HELLO Youmzain’s rider Kevin Stott told the press during the week that he thought that his horse should be clear favourite for this afternoon’s Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock and, while there is a sense of well-he-would-wouldn’t-he, there is serious substance to the rider’s assertion.

For starters, Kevin Ryan’s horse won the race last year. He bounced out of the stalls that day, he quickly settled into a nice rhythm in front for James Doyle, he saw off the challenge of Invincible Army by the time they got to the furlong pole, and he kept on strongly through the final 200 yards to win nicely, by a half a length from The Tin Man, who was two lengths clear of the rest.

Debut

He was very good on his debut this season too, in winning the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot. He led from early again, and he kept on gamely to just get home by a head from the fast-finishing Dream Of Dreams.

He was below par in the July Cup at Newmarket next time, a track at which he had never raced before, but he proved that that was just a blip with a really good performance last time in the Prix Maurice de Gheest.

Again, he raced prominently that day on the near side and, while the six and a half-furlong trip probably stretched him, he kept on well enough to hold off Lope Y Fernandez for second place, just three-quarters of a length behind the winner Space Blues.

He should be happy back over six furlongs today, and back at Haydock, and on soft ground again. These conditions are probably optimal for him, six furlongs on soft ground at Haydock. He was beaten just a short head by San Donato in a novice stakes over today’s course and distance on easy ground as a juvenile, and he sprang a surprise when he beat Calyx in the Sandy Lane Stakes over seven furlongs there last year.

Biggest danger

Dream Of Dreams is obviously the biggest danger, the current favourite, and Sir Michael Stoute’s horse put up a fairly breath-taking performance in winning the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury last time. But that was over seven furlongs, it may be that that is his best trip. He only has a head to find with Hello Youmzain on their running in the Diamond Jubilee, but that was at Ascot, a stiffer track than Haydock, a track that probably plays to Dream Of Dreams’ strengths more than to Hello Youmzain’s.

The Dream Ahead gelding finished eighth in the Sprint Cup last year, five lengths behind Hello Youmzain. He may well win today, but it doesn’t make sense that he is a shorter price that Kevin Ryan’s horse.

Interesting colt

Lope Y Fernendez is interesting. Aidan O’Brien’s colt was stretched by the mile of the Irish Guineas on his debut this term, but he looks much happier now back over shorter distances. He was only a head behind Hello Youmzain in the Prix Maurice de Gheest and, still only three, he has the potential to continue to progress as a sprinter. Forever In Dreams could also out-run big odds, but Hello Youmzain is the bet.

Progressive Kipps

It might also be worth backing Kipps in the Lavazza Stakes at Ascot. Hughie Morrison’s horse ran a big race on his only run at Ascot, when he finished second to Hukum in the King George V Handicap at the royal meeting off a mark of 83. The winner has since gone on to win the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes, and is now rated 24lb higher than he was then.

Also, the third, Subjectivist, has won twice since and is now rated 15lb higher. Both are potential St Leger candidates.

Kipps is just 6lb higher today than he was a Royal Ascot.

He has progressed too. He ran a fine race to finish fourth behind Zabeel Champion in a 10-furlong handicap at Newmarket next time off a mark of 91, when he raced in rear and made his progress out in the centre, in a race in which it was probably an advantage to race handily and towards the near side. Then last time, he kept on well to finish third behind the seriously impressive Coltrane in the Melrose Handicap at York.

You couldn’t have said that he didn’t stay a mile and six furlong that day, but his run just flattened out a little close home, and it is probable that he is better over today’s trip of a mile and a half.

He goes well on easy ground, he has run well on the only occasion on which he has run at Ascot and, with just six run on his CV, he has the potential to progress beyond today’s mark of 89.

Recommended

Hello Youmzain, 1 point win, 3.25 Haydock, 4/1 (William Hill) or 7/2 (generally)

Kipps, 1 point win, 3.05 Ascot, 11/2 (generally)