Nayyir ready for sprint test
The Gerard Butler-trained four-year-old started the season by winning a seven-furlong maiden at Lingfield and he has not looked back since.
His initial step up to Group company came in the Diomed Stakes over a mile and half a furlong at Epsom where he made a successful start.
Since then he has finished a good fourth behind No Excuse Needed in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and won the Theo Fennell Lennox Stakes over seven furlongs at Goodwood.
On his last outing Nayyir finished a close third behind May Ball and Air Thule in the Prix Maurice de Gheest over six furlongs on very soft ground.
Butler’s charge could meet those two horses again at Haydock and the trainer is hoping the faster ground and a stronger pace could see him reverse the form.
‘‘We always used to think he wanted some cut in the ground but he actually possibly goes better on nice, good ground so we are hoping it stays dry,’’ said Butler.
‘‘We took him to France where I knew there was a chance the race would not be run to suit him and they did go a very slow pace.
‘‘He was flying at the finish and I think he should have won but we can’t ride him any different.
“He needs to be held up.
‘‘We will ride in the same way on Saturday and hopefully they should go plenty of pace which will suit him but he’s in very good form,’’ Butler added.
Haydock are anticipating fast ground for their weekend meeting at the moment and clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright reports the ground to be riding good to firm at present.
Tellwright explained: ‘‘The forecast for today and tomorrow is to be dry and bright.
‘‘There’s a 70% chance of some rain on Thursday but if we don’t get it then we will take a view and if we’re not getting rain we put a bit of water on. We will leave it until then though to cut the chances of both watering and having rain.
‘‘At first it looked like we might have a lot of rain but now it looks more optimistic for two nice days on Friday and Saturday,’’ he added.
Another horse who would prefer drier conditions is the Godolphin contender Three Points.
The five-year-old won the Listed Hopeful Stakes at Newmarket last time out but Simon Crisford, racing manager to the owners, revealed today he will ‘‘not necessarily’’ run.
He told attheraces: ‘‘We will wait and see what the ground is like. If the ground is fast he may take his chance but he is in very good form.’’
Golden Jubilee Stakes winner Malhub, from the John Gosden yard, has been installed as 4-1 favourite by Coral for the sprint event, while Ladbrokes have him and the Continent, winner of the Darley July Cup, as 5-1 joint favourites.
Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup betting:
Ladbrokes: 5-1 Continent, Malhub, 6-1 Landseer, 10-1 Air Thule, Invincible Spirit, Nayyir, Sophisticat, Three Points, 12-1 Danehurst, May Ball, Mount Abu, 14-1 Bahamian Pirate, 16-1 Tiger Royal, 25 Bar
