Saturday 17th July 2021

Super Sprint Day 2021

Newbury

A warm welcome to my preview for this year’s Super Sprint Day at Newbury, I’ll be kicking things off by looking at the first ITV race of the afternoon which comes at 1.50 in the form of the the Listed Bet 365 Stakes. Derab and Real World are currently heading the betting for this affair, with the latter coming here on the back of success in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot. Both set a solid standard at the top of the market, but it’s Solid Stone I like here for Sir Michael Stoute and Richard Kingscote. The five-year-old by Shamardal is ultra consistent and looks a typical improver for his trainer in his later years, he was last seen when finishing third in the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot and I think he’s every chance of building on that here.

Next up is the 2:25 which is the Class 2 Bahrain Turf Series Handicap over two miles and half a furlong. The one I like here is Roger Varian’s Zeeband who’s the mount of Andrea Atzeni. He rightfully takes his place at the top of the market here on the back of a fine performance at Newcastle last time when he won the Northumberland Vase in impressive style. I believe there’s a lot more to come from this gelding by Sea The Stars and judging by how comfortably he won and travelled last time we could well see another taking display here. The main danger looks to be Rodrigo Diaz for Simcock and Spencer, a Golden Horn colt who’s no stranger to the winners enclosure.

We move onto the the 3:00 which is the Group 3 Hackwood Stakes over six furlongs. King’s Lynn ran twice at Royal Ascot, on the first day in the King’s Stand where he finished seventh and on the concluding day in the Wokingham Handicap where he finished third, as a result he’s a worthy favourite here on his exploits this season having won a Listed race at Haydock back in May. I’ve taken him on however, and I’ve done that with Tabdeed for Owen Burrows and Jim Crowley. This lightly raced six-year-old by Havana Gold won this race last year and followed a similar same preparation for it this time around with an outing at Newcastle last month, on this occasion this was in the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes where he finished fourth. If building on that effort here like he did 12 months ago he’s got to be considered a serious player to defend his crown.

The big one comes up at 3:40 which is the Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes over five furlongs, a race with a famously big pot and this year is no exception with nearly £100,000 going to the winner. Heading the betting for this year’s renewal is the very likeable Chipotle for Eve Johnson Houghton and David Probert. He arrives here on the back of his 22/1 success in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot and if in the same kind of form on this occasion will prove tough to beat. It’s the Richard Fahey runner Vintage Clarets I like here, who’s the mount of Paul Hanagan. He ran a mighty race at Royal Ascot himself when finishing third in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes on the back of successive victories. Connections won this race a few years ago with Bengali Boys and I think this runner could prove a cut above him and put in a bold showing here.