'He's the one to beat' - can anyone stop Starman and Tom Marquand in Sprint Cup?

Saturday: 3.30 Haydock
Betfair Sprint Cup Stakes (Group 1) | 6f | 3yo+ | ITV/RTV

Tom Marquand may have firmly cemented himself as one of Britain's elite jockeys but that does nothing to dilute the excitement of riding a bona fide star on a big day and he says rides like Starman are what makes all the hard work worthwhile, as he hailed the Ed Walker-trained sprinter as "the one to beat" in the Betfair Sprint Cup.

The emphatic July Cup winner is aiming to become only the third horse this century – after Dream Ahead in 2011 and Harry Angel in 2017 – to complete the Newmarket-Haydock sprint double, and confidence is unsurprisingly high given he had all but two of his ten Saturday rivals trailing behind him on the July course two months ago.

Only Happy Romance, the sole filly in the line-up, and outsider Nando Parrado were spared on that occasion as Starman's electrifying turn of foot boosted him a length and a quarter clear of his nearest rival, with today's primary adversaries Creative Force and Art Power back in fifth and fourth.

Owned and bred by David Ward, the four-year-old's two defeats have come on soft ground, including when running a still respectable third in the Prix Maurice de Gheest last time, and Marquand is sure the quick Haydock surface will bring out the best in Starman.

He said: "These are the rides that you put in all the hard work for and they're hard to come by. The run in France was really solid on ground he didn't enjoy and if he can recreate something near to what he did in the July Cup then he goes in as the one to beat without a doubt."

Marquand, who has ridden Starman in all but one of his seven career starts, is chasing a third Group 1 of the year having also struck on Addeyyb in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Australia. He believes the challenge of readying the exceptional sprinter for battle has been an altogether different one compared to the seasoned William Haggas-trained campaigner.

"Starman's got a very different profile to a lot of the other big horses I've come across," Marquand said. "With Addeybb, he was already warmed up to it whereas this fella was still quite raw.

"He was exciting last year but has still only had a few runs and is hopefully still on that upward curve of showing what he's capable of."

'It's a matter of time before we win a big one'

The combination of Tim Easterby, Silvestre de Sousa and King Power Racing swept up the last Group 1 sprint in Britain with Winter Power in the Nunthorpe, and the Yorkshire trainer is bullish he can repeat the trick with Art Power.

The four-year-old led for a long way in the July Cup with only Glen Shiel for company on the far side before being outgunned close to the line. That was the second time he has fallen to Starman this season.

Easterby makes no secret of the high regard in which he holds Art Power – now making his sixth appearance in Group 1 company – and is convinced he can makes his mark at the highest level.

He said: "He's a bloody good horse and it's a matter of time before we win a big one with him. His attitude is what impresses me most, he's just a super horse to have.

Art Power: has all the makings of a Group 1 winner, according to trainer Tim EasterbyCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"He's in great form and I'm sure the track will be in real good fettle for him as they'll have prepped it well. The fast ground will really suit him."

What they say

Simon Turner, director of racing for Hambleton Racing, owners of Glen Shiel
He's in terrific order. Ideally, we'd have preferred easier ground, but he ran very well in the July Cup on a fast surface. Having a Group 1 horse for a syndicate is just amazing.

David O'Meara, trainer of Summerghand
He won nicely last time. We've tried him in a few Group 1s and it hasn't worked out but he's in great form and will enjoy the ground.

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Creative Force
We've been pleased with his preparation. We thought it was a very respectable first run at this level in the July Cup, when he learned plenty about sprinting, and we're hoping that a more polished performer will be turning up here. James Doyle felt that he rode like a sprinter in the Lennox Stakes. He hit the lids that day, was up in the van the whole way and possibly did a bit too much early on, so the return to six furlongs should suit.

Creative Force: has won four times already this seasonCredit: Edward Whitaker

Clive Cox, trainer of Nando Parrado and Supremacy
We tried blinkers on Supremacy at Newmarket but he's a very laidback individual and I'm not sure it really worked. I don't think there's any doubt he's a high-class horse, his two-year-old form was exceptional and I hope he can show his true performance. He's been working well on nice ground at home and will appreciate this surface. This is a different approach for Nando Parrado but I'm very happy with him and I think he's versatile in regards to the ground. He was blistering in the early stages at Newbury last time with blinkers on and it looked like six furlongs would be a good idea for him.

Richard Hannon, trainer of Happy Romance
She's a massively tough filly who has retained all of her ability from her two-year-old days and thoroughly deserved to win at Newbury last time off the back of a great effort at Sandown beforehand. This is a step back up in grade but she receives a small allowance and the ground will suit so she goes there with every chance.

Saturday's race previews:

1.45 Haydock: find out why it could be best to ignore the Superior Mile market leaders

2.20 Haydock: is Valley Forge a good thing to follow up his Melrose win?

2.40 Kempton: admirable Hukum aims for another Group 3 victory in September Stakes

2.55 Haydock: 'He has real quality about him' – trainers on their Old Borough Cup contenders

3.10 Ascot: they go together like salt and pepper – Graeme Rodway on racing's perfect match

3.30 Haydock: Graeme Rodway on whether Starman can graduate to greatness in the Sprint Cup (Members' Club)

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