IT’S a rather strange occurrence that today’s Haydock Sprint Cup will be run on firm ground after we’ve had too many renewals on soft and even heavy underfoot conditions.

It’s also strange for a Group 1 race, that in the last 20 years, only three trainers have won it more than once. And even more so, that they were not among the general household names at this level - Tim Easterby, James Fanshawe and Henry Candy.

If the market is correct, there will be another new name in the training role of honour as Ed Walker produces the hot favourite Starman.

The four-year-old provided the trainer with the highlight of his career to date when winning the Group 1 Darley July Cup at Newmarket earlier this season and the Lambourn trainer believes the colt has the perfect opportunity to land another prize at the very highest level today.

A field of 11 is set to line up the six- furlong contest, and no less than seven of them finished behind the Dutch Art colt at Newmarket.

Walker said this week: “We always wanted to come to the Sprint Cup but historically we thought it would be unlikely given the horse’s preference for good ground. It’s a real bonus to be going into the race with conditions likely to be in his favour.

“It was a career highlight when he won the July Cup. It was great that he was able to show what he can really do, as I’ve always believed he is a truly exceptional horse.”

Last time out Starman ran in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville on August 8th, when he was beaten into third behind Marianafoot but that was on soft ground and over an extra half-furlong.

“He still ran a massive race at Deauville and ran better than he did in the really heavy conditions at Ascot on Champions Day last year. It was proper stamina-sapping ground in France, it was drying quite quickly and it was tacky. I think with the extra half-furlong and the conditions his stamina was really tested,” Walker continued

“He has trained great since France. His preparation has been very straightforward. From quite a long way out, the weather looked like being kind to us so it wasn’t an afterthought. I think he is the best horse in the race and if he is in the same form that he was at Newmarket, he will prove that.”

Art Power, Creative Force and Glen Shiel were closest to Starman in the July Cup with Art Power in particular interesting. Tim Easterby and King Power Racing seek a quick Group 1 sprint double after Winter Power took the Nunthorpe at York.

He went hard early on the far rail at Newmarket but held on for fourth and from stall two here he should get out and in the clear and might be hard to peg back. Drawn wide at Goodwood over five, he was off the bridle early but could well leave that behind.

Charlie Hills’ grey Garrus makes a quick return after a Deauville success last Sunday.

Hills said: “He’s come back really fresh and well from France and we thought there aren’t too many races left for him for the remainder of the season, so we’ve decided to give it a go.

He loves a flat track as he showed at Deauville. Starman looks the horse to beat. He’ll like the ground as our lad will, but there are plenty of others in there who have solid claims, namely the three that beat us in the July Cup in Art Power, Creative Force and Glen Shiel.”

KEMPTON’S Group 3 September Stakes has been won by such famous talents as Enable and this time Hukum will be aiming to kick off a good weekend for his dam Aghareed as his full-brother Baaeed steps into Group 1 company for the first time in ParisLongchamp tomorrow. The son of Sea The Stars has shown a nice turn of foot on his last two wins and his class should see him through here.

A good showing is needed from Charlie Fellowes’ Prince Of Arran to justify another trip to Australia where the now eight-year-old has thrived in recent years.

Saffie Osborne had a profitable time during the Racing League series and looks to have a good chance of a nice pay day on Thunderclap in the final of the London Mile Series.