Hi all,

Inside today’s main piece I begin my look ahead to the weekend big race action with a preview of Saturday’s Super Sprint at Newbury.

Looking Ahead To The Weekend – Part 1

There’s Classic action at the Curragh on Saturday with the latest running of the Irish Oaks (3:45)

This side of the Irish Sea the most valuable race is Newbury’s Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes (3:35). The race is opportunity for juveniles who cost less than £62,000 at the sales to win a valuable prize. There’s £250,000 in guaranteed prize money with £122,925 on offer to the winner.

Market Rasen hosts one of the highlights of the summer jumps season the Unibet Summer Plate Handicap Chase (3:15).

ITV are covering the best of the action from Newbury & Market Rasen as well as the Irish Oaks.

Newbury: Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes

The race was first established in 1991 and has since become one of the highlights of Newbury's summer racing calendar.

What sets the Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes apart from other races is its unique format. Instead of assigning weights based on the horses' ability or form, the weights are determined by the sale price of the horse at auction. The concept behind this type of handicapping is to level the playing field and give all horses an equal chance of success.

Over the years, the Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes has produced some notable winners like Lyric Fantasy, Tiggy Wiggy, and Mrs Danvers who went on to achieve success at a higher level.

Trends:

A quick look at the trends which contain 15 winners from 346 runners, 45 placed reveals a couple of interesting ones.

Odds SP: 33/1 & bigger – 0 winners from 170 runners, 4 placed

Career Wins: 0 – 0 winners from 107 runners, 6 placed.

Trainers:

Here a handful of trainers who have saddled the winner of the race.

Richard Hannon – 4 winners from 33 runners -3.17, 6 placed

Richard Fahey – 3 winners from 51 runners -3, 8 placed

Andrew Balding – 1 winner from 1 runner +25

Archie Watson – 1 winner from 5 runners +3.5, 2 placed

William Haggas – 1 winner from 8 runners +13, 3 placed

Rod Millman – 1 winner from 8 runners +7, 2 placed.

It’s a race which certain trainers do target. Both Richard Hannon and Richard Fahey have thrown plenty of darts at the race in the past. Interestingly Fahey doesn’t have an entry in this year’s race, but the other trainers do.

Twenty three juveniles were left in the race at Monday’s final confirmation stage. No less than seven of the 23 runners are trained by Richard Hannon and if history is any guide, he’ll run plenty of them.

Contenders:

Relief Rally who was only beaten a nose in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot has been installed favourite. A reproduction of her last time effort would see her hard to beat at the weights.

Bobsleigh caught my eye when finishing a 3 length 6^th of 20 to River Tiber in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. Previously the gelding had won the Woodcote Stakes (6f) at Epsom. He doesn’t lack pace and the drop back to 5f shouldn’t inconvenience him.  Stablemate Juniper Berries gives trainer Eve Johnson Houghton a strong hand in the race. The filly finished 4 lengths behind Relief Rally when fourth in the Queen Mary last time and gets a handy 7lb here.

Irish challenger Son Of Corballis looked very speedy when winning a Listed race at Tipperary 17 days ago. The son of Raven’s Pass would have to be respected if Kieran Cotter brings him over for the race.

The shortest priced of the Hannon runners is La Guarida. The filly looked a nice prospect when winning a Goodwood maiden (6f) on her second start. However, she ran like something was amiss when last of 16 in the Chesham Stakes (7f) at Royal Ascot. Not sure about the drop back to the minimum trip but if you forgive her last run, she couldn’t be discounted given her trainer.

Rod Millman could saddle two in Beenham & Croocked Crown. The former could be the stable pick and its possible she could be the mount of Osin Murphy. If she is she won’t be anywhere near the 20/1 that’s available with Bet365.

Archie Watson’s sole entry is Heed The Call who handled the soft ground when winning at Hamilton last Saturday.

Super Sprint Verdict:

The front four in the betting look solid with Bobsleigh my preference of those at the head of the betting. I’m tempted by the 20/1 available about Beenham in the hope that Osin Murphy does take the ride. A winner at Goodwood two starts back. You can forget her run in a Listed race at York last time when she raced more near side with no cover. She was sent off just 5/1 for that race and is clearly better than she was able to show that day.

Wednesday Preview

It’s the third day of racing at Killarney and the course hosts the best race of day.  Thirteen useful fillies & mares have been declared for the Listed Cairn Rouge Stakes (6.50).  Besides the feature race there are also quality wise moderate but competitive handicaps on the card.

Killarney

6:50 – Mea Domina has run respectably on both starts since joining Paddy Twomey. The filly finished a 1 ¾ lengths 2nd of 7 in a Group 3 at the Curragh 94 days ago. Tongue strap on 1st time. And the trainer has 8-21 with his runners here in the past five years.

Eternal Silence posted a career best when making all to win a Naas maiden (1m) three weeks ago. Looks worth her place in pattern company albeit the ground was good to firm at Naas.

Indian Wish won a Listed race at Gowran two starts back but wasn’t quite in the same form when 10^th of 19 in the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot last time. Today’s lightly easier ground should suit her better and the cheekpieces are applied for the first time.

Unless won a Naas maiden in May and the finished a 3 ¾ length 4^th of 29 in the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot. Not out of this given she’s trained by Aidan O’Brien.

Giladah and Clever And Cool are also worth considering.

Wednesday Selection:

I’m off to Killarney for today’s selection but it’s not in the feature contest.

6:50 – Trueba is on a losing run that goes back to September 2021 but was back to form when 2 length 4^th of 15 at Roscommon 15 days ago.  If he can back up that effort, he would have each way claims in open looking handicap. The 16/1 available with Ladbrokes & Paddy Power looks fine but I wouldn't want to take take much shorter.

Trueba – 16/1 @ Ladbrokes (paying 4 places).

Good luck with your Wednesday bets.

John