Haydock preview: Sprint Cup (15.45)
Published:Twilight Son can take the step up into Group 1 company in his stride to land a wide-open renewal of the Sprint Cup at Haydock (15.45).
The Henry Candy trained colt looked a smart sprinter in the making when easily winning both starts as a juvenile, and confirmed that impression when bolting up on seasonal reappearance at Newmarket.
Twilight Son travelled strongly in midfield, and after making good headway a furlong from home quickened clear under a hands and heels ride to score by two lengths.
The three-year-old scored with tons more in hand than the winning margin suggests, and made light of an 1llb rise in the weights when impressively landing a highly competitive handicap at York when last seen in action.
After showing plenty of pace on the heels of the leaders, Twilight Son showed an instant turn of foot to put the race to bed inside the final furlong and score by 1 1/2 lengths.
Magical Memory, who has won twice since, finished a further 3/4 of a length back in third and Twilight Son now meets that rival on 1lb better terms.
The manner of the victory suggested Twilight Son had a huge engine, and after just four starts the son of Kyllachy remains open to any amount of improvement.
This does represent a huge step up in class, but Twilight Son is a very exciting prospect and looks up to the task.
Adaay also has a progressive profile and looks sure to go well for in-form trainer William Haggas.
The colt landed the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes over course and distance at the end of May and comes on the back of a smart performance to land the 7f Hungerford Stakes at Newbury.
Adday will not be inconvenienced by the drop back in trip, and has smart turn of foot which entitles him to plenty of respect.
Another well worthy of consideration is Irish raider Gordon Lord Byron.
The Tom Hogan trained seven-year-old has won and finished runner-up twice in the last three runnings of this contest, and has shown enough this season to suggest he is as good as ever.
Gordon Lord Byron is also versatile as regards ground, and with Wayne Lordan in the saddle is going to be hard to keep out of the frame.
Coral’s top tip: Twilight Son is a very exciting young sprinter who looks value to maintain his unbeaten record in a wide-open renewal of the Sprint Cup