'Exceptional' Doyle set for Champions Sprint tilt on Haydock second Glen Shiel

Hollie Doyle will get another crack at Group 1 glory on improving sprinter Glen Shiel on Champions Day next month.

She came in for plaudits for her efforts on the progressive six-year-old when second in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock on her first top-level ride in Britain, a week on from her historic five-timer at Windsor. And the partnership will be reunited at Ascot next month when they bid to turn the tables on Dream Of Dreams in the Champions Sprint.

"Hollie is an exceptional rider," said Simon Turner of Glen Shiel's owners Hambleton Racing. "If you look at everyone riding at the moment, she is firmly worth her place at the top of the tree.

"She's a fantastic rider and she's got a brilliant temperament in these bigger races. Typically she handled it superbly on Saturday and gave Glen Shiel an excellent ride. It's what you expect from Hollie, she's just an established top rider."

Doyle herself is looking forward to Ascot, and said: "Glen Shiel ran his heart out in the Sprint Cup and thrived on the slow ground. It's great that Hambleton have found a horse like this to take them to the big meetings.

"After his performance yesterday I'm looking forward to Champions Day even more now."

The Champions Sprint will be the next race for Glen Shiel, who had won a Group 3 at the Curragh last month and looked to run a career-best when chasing home Dream Of Dreams on Saturday.

Glen Shiel (left) puts up a career best under Hollie Doyle in the Sprint Cup on Saturday. Connections will hope to turn form around with Dream Of Dreams on Champions Day next monthCredit: Grossick Racing

"The race picks itself really," Turner said. "He's clearly likely to get similar ground, the worse the ground the better for him.

"I know a lot of his owners backed him at 25-1 yesterday and I'm sure they'll be tempted by the 14-1 on offer for Ascot as there was no fluke about the performance at all, he's got a progressive profile and he goes well at Ascot.

"We were thrilled with his performance and he's clearly improved again. Hollie felt that he moved like a much better horse on deep ground last autumn and he hadn't had the chance to race on it this season so we were hopeful and it was fantastic to see him bring his form to that level."

Trainer Archie Watson added: "I couldn't be more proud of Glen Shiel. He was a very shrewd buy at £45,000 and took another step forward at Haydock, showing he can compete against the best in Group 1 races."

Watch Glen Shiel's fabulous run in Saturday's Sprint Cup

Read more on this subject:

Dream Of Dreams lands first Group 1 as Doyle is denied famous success

Already a year to remember for Hollie Doyle with triple figures again in sight

'It feels pretty good' – Hollie Doyle makes history with 899-1 five-timer

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