Kinane booked for Somnus

Mick Kinane will be the new partner of Somnus in this Saturday’s Stanleybet Sprint Cup at Haydock Park.

The Tim Easterby-trained gelding lowered the colours of Oasis Dream when landing the Group One contest last year under Ted Durcan, who is unavailable this time.

Somnus is the 5-1 second favourite with the sponsors for the six-furlong race after his victory in this month’s Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville.

Gary Stevens was the rider on that occasion, but he has subsequently finished riding in Europe, leaving Kinane to become the four-year-old’s seventh jockey.

“Ted was committed to ride for Mick Channon early on, so he wasn’t going to be available for Somnus,” Easterby told the Racing Post.

“Gary Stevens would have ridden the horse – that was the idea – but it’s not to be, and so we’ve booked Mick Kinane.”

Haydock Sprint Cup betting:

Stanleybet: 3-1 One Cool Cat, 5-1 Somnus, 6-1 Frizzante, 7-1 Whipper, 10-1 Patavellian, Ashdown Express, 12-1 Tante Rose, 14-1 Fayr Jag, Balmont, Avonbridge. 16-1 Bar.