Sweet Cup win for Candy

Markab became only the second seven-year-old to win the Betfred Sprint Cup in the long history of the Haydock feature.

Emulating the 1977 hero Boldboy, Henry Candy's 12/1 chance lifted the Group One prize in record time in the hands of Pat Cosgrave from Lady Of the Desert and Genki.

The field split into two over the six furlong trip with Markab leading the stands' side group and favourite Starspangledbanner the far side.

And despite hanging towards the centre of the track in the closing stages the veteran remained a length and a quarter clear of Lady Of The Desert (9-1) at the line, with Genki (20-1) a length away third.

"He's a magnificent horse, he's a very happy horse now and very relaxed," said Candy. "He's very content and seems to get bigger and stronger.

"If he's OK we will go for the Abbaye now and if we feel he is a bit jointy after this race I think he will have earned a rest.

"He's a seven-year-old and has got a lot of miles on the clock. He's a very happy horse nowadays. We just turn him out every day and he seems to enjoy that.

"I didn't know whether they would split into two groups but where we were drawn we thought we would jump out and make use of the rail and that is what he did.

"He started running in 80-rated handicaps over seven furlongs at Lingfield and it is incredible how he has progressed since."

Martin Dwyer said of his mount Lady Of The Desert: "She has run a great race, I thought I was going to get the winner at one stage.

"She has proved to me she is a six-furlong filly and she has beat a lot of good older horses - I don't know what Brian (Meehan) will do with her now."