Sprint Cup ranks just shy of expectations, but form has shaky feel after low draw dominates

The search for a sprinting superstar goes on after Montassib sprang a surprise in the Betfair Sprint Cup, the six-year-old returning a career-best Racing Post Rating of 119 on his first start at Group 1 level.

It's hard to knock the gelding's record since dropped back to six furlongs last autumn, having won four of his five subsequent starts at the trip since an encouraging fifth in the Ayr Gold Cup in September. That effort, on similar ground to Saturday, came off an official mark of 101 and he's clearly progressed plenty since.

But, with the finish dominated by low drawn horses – and the front four in the market well below their bests from double-figure draws – the form has a bit to prove. The first four home were drawn two-five-six-four in a 16-runner field, with fourth-placed mudlover Vadream rated as running her best race since scoring twice on soft and heavy ground early last season.