The Newbury Super Sprint is always a race to savour and a race I like to target due to its unique makeup. Horses such as VINTAGE CLARETS get to line up off less weight than horses rated 30lbs inferior to them which makes them a certainty, surely? In a normal year you would have to think he would have the race at his mercy but this year he has Chipotle to contend with and the pair of them are obviously above average two year olds. I was really impressed with the selection at Royal Ascot however as he kept finding more and his liking for the big field will obviously stand him in good stead here. Finding a passage through will probably be his biggest problem but I’m backing Paul Hanagan to weave a way through.
One at a price in the same race that I would be interested in is RUSSELINTHEBUSHES who has recently moved stable. She has probably been called all the names under the sun in recent weeks as she has managed to get beat in contests that she really should be winning. She lines up here off a nice low weight and has plenty of experience on her side so I’m hoping the big field can flick a switch in her mind and spark her up enough to run a big race at a mighty price.
DARK JEDI made me look very silly last time out as I was pretty bullish about his chance at Haydock but he faded tamely late on. He may have bounced after a quick turnaround from his reappearance run the week before but I’m sure he has the ability to win off his current mark. He has to give weight to a few of these today but he carries the weight for a reason and already boasts a course win here so must have a standout chance.
Newbury 3.40 – Vintage Clarets / Russelinthebushes
Ripon 4.30 – Dark Jedi
