Hello Youmzain impressed when scoring last time out, so with ground conditions once again in his favour looks decent value at 11/2 with Coral to follow-up in the 6f Group 1 Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot on Saturday (13:35).
That victory came in the Sprint Cup at Haydock on bottomless ground where the Kevin Ryan trained three-year-old beat The The Tin Man by half-a-length.
The son of Kodiac made all and was value for more than the winning margin as he edged left and idled inside the final furlong.
It was a deserved breakthrough success at the highest level for Hello Youmzain, as he had previously looked an unlucky loser in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot when a 1 3/4 lengths third of nine to Advertise.
He lost vital ground when dwelling badly as the stalls opened, before making good headway two from home and finishing powerfully to be gaining hand over fist at the finish.
Given how the race panned out, it was a terrific effort and he is fancied to turn the tables around with the re-opposing winner.
Prior to that, Hello Youmzain had been very impressive at Haydock when forging clear and beating Calyx by 3 1/4 lengths in the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes. He has now won four of his seven starts.
Hello Youmzain is clearly a young sprinter on an upward curve and going places and also revels in the mud, so there is simply nothing not to like about his profile for this.
Ground concerns for favourite Advertise
The betting is narrowly headed by the aforementioned Advertise, a 5/1 chance with Betfred, despite the fact that he is unproven on soft ground.
This Martyn Meade trained three-year-old has won five of his nine starts and a terrific 71 per cent strike rate over the 6f trip of this
After landing the Commonwealth Cup, the son of Showcasing found only Ten Sovereigns too good in the 12-runner Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket.
Although no match for the easy 2 3/4 lengths winner, Advertise stuck to the task well in a race run in a very fast time.
He has since resumed winning ways in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville where he gamely beat Brando by a neck.
Frankie Dettori, who gave him a peach of a ride that day, is once again in the saddle. On the pick of his form, there’s no doubt that Advertise is a major player in this.
However, all his best form has come on quick ground and he was pulled out of the Sprint Cup when a bug hit Meade’s yard in September.
So, with the going currently heavy and more rain forecast, Advertise cannot be backed with any confidence as we don’t know how he will handle conditions and thus looks worth opposing at the odds on offer.
One Master a fascinating Champions Sprint Stakes contender
In a wide-open renewal where a case can be made for most of the 17 runners, One Master is another with leading claims and looks sure to go well.
Trained by William Haggas, this five-year-old mare comes into the race on the top of her game having retained her crown in the 7f Group 1 Prix de la Foret at Longchamp when accounting for the in-form City Lights by a cosy half-a-length.
Prior to that, One Master had posted an eye-catching effort over an extended 6f at Deauville when keeping on nicely to finish a never nearer 1 3/4 lengths fifth of 15 to Advertise in the aforementioned Maurice de Gheest.
She now meets the winner on 3lb better terms, so that may well be enough to see her turn the tables on that rival.
One Master also has proven winning form on soft ground and the drop back to 6f is unlikely to inconvenience her as she is a string travelling sort with a useful turn of foot.
Top French rider Pierre-Charles Boudot, who partnered her last time out and is now two from four on her, is also once again in the saddle and this race should be run to suit.
So, at 13/2 with Paddy Power, who pay four places, One Master looks a solid each-way contender for the Champions Sprint Stakes.
Dream Of Dreams appeals each-way
Another that appeals from an each-way punting perspective is Dream Of Dreams, who can be backed at a tempting 14/1 with Ladbrokes.
Although behind Hello Youmzain last time out when a five-length eighth in the Haydock Sprint Cup, this Sir Michael Stoute trained five-year-old wasn’t totally disgraced and stayed on to be nearest at the finish.
It’s also worth noting that he posted a career-best effort three starts back over this course and distance.
Dream Of Dreams was beaten just a head by the top class and now retired Blue Point in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
He finished off powerfully and just failed to overhaul the Godolphin owned star sprinter.
Prior to Ascot, the son of Dream Ahead had landed a conditions contest on the all-weather at Chelmsford, before following-up in Listed company at Windsor.
As Dream Of Dreams also has proven form with cut in the ground, and judged on his Royal Ascot run, he commands the utmost respect in this.
