Limato new favourite after being put forward for Haydock

A buoyant, bouncing Limato has convinced connections to bring him off the sidelines to contest the Group 1 32Red Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday, with bookmakers taking the hint and shooting him straight into favouritism at a general 2-1 (from 11-2).

It will be the tenth time in 13 starts – and sixth in a row – Limato has started favourite if he holds his position, but layers had expected his Henry Candy-trained stablemate Twilight Son to head the market, only for last year’s winner not to appear in the final 17-strong field after connections felt the ground might not be soft enough.

The topsy-turvy tale may yet have another twist, with both Candy and owner Paul Jacobs stating Limato will not run at Haydock if there is any mention of soft in the going description, which may be the case according to clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright.