Flash Gordon goes for the double Gordon Lord Byron bids to become only the second horse since Be Friendly, who won the first two runnings of the Betfred Sprint Cup in 1966 and 1967, to claim the Haydock Group One sprint twice. Trainer Tom Hogan reports the globetrotting six-year-old to be 100% again after being under-par in the summer. "He suffered a bit of a back injury at Royal Ascot which he had to be medicated for and he also had some issues with his feet but they are all sorted now," Hogan said. "He is ready for a winter campaign in some far-flung places and Saturday is his first task. He has loads of international invites but we will take a decision about where he goes after Saturday - he should just be reaching his peak now at the age of six. "In terms of the ground, the only thing he can't manage is heavy. He floats on fast ground and he ran one of the best races of his life on firm when he was second in this race two years ago in an extremely fast time, despite being drawn on the wrong side where there was no pace. "He has also twice run well in Hong Kong on very fast ground, which he loved, so firm ground is not an issue. "They tell me that the only horse to win this race twice was Be Friendly many years ago and I remember him racing for Sir Peter O'Sullevan. Last year I was told that he was the first Irish winner for 40 years so he is used to making history and hopefully we can make a bit more on Saturday. "It has been a wonderful experience to have a horse capable of taking me to so many different places and performing at the highest level. He is pretty unique as he is effective over six furlongs, seven furlongs and a mile. "It has been the stuff of dreams and hopefully there are plenty more chapters to be written. We will certainly be a while looking for another one like him when he's gone." Wayne Lordan gets the leg up after Joseph O'Brien, who had been expected to be aboard, decided to stick to Cougar Mountain, trained by his father, Aidan. Cougar Mountain is the least experienced horse in the line-up with just three runs to his name, but two have come in Group One sprints "He came out of (the Nunthorpe) at York quite well. He ran very well there and he ran a blinder in the July Cup before that," O'Brien jnr told At The Races. "He worked very nicely the other morning. He's going to take his chance and hopefully he will run a good race. There's no doubt he has a chance. It's great that I had the opportunity to ride Gordon Lord Byron and I'd love to ride either of them, but Cougar Mountain ran a blinder in York. "He was only beaten two lengths in one of the fastest and biggest sprints in the world on his third ever start. He's stepping up an extra furlong on quick ground in Haydock. The track, the trip and the ground all should suit."
