Lazzat, the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes winner at Royal Ascot in June, is a clear favourite for the Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday, but Jerome Reynier’s gelding did not run to the same level when favourite for the Prix Maurice du Gheest last time out and faces a couple of lightly raced, three-year-old fillies, Time For Sandals and Sky Majesty, in his attempt to recapture Group One-winning form.
Both fillies have just seven runs in the book, including the Group One Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot in June when Time For Sandals, a cosy winner, was nearly six lengths in front of Sky Majesty.
Sky Majesty improved from Ascot to win a Listed contest and then a Group Three in Ireland on her next two starts, while Time For Sandals was beaten next time up, when dropping back to five furlongs in the King George Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
She struggled for running room a furlong out there, however, and the return to six furlongs on Saturday is very much in her favour too. Both Timeform’s ratings and the Ascot form suggest that Sky Majesty still has something to find with Harry Eustace’s filly and Time For Sandals (3.35) looks too big at around 8-1 to add an all-aged Group One to an already impressive career record.
Haydock 1.15 Ice Max finished with plenty of running left to give after getting caught in a Goodwood pocket last time and will appreciate a slight ease in grade.
Kempton 1.35 The King George runner-up, Kalpana, should confirm her status as a leading contender for the Arc next month with a repeat of last year’s cosy success in this Group Three contest.
Haydock 1.50 A fascinating clash between two very promising juveniles, Bow Echo and Publish, can go the way of George Boughey’s colt, a hugely impressive four-and-a-half length winner on his only start in August.
Kempton 2.05 Sky Safari is unbeaten in three starts on the all-weather and posted a new career-best to win over this track and trip last time out.
Haydock 2.25 The progressive Gran Descans should find further improvement for this step up to 14 furlongs.
Ascot 2.40 David O’Meara fields half a dozen runners here and the consistent Leadman, from stall 20, makes most appeal after another fine run at York last time out.
Haydock 3.00 William Haggas’s The Reverend is one of the least-exposed runners in the field and is just 4lb higher in the weights after a convincing three-and-a-quarter length win last time.
Ascot 3.15 A 7lb rise in the weights looks more than fair for Ralph Beckett’s lightly-raced Push The Limit after a stylish success on his handicap debut at Glorious Goodwood last month.
