The current ante-post favourite for the Group One Betfred Sprint Cup, Danzeno, hasn’t won since June 2014. Second in the betting is the Henry Candy trained Limato, who’s twice aborted European raids in recent weeks due to rain and is an unlikely starter should more arrive at Haydock. With the evergreen past champion Gordon Lord Byron not in great form this season and occupying third spot in the betting, the market looks wide open and there may be some ante-post value about.
Adaay is a horse we really like, having tipped him at 11/1 to bounce back from a disappointing Royal Ascot run and score at Newbury. Score he did, and the impression left was of a horse who appreciates some cut in the ground to be seen at his best. This race often goes to a conditions specialist, and six furlongs with some cut looks perfect for Adaay, so we’re expecting a big performance come Saturday; however, at 9/1 we can afford to wait.
The one I’m struggling to get away from is his half-sister Tiggy Wiggy, who, in just three races this season, has gone from star two-year-old to 20/1 shot. All three of those defeats have come on good to firm ground, and it might be pertinent that one of her two defeats from eight runs as a juvenile also came on quick ground. Her sire, Kodiac, wasn’t known for appreciating easier going, but his offspring certainly are. Adaay being one, star two-year-old York-winner Besharah another and horse-of-the-moment, Kodi Bear, a third. Tiggy Wiggy has already notched twice on soft, winning Sandown and Salisbury sprints last year, so perhaps she needs it to be seen at her best.
“I think the ground was probably a little bit quick for Tiggy Wiggy. We scoped her when she came back and there was nothing wrong with her. We’ll give her a little break now and wait until the ground comes right and probably stay at six furlongs.” Richard Hannon, July
She’s been upped in trip this season and ran well when placed behind Legatissimo over a mile in the 1000 Guineas. There’s very little wrong with that form, over a distance she’s not known for and on ground we suspect didn’t suit. Despite her last defeat in the Commonwealth Cup coming over six furlongs, she breaks well and her prominent running style screams sprinter. She had a torrid time in that race – her head was up early and she was eased home a long way out, eventually finishing 14th – and I’m blaming the fast ground again.
As the only three-year-old filly, she’ll receive weight from the field on Saturday, which certainly helped last year’s re-opposing winner, G Force (12/1), who himself has been out of sorts this season but might find Saturday’s conditions perfect. Fillies can blossom late in the season and their form is generally more erratic than the colts. Looking at 2014, she was obviously beaten at Ascot but then went on to win three races, including a Group One. She certainly has the class to win this and, with the conditions unlikely to be quick, she’s strongly fancied to outrun her generous odds.
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