2026 Sprint Cup Tips, Odds and News

The biggest race to be staged at Haydock Park during the flat racing season is the Sprint Cup.

This thrilling, six-furlong contest was first run on Merseyside in 1966. The race is open to three-year-olds and older sprinters, and only the strongest sprinter on the day will prevail, as the ground at Haydock in September is usually very soft.

Devised by the legendary Robert Sangster, the Sprint Cup was added to the British flat racing schedule in 1966.

Initially, the Sprint Cup was open to horses of all ages. Be Friendly was only a juvenile when he won the first Sprint Cup, before successfully defending his crown as a three-year-old 12 months later.

The Sprint Cup was originally held in November, but was pushed back to September in 1979. Juveniles were free to enter the Sprint Cup right up until 1994, after which the race became open only to horses of three years old and above.

Be Friendly remains the only horse to ever win the Sprint Cup twice. Great Sprinters like Moorestyle, Habibti and Ajdal all triumphed at Haydock in the 1980s, but none were able to successfully defend the trophy.

Pat Eddery is the joint-most successful jockey in the Sprint Cup, with the last of his three wins coming on Danehill in 1989. Lester Piggott also rode the winner at Haydock three times, as did Willie Carson and Bruce Raymond.

Carson guided the great Dayjur to a fantastic victory in the 1990 Sprint Cup. John Dunlop then saddled Lavinia Fontana before she was ridden to victory by Jason Weaver in 1994. Two years later, John's son Ed Dunlop trainer the winner, with Iktamaal coming out on top.

Frankie Dettori's only Sprint Cup winner came on Diktat in 1999. John Dunlop's fourth and final winner came in 2002, when the great Invincible Spirit scored in excellent style.

African Rose came over from France to win the 2008 Sprint Cup for Criquette Head-Maarek. Dream Ahead and Society Rock then scored at Haydock, and both have gone on to be successful sires at stud.

Tom Hogan's stable star, Gordon Lord Byron scored a popular victory in 2013. David O'Meara then celebrated the biggest win of his training career when G Force won the 2015 Sprint Cup.

Three-year-olds have dominant the Sprint Cup in recent history. Five of the six winners between 2014 and 2019 were three, including Twilight Son, Quiet Reflection, Harry Angel and Hello Youmzain.

The Tin Man, ridden by Oisin Murphy, was six when he won in 2018. Murphy then guided another six-year-old, Dream Of Dreams to victory for Sir Michael Stoute in the 2020 Sprint Cup.

Emaraaty Ana edged out favourite Starman to win the Sprint Cup the following year.