Others who might go close are Tim Easterby’s Art Power the Ralph Beckett-trained Kinross – although he is better over seven furlongs and Hugo Palmer’s hat-trick-seeking Brad The Brief.

Trainer Owen Burrows will be hoping for a weekend Merseyside double with his beloved Everton FC taking on Liverpool in the derby at Goodison before racing kicks off at Haydock. There are plenty of dangers with likely favourite Minzaal probably the biggest of them on his fine second to subsequent Nunthorpe Stakes heroine Highfield Princess in the Prix Maurice De Gheest at Deauville last time. Providing the predicted overnight rain doesn’t turn the going too soft, Emaraaty Ana will go very close to creating a slice of history with a second success in the Sprint Cup.

Stepped back up to six furlongs and at a track he clearly enjoys, he is sure to go well very well again. But like 12 months ago he warmed up for the trip to Merseyside with a fine run in the Nunthorpe Stakes – last year he was second, this time he was third to Highfield Princess. The gelded son of Sharmardal has not won since –finishing down the field in the Platinum Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Darley July Cup at Newmarket. That is his only success at the top level, but he looks like he has been aimed at a repeat. Kevin Ryan’s six-year-old just prevailed by a short-head last year on good to firm going. That shows how tough it is to land a second success in the prestigious sprint, but Emaraaty Ana may be up to the task.

But last year’s winner, Emaraaty Ana, looks to have a lot in his favour as he bids to become the first horse since Be Friendly – in the the first two runnings of the six-furlong sprint in 19 – to win the contest twice.

The Group One feature of the Flat season on Merseyside looks one of the most competitive for some time with several in with a big chance of victory. EMARAATY ANA can become only the second dual winner of the Betfair Sprint Cup Stakes (British Champions Series) (3.30pm) at Haydock Park on Saturday afternoon.

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