Comanche Brave has been installed third favourite at 9/2 for next Saturday's Group 1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock.

Winner of the July Cup at Newmarket last time out, Donnacha O'Brien's five-year-old has a preference for good ground but there is heavy rain forecast for the area on Friday. The Group 1 Flying Five at the Curragh a week later is a likely alternative for Comanche Brave if conditions at Haydock are deemed to be unsuitable.

Almeraq is set to lead William Haggas’ charge in the Haydock race after the Royal Ascot hero was one of 13 confirmed for Saturday’s race.

Although stable companion Lake Forest was not among the acceptors, Haggas has left in Prix Maurice de Gheest runner-up Division who could join his stablemate in Merseyside if the weather forecasters get their predictions wrong.

Haggas, who won the Group 1 event with Montassib in 2024, said: “It looks like being soft so Almeraq is a definite runner. We’ll leave Division in as well, but he’s a top of the ground horse.

“If the forecast is wrong then Division will run as well, but if the forecast is right then he will probably go to York for the Listed race (Garrowby Stakes) the following day.”

Michael Appleby’s Big Mojo sets the standard aiming for back-to-back victories following his win in the six-furlong sprint 12 months ago and he arrives in good form having landed the Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Curragh.

The four-year-old could have his work cut out to retain his title, however, with a battalion of up and coming sprinters out to steal his crown.

Coppull (Clive Cox) is one them, having followed up his slightly unlucky fourth in the July Cup with a win in the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury over seven furlongs.

Wathnan Racing have enjoyed a stellar summer not least of which in sprints and their Division could be joined by two in the same silks in Paborus and Kind Of Blue.

Paborus (Ed Bethell) was an impressive winner of the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes on the all-weather at Newcastle in June but was down the field in eighth when stepped up to seven furlongs in the City of York Stakes on the Knavesmire.

James Fanshawe’s Kind Of Blue finished strongly in second behind Big Mojo last year and looks to have been laid out for a return to Haydock all season with a second to Elmonjed in the Group 3 Minster Stakes in May one of just two runs this campaign.

The four-year-old Andrew Balding-trained Marvelman looks likely to appreciate the expected soft ground and arrives in top form having chased home Notable Speech over seven furlongs at York.

Mitbaahy (Charles Hills), James’s Delight (Cox), Aramram (Richard Hannon) and American Affair (Jim Goldie) make up the field.

HAYDOCK, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5th

£400,000 Betfair Sprint Cup (Group 1) 6f

Current Going: Soft, Good to Soft in places

Almeraq 4 9 5 Shadwell Estate Company Ltd William Haggas Tom Marquand

American Affair 6 9 5 Barraston Racing & Mr J S Goldie Jim Goldie Paul Mulrennan

Aramram (IRE) 5 9 5 Mr Ziad A. Galadari Richard Hannon

Big Mojo (IRE) 4 9 5 RP Racing Ltd Michael Appleby William Buick

Comanche Brave (IRE) 4 9 5 Mr Muhaideb A. Al Muhaideb Donnacha Aidan O'Brien Ireland

Double Rush (IRE) 4 9 5 Ace Stud Andrew Balding

James's Delight (IRE) 5 9 5 Paul & Clare Rooney Clive Cox

Kind of Blue 5 9 5 Wathnan Racing James Fanshawe

Marvelman (IRE) 4 9 5 Bond Thoroughbred Limited Andrew Balding

Mitbaahy (IRE) 7 9 5 Mrs Fitri Hay Charles Hills

Paborus 5 9 5 Wathnan Racing Edward Bethell

Coppull 3 9 3 Mr David W. Armstrong Clive Cox Hector Crouch

Division 3 9 3 Wathnan Racing William Haggas

13 five-day confirmations. 1 Irish-trained

Latest betting: 100/30 Almeraq, 4 Coppull, 9/2 Comanche Brave, 6 Kind Of Blue, 8 Big Mojo, Division, 12 Marvelman, 14 Paborus, 16 American Affair, 20 Double Rush, 40 Mitbaahy, 50 Aramram, James’s Delight.