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FROM the first back-to-back winner of the race in the 1960s, Be Friendly, through the likes of Moorestyle (1980), Habibti (‘83), Ajdal (‘87), Dayjur (‘90), and then? Well since Dick Hern’s superstar won I can’t really give you an out and out superstar of the sprinting world to have landed this famous six-furlong contest.

And so onto this afternoon’s renewal with 16 runners set to go to post with seven of the entries from the classic generation.

The likely favourite is set to be Inisherin, winner of the Sandy Lane Stakes and Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and then a beaten market leader in the July Cup at Newmarket. After travelling strongly that day, he seemed to be badly outpaced about two-and-a-quarter furlongs out and then rallied inside the last 100 yards to be beaten two-and-three-quarter lengths in fifth spot.

The son Shamardal is obviously better than that run suggests and it is worth remembering that this will be only his seventh career start so he must be of interest. However, to my eyes he is no sprinting superstar and even if he starts at around 4/1 he is no value bet in my eyes.

There are dangers all around and even with the fair weather on Merseyside, there will be at least a wee bit of give in the ground which brings plenty of his rivals into play at around 3.35.

Montassib is interesting having been very lightly raced this season as he bypassed the faster ground during the middle of the season. Any give in the turf is a massive plus for him and this of course will be his biggest test since being reinvented from a miler to a top class sprinter. Any further rain would aid his cause as it would a number of these. Of the three-year-old battalion, Bucanero Fuerte is interesting, but I would rather back him for the Champions Sprint at Ascot with the possibility of softer ground, while Elite Status has a fair bit more on his plate since landing the Hackwood Stakes at Newbury last time out.

So to my eyes, the forgotten sprinters in this Group One affair have to be Art Power and FLORA OF BERMUDA (nap). The first named has run fairly well on two occasions here, but has been well below form this season over both six and seven furlongs, but is the type to bounce back without notice. The selection has only recently been stepped up to a sixth furlong and I think connections have finally found the right way to ride her, from off the pace.

Winner of the Group Three Summer Stakes at York from off the pace, the daughter of Dark Angel was a huge eye catcher for me on her last run in the Group One Prix Maurice de Gheest over six and a half furlongs when she made late headway to finish a never nearer four length, fourth of 15. Based on that run, I think that she is still progressing and another 3 to 4lbs improvement could see her right in the mix at around 40/1 and that will do for me.

MASTER BUILDER (1.50) looked more than a shade unlucky in the Melrose Handicap at York on only his fourth start and first over a staying trip. As long as this run doesn’t come a shade too soon just 14 days on then I fancy that he may be able to see off the likes of Across Earth and lightly raced Contacto.

Later on, the Old Borough Cup Handicap (2.25) is the big betting race of the day and 15 runners are set to go to post for this extended 14 furlong handicap. Fifth in the German Derby, If Not Now has his first start over this trip on only his eighth career start and if he gets home, a mark of 99 could be very interesting. But in the end I have sided with Ebor Handicap fourth EPIC POET.

Again as with Master Builder there is the proviso that this race doesn’t come too soon. That day at York he was ridden to get the trip and after being hampered six furlongs out was always on the back foot before staying on stoutly all the way down the home stretch. Set to race off the same rating here (100) he looks a major player as long as he doesn’t get too far behind on this tighter course.

There is also a cracking meeting at Ascot and STREETS OF GOLD in the opening seven furlong handicap at 1.35 looks way too big at around 25/1. He was two-and-a-quarter lengths behind Wizard of Eye in the Victoria Cup over this course and distance in May and now finds himself some 7lbs better off having run at cracker at Chepstow (ground went against him) before probably finding a race at Newbury some nine days later coming too soon. He gets the nod over the likes of the Britannia Stakes fourth Mission to Moon and top weight Grey’s Monument.

Imperial Sovereign is interesting in the mile and a half handicap at 2.10, having run in the Lingfield Derby Trial and Queen’s Vase on his previous two runs since he was gelded.

But the percentage call has to be PONIROS. Ralph Beckett’s charge ran a cracker when second in the London Gold Cup behind King’s Gambit, but on both of his last two runs he has run way too freely to do himself justice here at Ascot and then at the Newmarket July meeting. It was interesting that in that Newbury contest he was held up in rear after settling nicely and that may be the tactics that connections will use here. Running on a sound surface for the first time in his very light career, The Reverend strikes me as the biggest improver in the field and may well be worth a saver.

Away from the big meetings I shall be having a nice bet on CRUYFF TURN (5.35) as long as the North Yorkshire track doesn’t experience too much rain, light showers predicted from around 3.00. Top of the ground is very important to this talented handicapper seven-year-old and a mark of 81 is very playable.

The second division of this seven furlong event at 6.10 may go to RACINGBREAKS RYDER. In contrast to our selection in the first division, the Charlie Hills runner needs a wee bit of give and has to settle which he didn’t when a failed wholesale gamble in the Thirsk Hunt Cup here back in early May.