Steve Ryder previews the 2026 Haydock Sprint Cup and picks out a tip.
The Sprint Cup a Group 1 run at Haydock over 6f. This year marks the first time this century that the Group 1 contest will have fewer than ten runners which this scheduled to be run on Saturday 5th September at 3:40.
Haydock Sprint Cup Trends
Be Friendly is the only two-time winner of the race having won it in both 1966 and 1967. 8 of the previous 12 winners went on to run in the Champions Sprint at Ascot but none of those managed to win.
- 12 of the previous 12 winners had at least 1 win that season
- 11 of the previous 12 winners had a rating of 109 or higher
- 10 of the previous 12 winners had at least 3 previous wins
- 9 of the previous 12 winners had at least 2 previous wins over 6f
- 9 of the previous 12 winners had already won a Group race
- 8 of the previous 12 winners had previously run at Haydock
Haydock Sprint Cup 2026 Odds
Haydock Sprint Cup 2026 Runners Guide
ALMERAQ
William Haggas trained four-year-old who has won four of his eight career starts including when defying odds of 25/1 to win the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. He was slightly underwhelming when only 9th of 11 in the July Cup last time but has won previously on both good to soft and soft ground in his career.
KIND OF BLUE
Runner-up in this race for the previous two years on good ground but did win the Champions Sprint at Ascot in 2024 on the only time he encountered soft ground in his career. He finished 2nd in the Group 2 Minster Stakes at York on his reappearance before disappointing when last seen at Royal Ascot behind Almeraq. He should be able to bounce back in this race.
COPPULL
Three-year-old who won the Pavilion Stakes on his reappearance before finishing 8th in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. He didn’t get a clear run late on in the July Cup when 4th beaten only 1 ½ lengths by Comanche Brave before winning the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes over 7f last time. He is another who soft ground would be a worry for.
MARVELMAN
The Kingsclere raider arrives with momentum after a solid third to Notable Speech in the Group 1 City Of York Stakes, sitting just behind fellow market rival Zavateri when the pace quickened. Both of his career victories have been claimed over seven furlongs, and he's shown he can dig in when conditions turn testing, a genuine plus if rain features in the build-up. His return run at Newcastle over six furlongs also gave plenty to like, suggesting there's more improvement in the tank as he steps back up. Yet to break through at Group level, he goes off this weekend carrying a rating of 117, and few in the field look better placed to make that breakthrough if the ground softens up as expected.
BIG MOJO
Last year’s winner who got back to winning ways last time when justifying 5/4 favouritism in the Group 3 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh. He could only finish 5th in a Group 2 on the only time he encountered ground softer than good in his career which would be a concern.
PABORUS
Drops back to six furlongs for the Sprint Cup, and connections believe that trip on give ground is exactly where he's at his most dangerous. He shaped as though City Of York's extra furlong found him out late on, travelling strongly through the race before being outpaced by the sharper types in Group 1 company. Bethell has been buoyed by his homework since that run and points to the horse's physical traits, big feet and a pedigree stacked with stamina and mud-friendly influences, as reasons to expect a big performance once conditions soften up. With Haydock already riding soft and more rain in the forecast, the ground looks set to fall right for him, and a return to the minimum trip against similar sprinters could bring out the best of what he showed in the Chipchase.
Haydock Sprint Cup Trainers Jockeys To Watch
Henry Candy (Markab in 2010 & Twilight Son in 2015) and Kevin Ryan (Hello Youmzain in 2019 & Emaraaty Ana in 2021) are the only recent trainers to have won this race multiple times recently.
Oisin Murphy (The Tin Man in 2018 & Dream Of Dreams in 2020) and William Buick (Dream Ahead in 2011 & Big Mojo in 2025) have both won this race twice recently.
Haydock Sprint Cup 2026 Tips
The ground is expected to be soft for the Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday which would be a concern for many of the intended runners including Comanche Brave, Coppull and Big Mojo. It should suit KIND OF BLUE (best priced at 6/1) well who won the 2024 Champion Sprint at Ascot on the only time he has encountered soft ground in his career.
Kind Of Blue has finished runner-up in this race for the previous two seasons and should hold strong claims of going one better this year with conditions likely to suit.
