Man Of The Hour

Unlike his fictional namesake, The Tin Man (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) thrives in the rain and connections of last year's G1 British Champions Sprint S. hero are buoyed by its arrival in York ahead of Wednesday's G2 Duke of York Clipper Logistics S. Despite having to shoulder a five-pound penalty for his exploits on Ascot's feature card in October, the prospects of the Fred Archer Racing syndicate's bay, who was also runner-up in the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup, grow with every extra drop on an already rain-afflicted Knavesmire track. “The Tin Man has wintered well. He seems in good form and looks very well,” trainer James Fanshawe commented. “This has been the plan and it is the ideal starting point for him. He likes Ascot, so ideally the Diamond Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot will be on his agenda as well as the other top sprints later in the year.”

Another who will not be inconvenienced by any easing of the going is Angie Bailey's Brando (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who beat Growl (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) by 1 1/4 lengths giving that rival nine pounds in the Ayr Gold Cup over this trip in September before finishing behind The Tin Man and that rival when third in the Champions Sprint. He has an edge over that pair here after he won the G3 Abernant S. on his return at Newmarket on Apr. 20, and trainer Kevin Ryan has him at a peak. “He kept progressing, but we always felt he was a horse that was going to do that,” he commented. “That's why we looked after him. He didn't have much racing up until last year. He had a good winter, strengthened again and it was a great comeback run at Newmarket. We were worried it might be a bit too quick for him. After York it will be Royal Ascot. He's in both the sprints down there, but we will cross that bridge when we come to it.”

Last year's winner Magical Memory (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}) will not want any more rain as he bids for the repeat, with his effort when last of 14 on a soft surface in the Haydock Sprint Cup proof that he is ground-dependant. “He's in great shape and has been working very well at home,” Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds' racing manager Sam Hoskins said. “He'll come on for it, but we are worried about all the rain that's about. The ground got him beaten well and truly at Haydock and if it got very soft it would be a major concern, but he's very well and it would be great to run him because the main objective is the Diamond Jubilee. If we could be in the top four tomorrow we'd be delighted. We want to run him, he's in great form and showing all the old sparkle.”