350 Newbury Saturday Weatherbys Super Sprint

                                                           Super Sprint

The first of the often impossible to solve sales race comes in the form of the Weatherbys Super Sprint. 25 runners with varying degrees of form with the weights being decided by sales price. Often the domain of the bigger trainers, with Richard Hannon in particular enjoying targeting the big pot

Meritocracy- Likable sort who has not been out of the front three in his 6 runs to date. Probably ran his best run to date last time, when winning a Chepstow novices event by 5 lengths. However that was a weak race, the main danger ran well below form, and will have to improve to win this off top weight

Morning Post- Maiden who ran well enough on debut at York to be sent off at 2/9 next time at Hamilton. Failed to take that gilt edged opportunity, so unlikely to be winning this giving weight to a few useful looking sorts

Haikbidiac- Inmate from the in form William Haggas stable who won impressively on debut. Followed that with two solid thirds in better grade, before finishing in midfield in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot. Not without ability although questionable if good enough here

Proclamationofwar- 3 race maiden who has shown a similar level of form in his 3 runs to date. Finished runner up last time beaten 2.5 lengths behind the useful Lexington Rose in a conditions race at Musselburgh. No reason why he will overturn the form with that rival and unlikely to break his maiden tag in this

Weisse Socken- Acclamation filly who was well thought enough to go off 8/11 on debut. Finally got her head in front on her 4th run last time, and her 3rd to the since listed placed Love in the Desert would give her a squeak here. One of the more likely rank outsiders

Biography- The first of the Hannons and the mount of stable jockey Richard Hughes who is unable to do the weight on the favourite. Finished ahead of Weisse Socken on his penultimate start before finishing 4th last time at Salisbury. That looked a disappointing run at the time, but the form has been massively upgraded over the past 24 hours. Foolish to rule out completely, but a few others appear to possess more compelling profiles in the race

Peniaphobia- Looks Richard Faheys number one on jockey bookings. Has won two of his three races to date but made hard work of justifying long odds on last time when besting todays rival Blockade by 1/2 length. Also the form of his second run when runner up to Steventon Star doesn't look as good now as it did at the time. Have to respect the stable and seems to have been pointed here from an early stage. Not overly convinced by his profile and short enough in the betting to give the swerve

Urban Dreamer- Frustrating sort who is still a maiden after 7 runs. Ran his worst race since debut last time when finishing tenth of ten at Chester. No chance here

Der Blaue Reiter- A rare winning debutant from the George Baker yard when besting the frustrating Cockney Bob. Predictably outclassed when last seen in the Windsor Castle and likely to face the same fate here

Foxy Clarets- Another runner from the Richard Fahey yard. Ran a really promising race on debut, travelling best of all before fading in the final stages. Will obviously have to improve radically on that form but not without a chance of doing so. A possible runner at huge odds

Gym Shoes- Finished 4th on debut behind todays rival Memory Styx last week. Mauritius based Richard Mullen takes the ride but cannot see him taking a hand here

Bird of Light- Filly from the Hannon stable who has won her only race to date. She was impressive that day although the form amounts to little. Hasn't been seen on the racetrack for 75 days, so possibly has had some issues. However still unexposed and if ready to go after her absence could well make her presence felt

Danfazi- Consistent gelding, never out of the first 4 in 6 runs, who got a deserved victory in his penultimate start. Nothing in his profile gives the impression he will good enough to add to that solitary victory here

Eccleston- Cheaply bought son of Acclamation who won on debut and gets in off an attractive weight here. Went off 5/4 in a Doncaster maiden first time out and won readily from two useful yardsticks. Was considered good enough to go for the Coventry next time when making no show finishing last. Obviously would have liked to have seen him run better at Ascot but the form of his debut puts him right in the mix here off of 8-4. A big player

Yorkshire Relish- A winner of the valuable seller at York last time. It may often be that race turns out better than the average seller, but it is still a seller and that makes him easy enough to pass over in this heat

Orton Park- Winner of the first juvenile race of the season at Kempton in march. Has been unable to get his head in front since despite running consistently and is beginning to look exposed. A most unlikely winner here

Lexington Rose- Smashing filly who has yet to run a bad race to date. Beat the reopposing Proclamationofwar comfortably last time and before that showed decent form when second in the Hilary Needler at Beverley. Was possibly unlucky that day, chinned late by the fast finishing Ventura Mist, and a repeat of that form would put her right in the mix here

Lilbourne Lass- Likely favourite and has massive claims off a feather weight for the all conquering Richard Hannon team with king of the lightweights Jimmy Quinn booked to ride. A winner of 2 of her 3 races to date her only defeat came when beaten a short head to Coventry 8th Saayerr. Slammed the useful Majestic Alexander on her most recent start and likely to have had this race as a target for sometime. A massive runner here off of 8-1

Memory Styx- Very busy filly who is having her 12th start of the campaign. Finally got her head in front last time at Hamilton having finished runner up on no less than 7 occasions. That was a well deserved success but on the balance of her form she is unlikely to follow up here

Alutiq- 2 time winner who finished a respectable 7th in the Queen Mary last time. Her trainer is having a productive time with her juveniles this year. Another who has looks attractively weighted on what she has done on the track and has the assistance of the excellent Cathy Gannon in the saddle. Has been well found in the market and looks a bit tight for me, reluctantly passed over

Blockade- A willing filly hailing from the stable of the upwardly mobile James Tate. Seems to be improving and finished one length behind Peter Mac, who recently sold at Tattersalls for 95,000 guineas, last time out. Still doesn't look as appealing as some of her fellow lightweights here

Hopefilly- Winner on second start when just beating Memory Styx on the line at Nottingham. That was a big improvement on her debut run and was still green that day so more improvement may well be forthcoming. Ed Walker knows the time of day with his two year old's and whilst this one will have to take another leap forward it is not unreasonable to assume she will

Khalice- Twice raced maiden who took a step backwards on her second start, promising enough when runner up on debut, when last of 5 beaten over ten lengths. Will have to leave that form light years behind if she is to take a hand here

Kodafine- Filly who often proves unruly at the gate. If she does jump away still more likely to finish last than first

Oasis Town- One of the many Sleeping Indian progeny in the Kevin Ryan yard. An impressive winner of a low key auction maiden at Carlisle on his second start. His trainer has picked up recently in the juvenile department having had a slow start to the season by his high standards. However does Look unders in the market to my eyes on what he has done and readily passed over

Verdict- Cracking race as you would expect for the money. The obvious starting point is Lilbourne Lass for the Hannon team who looks as if she has been aimed at this prize from a long way out, had form worthy of a trip to Ascot, but she has been well found in the market. I have opposed her by one that did go to Ascot Eccleston who finished last in the Coventry. That run was slightly below par even allowing for the rise in class, but his form on debut stands up to scrutiny here and he is currently trading at a double figure price. If looking for one at a big price i would suggest Bird of Light who is unbeaten and unexposed having won on debut

1 Eccleston
2 Lilbourne Lass
3 Bird of Light