Ten Sovereigns set to miss Sprint Cup on Saturday as Haydock ground turns soft

Ten Sovereigns looks set to miss the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday because Aidan O'Brien feels the ground will be too soft.

The champion trainer made his assessment about his July Cup winner after watching the first two races at Haydock on Thursday afternoon, when the ground was changed to soft.

He said: "With the ground soft at Haydock and rain forecast for tomorrow, it's unlikely that Ten Sovereigns will run.

"We'll probably make a decision tomorrow and if he doesn't run then Ryan [Moore] will switch to Fairyland. She runs and So Perfect will also take her chance."

The dual Group 1 winner finished fourth behind the reopposing Advertise in the Commonweath Cup on his sole start on good to soft at Royal Ascot in June.

Described by O’Brien as "a fast-ground horse, a daisy-cutter", Ten Sovereigns was on Thursday a 9-2 chance with the sponsors, the same price as Stewards' Cup scorer Khaadem, with Prix Maurice de Gheest winner Advertise the 11-4 favourite.

Three-year-olds have won four of the last five runnings and among their number is the unexposed Hello Youmzain, ridden by James Doyle and one of three sprinters declared by Kevin Ryan.

The son of Kodiac floored the odds-on Calyx over course and distance in May, and is reportedly in top shape.

"Hello Youmzain ran a great race when third in the Commonwealth Cup after missing the break," Ryan said about the top-priced 12-1 chance. "That can happen, especially in sprints, and it was a one-off. Saturday's a different day and a different race.

"He's got good course form and we've waited for Haydock, plus he's only a young horse and we didn’t want to over-race him. After this there is the sprint on British Champions Day for him."

Ryan will also be represented by Brando, the mount of Tom Eaves, and the Kevin Stott-ridden Major Jumbo.

Last year’s winner The Tin Man and Diamond Jubilee second Dream Of Dreams also feature in a high-quality renewal.

Clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright believes the ground should be no worse than Thursday's description on Sprint Cup day, and said on Thursday morning: "We're soft and it should be a bright day today. We're expecting rain on Friday and a pleasant day on Saturday.

"I would have thought the ground on Saturday will be similar to today. It's going to be easier ground on Friday but we move on to fresh ground on Saturday and I'm hopeful by Saturday it won't be any worse than it is now."

Confirmed runners and riders

1 Brando (stall 5) Tom Eaves
2 Dream Of Dreams (4) Danny Tudhope
3 Invincible Army (1) PJ McDonald
4 Major Jumbo (9) Kevin Stott
5 The Tin Man (3) Oisin Murphy
6 Waldpfad (11) Andrea Atzeni
7 Advertise (2) Frankie Dettori
8 Hello Youmzain (6) James Doyle
9 Khaadem (12) Jim Crowley
10 Ten Sovereigns (8)
11 Fairyland (10)
12 Forever In Dreams (7) Billy Lee
13 So Perfect (13)

bet365 join the Racing Post app. You can bet directly with bet365 on the Racing Post iOS app – to download the latest must-have free app click here