Alston ready for Haydock
Reverence is on target in his bid to become the first horse to regain the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday week.
Be Friendly, owned by Peter O’Sullevan, is the only dual winner so far having taken the first two runnings of the six-furlong feature in 1966 and 1967.
Eric Alston’s stable star lifted the Group One prize in 2006 but missed last year’s renewal through injury.
However, the seven-year-old is reported to be in “super order” as he prepares to win back his crown, for which he is a 25-1 shot with the sponsors.
“He’s in super order. He wasn’t right at all last year, but he seems really back to himself so we’re hopeful of a good run,” said Alston.
“He’ll probably have a good gallop next week and then I’d have thought there’d be plenty of juice in the ground.
“I’m hoping Dave Allan will ride as long as Tim Easterby has got nothing in it.”
Alston believes Reverence still retains plenty of ability and was heartened by his last run at Chester when he finished a close third to Green Manalishi.
“It was a really good run at Chester last time. I think it was his best of the season so far,” the Preston trainer went on.
Reverence was denied the chance of a second win in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes as he was withdrawn when the race was switched from York’s abandoned fixture to Newmarket on Friday because the ground was too fast.
“It was good to firm there so he didn’t go, but it was great to see Borderlescott win,” Alston added.
