HAYDOCK PARK 16:15 5e23a

All 12 ran.

Time: 1m 14.13s Closing Sectional: (3f): 37.85s (97.9%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 120%, Betfair SP 101%

Last year's emphatic winner of the Sprint Cup, Harry Angel, was bidding to become the first horse to win back-to-back renewals since Be Friendly in 1966/67 and he was the key component to the race, a standout on form if back to his best but unseen since blowing the start and his chance at Royal Ascot almost 3 months earlier; Harry Angel drifted in the market close to the off and ran well below his best, harried for the lead by Hey Jonesy which lit him up, the pair of them going too fast at the head of affairs and setting it up for those coming from off the pace.

THE TIN MAN may not be the big-hitter that sprinters like Harry Angel and Battaash are when in peak form but, unlike that pair, he has a pretty faultless temperament and this makes it 3 seasons in a row that he's won a Group 1 sprint, the much stronger pace than he had to aim it when Harry Angel blitzed him in last year's renewal really working in his favour, whilst the testing ground was probably ideal on a flat track like this as well as it made it more of a test and he does usually see races out strongly; he had 4 behind him after 2f but was waited with himself, travelling well, and made good progress soon after halfway, sweeping through to lead entering the final 1f and then keeping on gamely when Brando got to his quarters; he's held his form better this year than he did in 2017 and looks certain to be a big player in the Champions Sprint at Ascot, a race he won 2 years ago.

BRANDO could easily be excused his last effort when on the wrong part of the track and was straight back to his best with another excellent effort in defeat to add to his second in the July Cup, doing everything right and perhaps not so well placed as the winner who cut through the pack closer to where the leaders raced, Brando stuck on the near flank; held up, typically travelled well, headway 2f out, took second final 1f, kept on; the Champions Sprint is shaping up to be very competitive but he'll head into that race in better form than was the case 12 months ago.

GUSTAV KLIMT (IRE) hadn't run over 6f since his debut and in such a strongly-run race it was evident early, taken off his feet, but ultimately his stamina came into play and he ran right up to his best form over 1m; in rear, outpaced, headway over 1f out, stayed on; the Prix de La Foret over 7f could be an optimum Group 1 for him.

DONJUAN TRIUMPHANT (IRE) was already proven in the Haydock mud and his hitting the frame in this Group 1 was all about his effectiveness in the conditions, suited by the strong pace too and running as well as he could; dwelt, raced off the pace, headway over 2f out, stayed on, never nearer.

SANDS OF MALI (FR) got back on track after a couple of disappointing efforts, deserving extra credit on the day as he was much closer to the pace than any of the 4 that beat him; chased leaders, pushed along over 2f out, one paced.

HARRY ANGEL (IRE) has always had trouble with the stalls, withdrawn at Goodwood after playing up before he'd even won a race as a 2-y-o, and it was clear before loading that he was on edge, fretful in the brief time he was in there as well, and Kirby's eagerness to get him out on and rolling out in front proved his downfall on this occasion, not helped by the presence of Hey Jonesy either, going off too hard and having nothing left once The Tin Man had worn him down entering the final 1f; his temperament seems as fragile as it's ever been but the ability is almost certainly still intact if that side of things can be kept in check.

SPEAK IN COLOURS wasn't disgraced in face of a stiff task, briefly coming through to hold a chance; in touch, ridden over 2f out, chased leaders approaching final 1f, effort flattened out.

TASLEET after 4 months off, shaped better than the bare result, sure to have been closer but for having his momentum checked at a crucial point; mid-division, headway 2f out, keeping on when short of room approaching final 1f, no further impression but not unduly punished.

SIR DANCEALOT (IRE) ran well in the July Cup but is best at 7f, unbeaten over that trip this season, and he struggled with the pace that was set here and never landed a blow; less testing ground is ideal, too.

HEY JONESY (IRE) faced a stiff task and also did far too much taking on Harry Angel for the lead, having nothing left over 1f out.

EQTIDAAR (IRE) seemed unsuited by conditions; mid-division, struggling 2f out, weakened.

JAMES GARFIELD (IRE) was unable to handle conditions; chased leaders until 2f out, no extra.