Double Rush likely to be given chance to bounce back at Haydock
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Mon 17 Aug 2026
Andrew Balding’s Double Rush remains on course to potentially sign off his profitable campaign in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock.
The Blue Point colt dominated a couple of sprint handicaps at Newmarket in the spring and completed his hat-trick in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot.
He disappointed when stepped up to Group One company for last month’s July Cup, but connections are hopeful he can prove his worth at the highest level on Merseyside following a well earned break.
Paul Curran, racing manager for owners Ace Stud, said: “We just backed off him a small bit after the July Cup. He’d a fairly strenuous summer of racing and I think it culminated in a little bit of a below-par run in the July Cup, albeit it was a strongly-run race as any Group One is.
“He’s enjoyed a bit of time off but he’s back in work and doing well and we’ll probably give him one more run before the end of the season, and that will probably be in the Sprint Cup at Haydock.”
The Karl Burke-trained Evolutionist has plied her trade in Group Ones almost all season for the same owners, finishing second in the 1000 Guineas and putting a below-par effort in the French Oaks behind her with solid efforts in the Falmouth Stakes and the Prix Rothschild.
Curran hopes she might bag a top-level prize when the ground eases in the autumn.
“We’ve probably been running her on not her ideal ground – she probably likes a bit of ease in it – but we probably had no other choice really,” he continued.
“It’s a tough division and she’s been running really well. She was obviously second in the Guineas and bounced back in the Falmouth with a good run.
“Again we’ll probably give her one more run. She has a couple of entries later in the year – we could go to Leopardstown (Matron Stakes) or stick at Newmarket (Sun Chariot) with her. We’ll weigh up our options and decide which way we’ll go nearer the time.”
Another horse for whom Curran has high hopes is Imperial Strike, who has won each of his two starts to date at Deauville for Andre and Lavinia Fabre.
Curran added: “He’s a good one and has obviously done nothing wrong so far. I was down to see him in Chantilly on Sunday and he’s done well physically and looks a very exciting colt.
“Andre sees him more of a three-year-old type – he’s more Smart Strike (dam’s sire) than he is Lucky Vega (sire). He’s a big, rangy type and we’ll probably give him one more run and put him away until next year.
“We’ve got a couple of entries, one of which is the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, so that could be an option. He is in a Listed race at Deauville on Saturday, but it’s doubtful he’ll go there as there’s rain forecast and the ground could end up soft.”
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