Ortensia vs Bated Breath as 15 stand their ground for Haydock’s big sprint

Ortensia and jockey William Buick return in triumph after the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes with trainer Paul Messara on the left. Can they double up in Saturday’s Betfred Sprint Cup? Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Fifteen horses have stood their ground at the declaration stage for Saturday’s Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock Park, the penultimate race in the QIPCO British Champions Series Sprint category, with Ortensia and Bated Breath the big two in the betting.

Mayson was the most notable absentee after a routine test revealed that the Richard Fahey-trained winner of the Darley July Cup has an infection in his airway.

Th ground is officially Good to Firm, Good in places, but with a dry forecast over the coming days, it seems sure to be Good to Firm all round on Saturday, ideal for the big two.

When last on fast ground, Bated Breath oozed class in winning the betfred.com Temple Stakes, also at Haydock Park but over five furlongs rather than Saturday’s six.

Whilst he went as close as you can get to winning this race last year when going down by a nose to Europe’s 2011 champion sprinter, Dream Ahead, could it be that he’s actually better over five furlongs?

Ortensia’s trainer, Paul Messara, felt that his star filly won the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York over five furlongs last month in spite of the rain-softened ground.

Saturday’s surface, he feels, should be much more to her liking, but will she see out a fast run six furlongs?

Any stamina issues with the big two should see the higher-rated Strong Suit have every chance.

He has excelled over a mile and seven furlongs and his connections are keen to see if he can make his mark as a sprinter.

He didn’t handle the heavy ground on his one try to date in the Darley July Cup, but he too will have his favoured fast surface on Saturday.

With Society Rock, last year’s Diamond Jubilee Stakes winner, also standing his ground, a great race is in prospect and there is much at stake on a momentous day for jockey William Buick.

He has won the last two QIPCO British Champions Series races, the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes on Ortensia and the Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup on Times Up.

If Ortensia finishes first or second on Saturday, he will overhaul the long time leader in the Jockey of the Series table, Joseph O’Brien.

Not only that, but he will then take a helicopter to Leopardstown in Ireland to partner Nathaniel in the Irish Champion Stakes.

The John Gosden-trained middle distance star is then expected to run in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris on 7 October before tackling Frankel in the QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday 20 October as the QIPCO British Champions Series reaches its dramatic climax.

There’s so much to look forward to in the coming weeks!

For the full Betfred Sprint Cup race details, which is live on Channel 4 and Racing UK at 3.25pm on Saturday, and list of runners, CLICK HERE.