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Magical Memory & Brando up for the Haydock Sprint Cup

Magical Memory comes home to win the bet365 Hackwood Stakes
Image: Magical Memory comes home to win the bet365 Hackwood Stakes

Magical Memory looks set for a third tilt at the 32Red Sprint Cup at Haydock next month where he could face Brando.

The Charlie Hills-trained grey was beaten less than a length into third place in the 2015 renewal of the six-furlong Group One, but was virtually tailed off last season.

The five-year-old was bitterly disappointing in the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot in June, but has bounced back to form since, winning twice before finishing fourth in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville.

Sam Hoskins, racing manager for owners Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds, said: "We have entered him in the Park Stakes at Doncaster over seven furlongs, but I think we'll end up at Haydock. It looks a hot race but we'll have a go.

"We're then thinking of running him in the Ayr Gold Cup. He's rated 110, which will make it hard, but you need to be a Group horse in that race, as we saw last year.

"The last handicap he ran in was the Stewards' Cup, which he won, and Tropics wasn't far behind him off 113.

"He's such a strong traveller that we just think a big field and strong pace suit him better than smaller fields."

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Brando remains on course for the race as well.

Kevin Ryan's charge has progressed from winning the Ayr Gold Cup last season to notching the first Group One victory of his career in the Prix Maurice de Gheest last time out.

"He's come out of the race in great form and he's grand. Haydock is definitely the plan," said Ryan.

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