 | 25/1 | 25/1 |
| Glen Shiel (9) | 28/1 | 25/1 | 25/1 | 28/1 | 28/1 | 22/1 | 25/1 |
| Summerghand (4) | 33/1 | 33/1 | 33/1 | 33/1 | 33/1 | 33/1 | 33/1 |
| Queen Jo Jo (3) | 40/1 | 40/1 | 40/1 | 40/1 | 40/1 | 40/1 | 40/1 |
| Forever In Dreams (7) | 40/1 | 33/1 | 33/1 | 40/1 | 40/1 | 40/1 | 16/1 |
| Brando (8) | 50/1 | 40/1 | 40/1 | 50/1 | 50/1 | 50/1 | 40/1 |