Ground conditions will be crucial in deciding whether Spycatcher competes in Saturday’s Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock.
The gelding, owned by Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, is one of three potential runners for trainer Karl Burke in the Group One race, alongside Swingalong, who finished second in both the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes and the July Cup, and the promising three-year-old Elite Status.
Spycatcher secured his first win of the season with a Group Three victory at Deauville last month. However, Highclere’s managing director, Harry Herbert, notes that he requires soft ground to perform at his best.
"He’s in excellent form and thrives on soft ground," Herbert said. "The conditions look promising right now, and although he’s been lightly raced this season due to the ground, we’re inclined to run him. He can only race on good to soft or softer ground. I spoke with Karl this morning, and with the forecast rain, it’s looking favourable. We’ll leave the final decision to Karl, but it seems quite likely he’ll run."