Harry Angel Faces 11 in Bid to Defend Haydock Crown

Harry Angel will face 11 opponents when he bids to become only the second two-time winner of the 32red Sprint Cup Stakes (G1) Sept. 8 at Haydock.

Last year's European champion sprinter will be taken on by Sir Dancealot and James Garfield—both supplemented for the group 1 prize—along with The Tin Man, who will be ridden for the first time by Oisin Murphy, and Tasleet, who was runner-up in last year's edition.

Jim Crowley, first jockey to Hamdan Al Maktoum, who owns Tasleet, has opted to partner Eqtidaar, winner of the Commonwealth Cup (G1) at Royal Ascot in June. Danny Tudhope has been named to ride Tasleet, and Ryan Moore rides Gustav Klimt, Aidan O'Brien's sole representative.

The field is completed by Brando, Sands of Mali, Speak In Colours, Donjuan Triumphant, and Hey Jonesy.

Brando finished ninth behind Harry Angel last year in the race that is part of the QIPCO British Champions Series, but Peter Tingey, who owns the horse with his partner Angie Bailey, believes he should be shorter in the betting despite finishing unplaced when trying to land a second LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1) in his latest start.

"He’s more or less finished in front of everything in the race at one time or another, and hopefully he will put up another good fight," Tingey said. "He’s been fabulous over the years, and I just wish we could find another one like him.

"We thought he ran a great race at Deauville last time, given his draw. He was first home on his side, but unfortunately he was drawn on the wrong part of the track. That’s the way it goes sometimes.”

The highest-profile absentee at Thursday's 48-hour declaration stage was Limato, who will wait for Sunday's listed Ryedale House Garrowby Stakes at York, trainer Henry Candy confirmed.