Dream Ahead into 7/2 for Betfair Sprint Cup
- By A.J. Ryder on August 31, 2011 16:34 GMT
Bad news from a scope has seen the likely withdrawal of Deacon Blues from the upcoming Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock this weekend. David Simcock's Dream Ahead, one of the better three-year-old sprinters to emerge this season, has seen his price shortened into 4s and then 7/2 with virtually all major UK bookmakers following the removal of the Steely Dan-monikered son of Compton Place.
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Deacon Blues removal will certainly come as a disappointment for connections as he had been looking for his fourth victory on the bounce. He started the season to finish second in a handicap contest – beaten by a mere 1/4 length. He then jumped onto the Heritage Handicap circuit at Royal Ascot and then made a real statement by nabbing back-to-back Grade 3 contest at Newbury and the Curragh, respectively.
A steady stream of jockey switches has complicated things for the four-year-old gelding and conditioner James Fanshawe was left unimpressed and not confident of his chances.
Speaking to the Racing Post this morning, Fanshawe declared “I worked him this morning on the Limekilns and he worked a bit flat, so we took him home and scoped him and found some mucus. He's very unlikely to run on Saturday, it's very disappointing but we need to get this cleared up.”
A price drop has been seen on the relatively respected Hoof It who is expected to get Graham Gibbons in the irons for this one. He was a well-beaten sixth in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York but has put together some impressive runs in a variety of handicap contests this year. The withdrawal of Deacon Blues certainly opens things up for him here.
Gibbons has not ridden Hoof It during his four-year-old campaign but the pair combined for three scores last year.
Wootton Bassett is set to make an appearance in this one and the outstanding two-year-old campaign he posted last year has given way to a very unimpressive three-year-old campaign as he has finished off the board in every contest this year. Bookmakers have him floated at around 14/1. Delegator will have a run at this one and he's well-backed at an 8/1 listing.
Society Rock and Bated Breath both trade around 6/1.
