Confirmed runners and riders for Haydock's Betfair Sprint Cup on Saturday

Minzaal will face the maximum possible 16 rivals in Saturday’s Betfair Sprint Cup (3.30) after Dragon Symbol was the only horse taken out of the Haydock Group 1 at the final declaration stage on Thursday morning.

Roger Varian taking out his four-year-old ensures that Hala Hala Athmani will get a run for Kevin Ryan with Middleham Park Racing's Ventura Diamond balloted out. Middleham Park won this race with G Force in 2014 which was the last time a full contingent of 17 runners lined up in the £350,000 sprint.

Ventura Diamond’s trainer Richard Fahey is instead represented by Umm Kulthum but it is the Owen Burrows-trained Minzaal that heads the betting. The Shadwell colt seeks to go one better than when a fast-finishing second to Highfield Princess in the Prix Maurice de Gheest last time out.

Platinum Jubilee winner Naval Crown was behind Minzaal at Deauville earlier this month but is the only horse to have won a Group 1 in 2022 in the line-up. William Buick rides the Godolphin colt for the first time since January and aims to supply the owner-breeders with another win in the 6f contest after Harry Angel was successful in 2017 for Clive Cox, who runs Harry Three this year.

Naval Crown: Platinum Jubilee winner tackles Saturday's Sprint CupCredit: Alex Livesey (Getty Images)

Last year’s winner Emaraaty Ana bids to defend his crown and become the first back-to-back and multiple winner since Be Friendly, who backed up his win in the inaugural running in 1966 the following year.

Art Power has twice been beaten in this and hopes to make it third time lucky for King Power Racing, who also run Chil Chil. Rohaan is 0-5 in Group 1 company while course-winner Kinross also has something to prove despite taking the City Of York Stakes last time out, as Ralph Beckett’s five-year-old is the only runner without a win over 6f among the 17 runners.

Brad The Brief and Go Bears Go seek to follow up their Group victories at the Curragh with Castle Star the only Irish-trained representative for Fozzy Stack. Brad The Brief is one of three in the sprint for Hugo Palmer with recent German Group winner Dubawi Legend turned out again quickly along with Flaming Rib.

King George Stakes winner Khaadem and Ed Walker’s Great Ambassador complete the field.

Betfair Spokesman, Barry Orr said: "It’s another top quality renewal and, in keeping with all the Group 1 sprints in the UK this season, with 17 runners, it’s been very well supported by owners and trainers, which is great to see.

"Minzaal and Naval Crown have been vying for favouritism but punters preference is just for Minzaal at the top of the market now and he is 3-1 from 9-2.

"At bigger prices, Rohaan and Art Power have both been attracting support. They are now 8-1 from 9-1 and 8-1 from 12-1 respectively."

Sprint Cup runners and riders

Art Power David Allan
Brad The Brief Cieren Fallon
Emaraaty Ana Andrea Atzeni
Great Ambassador Pat Cosgrave
Khaadem Kieran Shoemark
Kinross Frankie Dettori
Minzaal Jim Crowley
Naval Crown William Buick
Rohaan Hollie Doyle
Castle Star R. P. Whelan
Dubawi Legend Ross Coakley
Flaming Rib Ben Curtis
Go Bears Go Sean Levey
Harry Three Adam Kirby
Chil Chil Hayley Turner
Umm Kulthum Barry McHugh
Hala Hala Athmani Paul Mulrennan

Power poised to extend unbeaten record

As well as Naval Crown in the big one, Buick and Charlie Appleby will be hoping that Naval Power can stretch his unbeaten run to four in the Listed Betfair Ascendant Stakes (1.15). Reach For The Moon makes his first appearance since his having to settle for second at the royal meeting for John and Thady Gosden in the Group 3 Superior Mile Stakes (1.45) with the hat-trick seeking Triple Time among the seven rivals.

Away from Haydock, the Gosdens saddle Mostahdaf in the September Stakes (2.05) at Kempton where William Haggas has a strong hand with Dubai Honour. Glorious Goodwood winner Rumstar steps into Group company for the first time in the Sirenia Stakes (3.15), the other Group 3 at Kempton.

Betfair: 3 Minzaal, 4 Naval Crown, 6 Emaraaty Ana, 7 Kinross, 8 Rohaan, Art Power, 14 Brad The Brief, Go Bears Go, 20 bar

Read more on the Betfair Sprint Cup:

Confident David Evans believes Rohaan should have 'every chance in Sprint Cup'

Who wins the 2022 Sprint Cup? Assessing the key contenders for Haydock

'He's very well priced at 12-1' - Loughnane sweet on Amo's Sprint Cup hope

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