Darley praises new sprint king

Kevin Darley hailed Reverence today after what he described as a “tremendous feat” in securing a Group One double at Haydock.

The five-year-old powered through very testing conditions to lift the Betfred Sprint Cup at the Merseyside venue, just nine days after taking the Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

Darley was quick to point out trainer Eric Alston’s achievement in producing the gelding ready to run, but believes the victory further underlines Reverence’s preference for soft ground.

“His run at York was a big step up but to win back-to-back Group Ones is a tremendous feat,” he told At The Races.

“It was a great training performance and the horse has certainly got true class.

“The thing is on soft ground he can find a gear as he proved at York and at Haydock yesterday.

“He feels so much easier with a bit of ease in the ground – you can feel it just cantering down with him.

“If the ground is on the quick side he’s just not happy, he likes to get his toe in. He’s got that ability to quicken on easy ground.”

Reverence is likely to try to make it a hat-trick at the highest level in next month’s Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp.