THERE is no such thing as a racing certainty, however, defeat for Oasis Dream (2.15) in the £225,000 Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup at Haydock would be to say the very least a major shock.

John Gosden's speedball has been installed as the white-hot 1-3 favourite having already picked up an impressive brace of Group 1 wins this term, namely the July Cup at Newmarket and more recently York's Nunthorpe Stakes.

Fittingly, Oasis Dream has all of the necessary components to be a true champion. Firstly he's equally effective over five or six furlongs - his able trainer even has the USA's Breeder's Cup Mile as the horse's next intended target.

And secondly such is the fabulous rippling, bristling, muscular stature of Oasis Dream, he actually looks like a champion when seen in the flesh.

As I see it, the only conceivable danger to the three-year-old colt's supremacy is the presence of Henry Candy's Airwave in the line-up. Airwave began the season in scintillating style by slaying a top-class field in the Temple Stakes at Sandown.

She then found one too good in the guise of Aussie champ Chiosir at Royal Ascot, prior to finishing third to Oasis Dream in the July Cup.

Airwave is a without a shadow of doubt a very smart filly and if there are any chinks to be found in the armour of the selection she will surely expose them. Odds-on favourite backers beware.

* Kevin Darley believes the field will face an uphill battle to beat Oasis Dream in the Group One Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup at Haydock, writes ANITA CHAMBERS.

Darley partners The Tatling in the six-furlong race at the Merseyside track and although he issued on upbeat report on the Milton Bradley-trained runner, he is not that hopeful of beating John Gosden's three-year-old.

The Tatling finished a two-and-half-length second to Oasis Dream in the Victor Chandler Nunthorpe Stakes at York, and Darley knows the form will be very hard to reverse.

''On his York run you would have to say no (he couldn't beat Oasis Dream). The horse seems far above the rest,'' he said.

''My fellow was travelling and he ran second to him, but with sprints you just don't know. We'll have to keep our fingers crossed, but my horse is in good form.''

Oasis Dream, who also won the Darley July Cup, is 4-11 with William Hill for the race, which also features Henry Candy's filly Airwave.