AIDAN O'Brien's Cougar Mountain and Spirit Of Valor feature among a field of 12 declared for the Group 1 32Red Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday.

Both are stepping up in class as the former lost out by just half a length to stablemate Washington DC in a Group 3 at the Curragh last month and the latter disappointed in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood.

Harry Angel heads the opposition as the brilliant three-year-old bids to become the first horse since Dream Ahead in 2011 to win both six-furlong championship races in the same season.

Clive Cox's charge is owned by Godolphin, who are also represented by Blue Point.

Charlie Appleby's charge has not run since finishing one place behind Harry Angel when third to Caravaggio in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot in June.

Opposition include the Kevin Ryan-trained Brando, who followed up his third place behind Harry Angel at Newmarket with victory in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville last month.

James Fanshawe's The Tin Man and the William Haggas-trained Tasleet, the respective first two home in Royal Ascot's Diamond Jubilee Stakes, renew rivalry.

Richard Fahey saddles Growl, Kimberella, Mr Lupton and Queen Kindly, while Charlie Hills' Magical Memory completes the dozen.

BRANDO BOLD SHOW EXPECTED

Owner Peter Tingey believes Brando is better than ever and that he will put up a bold show.

The five-year-old was a fluent winner of the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville on his latest start.

Before winning in France, Brando had finished a staying-on third to Harry Angel in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket and Tingey is excited about the possibility of his pride and joy, who runs in the colours of his partner, Angie Bailey, turning the tables.

“Brando apparently ran the last three furlongs of the July course in the fastest time since records began,” Tingey said. “Tom [Eaves, the jockey] did right thing in following Caravaggio, who was red hot going into the race, but in hindsight if we’d been following something else we might have got closer to Harry Angel.

“It’s not going to be easy and Harry Angel is the one to beat, but I think they will be as worried about Brando as we are are about Harry Angel.”

The proud Yorkshireman owns a fleet of about 240 taxis in Barnsley and has had horses with Ryan for almost 20 years. He and Bailey purchased Brando at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up sales for about £120,000 three years ago and since then he has thrived - winning seven of his past 13 races and accumulating £578,000 in prize money.

FREE €10 MATCHED BET FOR IRISH CHAMPIONS WEEKEND IN THE IRISH FIELD THIS WEEKEND