By Tony Calvin - 1 September 2025
I started prepping this column on Sunday morning, as it is all rock and roll in my household, and the Group 1 Betfair Sprint Cup was the obvious – indeed the only – race to focus on at that stage, given it was the sole early-closer of the weekend.
It is the first time I had looked at the contest, and it had 37 horses entered on Sunday, with Jubilee Stakes winner (and Maurice de Gheest runner-up) Lazzat ranging from 2s to [5/2] at the top of the market.
The next horses in the betting were all available at double-figure odds (if you shopped around) and that brought in Commonwealth Cup winner Time For Sandals at 11s in a place, though she was as low as 7s.
Then there were a host of sprinters priced up at 12s, and the list was as follows: More Thunder (though that was only available with one outfit, with 8s the general price), Sayidah Dariyan, No Half Measures, Sky Majesty and Shadow Of Light, with Kind Of Blue snapping up at their heels at 14s.
We have two possible/probable supplements (at a cost of 20k), it seems.
Sky Majesty was only quoted by a couple of firms on Sunday, as she still had to be supplemented after her impressive Group 3 Naas win on August 24th, and she has duly been inserted into the contest (by the looks of it, anyway – as 20 have been confirmed and there are 22 in the race according to the BHA site).
Rage Of Bamby was also flagged by connections as being primed for the race on Sunday, and the Hackwood Stakes winner has also been supplemented (by the looks of it, anyway. as I can’t find an area on the BHA site when supplementaries are listed).
If so, you can fully see why connections of both are chancing their arms given the lottery nature of Group 1 sprints this season.
Wathnan Racing own favourite Lazzat and it sounds like they are set to run all three of theirs, the others being Kind Of Blue, a head second in the race last season, and Flora Of Bermuda, who was fifth that day.
This could be one of the better renewals of recent years, depth-wise (there is a maximum field of 17 on the day).
The following were not confirmed though (as at 11.59am): Ferrous, Iberian, Jasour, More Thunder, Spycatcher, Toyotomi, Arizona Blaze, Ides Of March, Shadow Of Light, Balmoral Lady, Mgheera, Rosy Affair, Unequal Love, Vadream, Verspertilio, Regional and Woodshauna.
Back when the prices are back up, but I may be some time, as someone once said.
I am currently experiencing a severe bout of manflu, as you will see/hear on The Racing Room podcast later, and, now dosed up. my bed may beckon.
I’m a proper trooper/trouper, me….
UPDATE 1.16pm: Sky Majesty and Rage Of Bamby were the pair duly supplemented at Haydock on Saturday.
Almeraq, a 10s poke, and Art Power are the only ones double-entered this week, though a few are in early-closers at Doncaster and Curragh next week.
Time For Sandals is the [8/1] second favourite, behind [9/4] Lazzat – the [5/2] was taken on Monday – but trainer Harry Eustace told the Racing Post on Monday afternoon:
“Time For Sandals will be left in the Haydock Sprint Cup but where she goes there is dependant on how much rain they get. There are a lot of soft-ground type horses among the potential field so we’ll have to see but alternatively there is the Flying Five at the Curragh she could wait for. Kieran Shoemark has been booked to ride.”
I’d be working on the basis of good to soft at Haydock and soft at Ascot, given the current forecasts below, but both tracks are set to be dry Friday and Saturday (at the moment), so it’s a hard one to call.
Manflu permitting, I’ll do an update on Tuesday – and I have gone firmly odds-against on Tuesday morning as it has got worse – once we get an update on the ground (rain was due on Monday at Haydock and Ascot) and prices for the other weekend races.
Check out Ascot’s latest weather forecast!
GOING: Good, good to soft
Going stick: 7.3, Wednesday 7.30am
Soil moisture average: 35%
Wednesday morning course update: 10mm last week. Sunday Dry. 3mm Monday, 1mm this morning. Outlook: More certain rainband Wednesday bringing showers for much of the day. 5-10mm possible. More showers now on Thursday. Max temperature: 19°C
Weather: showery all week but maybe 10mm Wednesday
Rails: All races will be run on the outer course
GOING – Round course: Soft; Straight: Soft, good in places
Following track renovations since the last meeting the grass recovery this year has been particularly slow and there are some patches of younger grasses with a less dense sward
Round Course – Flat Turf: Soft (GSt 5.1 on Wed 7:30am)
Wednesday morning course update: 12mm rain recorded over the past 24 hours to 7.30am Wednesday. Total of 36mm rain recorded through the past week. Showers are possible today and rain/showers are forecast each day now through to Friday, with an estimate of a further 8 to 10mm in total predicted. Friday and Saturday currently look more settled with just possible occasional showers. For live weather station and Going info please go to www.ascot.com/thegoing
Weather: showery all week but another 9mm today and 4mm Thursday
GOING: Standard to slow
The track was refurbished with 1000 tonnes of new polytrack with a higher percentage wax content and fiber, which was blended into the original material to improve kickback. It will ride on the slow side for a period of time
Stalls: All: Inside
Watering : 20mm of water will be applied Saturday morning to cool the surface temperature of the AW track
1.15pm Haydock: Array, Balmacara (due to run on Friday), Dividend, Excellent Believe, Mirabeau (some are in early-closers next week)
1.35pm Kempton: Niminy Piminy
1.50pm Haydock: NONE ( some are in early-closers next week)
2.05pm Kempton: Al Ameen, Best Rate, Cogitate, Dash Of Azure, Giant, Helm Rock, Maybe Not, Mr Baloo, Racingbreaks Ryder (due to run on Thursday), Radiant Beauty, Rey De La Batalla, Rhapsody, Sir Paul Ramsey
2.25pm Haydock: Gran Descans, Nightwalker, Novelista (due to run at Goodwood on Tuesday), Perfect Your Craft (due to run at Bath on Wednesday), Ride The Thunder, Wine Dark Sea
2.40pm Ascot: Array, Balmacara (due to run on Friday), Dr Strangelove, Excellent Believe, Hickory (due to run on Friday), King’s Lynn, Mirabeau, Mister Bluebird, Orazio, Star Anthem, Sterling Knight, Tarkhan, Thunder Roar (due to run on Friday), Watson’s Law
3pm Haydock: Anzac Day, Artisan Dancer, Blindedbythelights, Divine Comedy (due to run at Goodwood on Tuesday), Enemy, Fireblade, In The Breeze, Loughville
3.15pm Ascot: Asmen Warrior, Calla Lagoon, Gran Descans, Nightwalker, Rogue Millions, Too Soon, Wave Rider, Wine Dark Sea
3.35pm Haydock: Almeraq, Art Power (a few are in early closers at Doncaster and Curragh next week)
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