2026 Betfair Sprint Cup: runner-by-runner guide and tip

Well regarded sort who quickly progressed from handicaps to a listed win on his reappearance at Salisbury, and then took his form to a new level when getting up in the dying strides of the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. 

Failed to repeat that effort in the July Cup when last seen nearly two months ago, however, refusing to settle with a lack of cover and never competitive as a result.

Much better than that display, though, and the return to softer conditions should prove ideal, for all he clearly has something to prove on the back of his break. 

Different profile to many here, having started off with a win over seven furlongs before progressing through the handicap ranks (opening win off 67) to Group One glory as both a five-year-old and six-year-old. 

Clear best effort this season when allowed to stride on more than usual in the King George Qatar Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, but not in the same form last time when beaten nearly five lengths in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York. 

Yet to win on ground slower than good to soft, and hard to see a real test over this trip playing to his strengths (speed). 

Consistent sort who was back to his best when landing an Ascot handicap from a mark of 97 in October and earned a crack at a higher level when making a successful return in listed company at Doncaster in March, both wins coming on good to soft. 

Solid efforts in defeat in lesser Group races since, before seemingly out of his depth in the Jubilee. 

Better effort since in the Great St Wilfrid Handicap (fifth off 109) but that suggests his entry in the Ayr Gold Cup might be more suitable than this, for all the ground won't be a worry. 

Surprise Molecomb Stakes winner on just his second start and held his form well for the remainder of his two-year-old campaign. 

Maintained that thread the following season where his wins included this race (by one and a quarter lengths from Kind Of Blue, the first three-year-old to win it since 2019), though it's worth noting that he was probably favoured by racing on the stands' side rail. 

Not at his best on his first three starts this season, but capitalised on a drop in grade (unpenalised) when landing the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh last month.

Confidence should be high, but this looks a stronger renewal than 12 months ago. Unproven on soft. 

Well-travelled sprinter who found life too tough behind superstar Ka Ying Rising at Sha Tin in April but quickly back to his best when a well-backed winner of the Group Two Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh the following month. 

Came up short in the Jubilee on his next start – albeit not beaten far in seventh – but showed his march to the top level was merely delayed at Royal Ascot rather than halted when pulling a length clear of Venetian Sun in the July Cup at Newmarket last time. 

Speedy sort who is respected, but has something to prove in the mud. 

Failed to hit the ceiling of his ability for Charles Hills but made an immediate impression for his new yard when completing a quick-fire hat-trick of wins in the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot from a mark of 105. 

Underperformed for the first time for Andrew Balding when too keen out on the wing in the July Cup when last seen, but jockey wasn't hard on him there once defeat was inevitable. 

Unproven on soft going but hits the ground quite hard and pedigree suggests it should be fine (dam by Pivotal; half-sister Macra goes very well in the mud). Interesting contender. 

Soft ground lover who found the rain coming just in time when winning the Greenlands Stakes in 2025, and found conditions against him on his next two starts in this race and the Champions Sprint at Ascot. 

Not at his best in three well-spaced-out starts this term, though has had excuses on each occasion. 

Something to prove at this level, but trainer is a master and no surprise if this five-year-old produces his best performance of the year despite facing his biggest challenge to date. 

Couldn't quite match one of his uncles The Tin Man when beaten just a head by Montassib in the 2024 renewal of this race, before going one place better – and emulating his other uncle Deacon Blues in the process - in the Champions Sprint at Ascot the following month. 

Travelled well but again found one too good when second once more in this race 12 months ago. 

Shaped well on his reappearance at York in May but well below his best on unsuitably quick ground in the Jubilee when last seen.  

These conditions will suit, and race likely to have been the target for a long time, but has a little to prove at present.  

Took his form up a notch when landing the seven-furlong Park Stakes at Doncaster at this stage of last season, and has produced two solid performances on two of his three starts this term, only giving way late on when fading into third in the City Of York Stakes on the Knavesmire last month. 

Testing ground suits, and ran well under a penalty when second in the Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle over this trip, so could find this race suiting very nicely. 

Needs to find a bit more improvement, though. 

Experienced campaigner whose wins have come at a slightly lesser level on various ground conditions. 

Might well have won the Stewards' Cup (off 104) had the cards fallen slightly better, but well below expectations in a Group Three at Deauville at the weekend. 

Would be out of his depth if pitching up quickly here. 

Lightly raced but good-looking individual who progressed well over seven furlongs and then made an immediate impact dropped to six for the first time when beating Marvelman by a length and a half in the Group Three Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle. 

Swerved the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood in favour of the City Of York last month but failed to match the pick of his form, shaping as if the seventh furlong was possibly a stretch at the very top table. 

Interesting contender back over this distance with the ground likely to be no issue, but needs to take quite a big step forward to feature prominently. 

Richmond Stakes winner last season who made a winning return in a Group Three at Ascot in May. 

Raced in the disadvantaged group when only eighth in the Jubilee, but resumed his progress when a closing fourth in the July Cup the following month. 

Confirmed that effort when coping admirably with a first try at a seventh furlong in the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury last time. 

Unraced on slower than good, but dam won on soft ground at this venue and sire was very much at home on this track. Respected.  

Rattled off a hat-trick of wins at this time last year following a belated debut second at Windsor. 

Yet to add to that tally as a three-year-old but has run five fine races in defeat, most notably when behind Venetian Sun in both the Sandy Lane Stakes here and the Commonwealth Cup at Ascot. 

Continued his progress outside his age group in both the July Cup and the Prix Maurice De Gheest, arguably a little unlucky on the latter occasion not to pick up winner Samangan after a troubled passage. 

Question marks about genuinely soft ground. 

This hasn't been a happy hunting ground for favourite backers of late, with four double-figure priced winners in the last five seasons, but ALMERAQ looks likely to bounce back now tackling soft ground. The Jubilee winner has been given a nice break to get over his July Cup flop and prepare for an autumn campaign which can get back on track here. 

Last year's one-two Big Mojo and Kind Of Blue are respected, with both having also had this as a target for some time, but as big a threat could come from Double Rush if he's allowed to take up this engagement rather than the listed Garrowby Stakes at York on Sunday. He looked up to this class earlier in the season, and I suspect he could continue his progress on more testing ground given his rounded action. 

1 ALMERAQ. 2 DOUBLE RUSH. 3 KIND OF BLUE.