WHILE he can be regarded as the best sprinter in Europe for what he has already achieved this season, the crowning moment for Sakhee’s Secret will come if he extends his unbeaten run in the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock today. Genuine race fans love nothing better than to hail a true champion and this event usually confirms who is at top of the sprinting class. Until this chestnut appeared on the scene, we were scratching our heads as to who might succeed the mud-loving Reverence after he had taken full advantage of suitable conditions last year to head the ratings. After landing a Newmarket handicap in terrific style on his seasonal reappearance, when he looked in a different league to his rivals, Sakhee’s Secret then took two Listed events before a giant leap into Group One company in the Darley July Cup which confirmed he was a class act with his defeat of Dutch Art. With the runner-up and the Royal Ascot winner Soldier’s Tale declining at the final declaration stage on account of unsuitable ground, his task here has been made easier. Still relatively inexperienced with scope for further improvement, he has gears, and I expect him to deliver. Red Clubs, who was third to Sakhee’s Secret in the July Cup and has less than two lengths to find with his conqueror, has each-way claims. He has been acquitting himself well in top sprints and has since contested the Nunthorpe Stakes at York where he was doing his best work late on over the minimum trip. He is much better over this six furlongs. The Frenchman Marchand D’Or has obvious claims, having taken the scalp of Dutch Art at Deauville last month. Asset has yet to score in Group company and is proving difficult to win with after disappointing in the July Cup and failing to shine over a seventh furlong in the Betfair Cup at Goodwood. Connections are hoping the application of blinkers for the first time might help to bridge the gap needed to be competitive at this level. Hellvelyn, a smart juvenile, won the Coventry Stakes last year. He was far from disgraced when making a belated reappearance in the July Cup and built on that run by showing the right attitude to peg back the tough campaigner Borderlescott for a Listed prize at Beverley. He looks best of the others. Indian Trail finally came good following a couple of placed efforts when making the most of a good draw to win a Sandown handicap. He is 8lb higher for the Betfredbingo Be Friendly Handicap and, though he will be 3lb better off with a penalty come the Ayr Gold Cup in a fortnight, he may well demonstrate he is still ahead of the handicapper. Tabaret likes some juice in the ground and, with his rating gradually easing, he will be of more interest when the rain arrives this autumn than for this encounter. Mark Johnston has won two of the last four runnings of the betfredcasino.com Old Borough Cup with three-year-olds and relies this time on Record Breaker from the same age group. He bolted up like an improving type at Pontefract but then dropped away tamely under a penalty at Beverley when down in distance. Like so many from his stable, he could leave that form well behind over this longer trip and many will forgive him for his latest lapse. Lets Roll is weighted to win again. He should run well but a race at Ayr later this month, which he has won for the past two years, may be more his cup of tea. He also prefers a bit of cut. I was disappointed with the effort of Ingleby Princess at Catterick over seven furlongs last time. She was easy to back and never looked like winning. She is no world-beater, but did win three times as a juvenile and is nicely treated if she can recapture last season’s form. Although she scored over seven last year, six furlongs on fast ground appears to be her requirements and she will have them for the Race Again On 18th September Handicap at Thirsk, where Go Tech, who hinted of a return to form at Ripon recently, is back on a winning mark in the skybet.com Hambleton Cup. The Sprint Cup usually confirms who is top of the sprinting class | 
