'This has been his Derby all year' - Middleham Park gunning for Sprint Cup redemption

Shouldvebeenaring (light blue cap): was a narrow runner-up in the Sprint Cup at Haydock

Shouldvebeenaring (blue cap, second right): last year's runner-up bids to go one better in the Sprint CupCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Middleham Park Racing are determined their year-long plan to make Shouldvebeenaring a Group 1 winner will pay off in Saturday's Betfair Sprint Cup (3.35), avenging the heartbreak of his narrow defeat at Haydock last year.

The Richard Hannon-trained four-year-old was denied by a neck behind Regional 12 months ago and is yet to win at the highest level from five tries. However, he gained a deserved first Group race success at Deauville in July, when he beat the reopposing Spycatcher.

Shouldvebeenaring finished third in the City Of York Stakes last month, but Middleham Park's director of racing Tim Palin hopes that has primed him to give them more Sprint Cup glory. G Force gave the highly successful syndicate its second Group 1 strike a decade ago.

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Matt RennieReporter

Published on 5 September 2024inBritain

Last updated 17:11, 5 September 2024

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