DREAM AHEAD is now the outright favourite for Saturday’s Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock as Deacon Blues is unlikely to line up.
James Fanshawe’s four-year-old has long been the ante-post favourite for the Group One feature following seven-length success in Ireland last time.
But Fanshawe Wokingham winner is set to miss teh race after scoping dirty after working yesterday morning.
Fanshawe said: “He worked a bit flat this morning in his final blow-out and when we scoped him, there was some mucus so he’s unlikely to run on Saturday.”
Deacon Blues landed the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and stepping up to Group One level after two Group Three successes at Newbury and the Curragh.
Fanshawe added: “His work just lacked his usual sparkle and we have just two days now to the race, so he’s unlikely to run.
“There was quite a bit of mucus there.”
Deacon Blues also has entries in the Park Stakes at Doncaster a week on Saturday and the Renaissance Stakes at the Curragh a day later.
But Fanshawe is likely to wait a little longer before getting him back on track.
He said: “We were hopeful of running well at Haydock and the next big sprint after that is the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot on October 15, so the aim is to get him back bouncing for that.”
With Dream Ahead unlikely to feature among today’s final declarations for the Sprint Cup David Simcock’s Darley July Cup hero Dream Ahead is now the 7-2 favourite with most bookmakers, while Hoof It is 9-2 chance and Deacons Blues’ stable-mate Society Rock is a 13-2 chance with the sponsors and totesport.
Fanshawe added: “Society Rock is still in there. He’s fine, and the plan is to run.”
Betfred spokesman George Primarolo was left lamenting the absence of Deacon Blues in the final British Group One sprint of the year.
He said: “It would have been fascinating to see how Deacon Blues coped with the step up to the highest level on Saturday, but he looks very unlikely to take part now which means Dream Ahead is the 7-2 favourite to land his second Group One of the season.”
TODAY'S NAP: Falcun (5.20pm Redcar)
