Take Royal Applause to thwart Danetime's bid for victory in the Group One Haydock Park Sprint Cup today. Bookmakers have taken no chances in installing Stewards Cup winner Danetime, whose owner and trainer, Michael Tabor and Neville Callaghan, are not scared of a punt, as their favourite for the £100,000-added test over six furlongs.

But in doing so they have ignored several significant facts. Not only is Danetime unproven in Pattern company, he hasn't even raced in it.

Narrowly defeated in the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot, he now comes here on a hat-trick after victories at Newmarket and Goodwood in July. The Stewards Cup win was an admirable performance as the bay just held off the challenge of My Best Valentine by a neck.

Royal Applause's credentials are more impressive, however. Barry Hills' colt finished his two-year-old season unbeaten in four starts including the Group Three Coventry Stakes, the Group Two Gimcrack and the Group One Middle Park.

Judged on his racecourse performances this year, the son of Waajib has evidently learned to laugh again. He began the campaign with victory in the Listed Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster on Lincoln day, a race he was fully entitled to win on his old form, and followed up in the Group Three Duke of York International Factors Stakes at York in May.

Another Group Three win came his way in the Cork And Orrery at the Royal Meeting, Royal Applause holding the progressive Blue Goblin by a length and half.

He was accordingly sent off the 11 to 10 market leader for the Group One Darley July Cup but was merely the best supporting actor.