Super Sprint
Saturday’s Newbury card features the Super Sprint a.k.a. The Richard Hannon Benefit Stakes. He has won this two-year-old cavalry charge on no fewer than seven occasions! The first three winners of this race were Paris House, Lyric Fantasy and Risky, although the overall standard has dropped a little since.
According to the market, Lilbourne Lass is the one to be on from team Hannon this year. She is priced around the 3-1 mark in this huge field. That seems rather short to me for a horse with two victories at Bath and a defeat at Windsor to her name.
I had quite a strong tip for Alutiq for this race, the mount of Cathy Gannon. Her run at Ascot behind Rizeena wasn’t at all bad and she’s well drawn. I was hoping for around 10-1 but the best price is now a rather miserly 6-1. I’m just put off by the cramped odds when so much can go wrong in a big field over five furlongs so I’m having a saver on Lexington Rose. She won’t hang about here and Brian Smart almost pulled off a nice win with Moviesta for us last week.
Hackwood Stakes
The Hackwood Stakes has attracted a small but select field with Krypton Factor likely to go off favourite. I’ve been following Heeraat this season and was disappointed that he got turned over by Hamza at Beverley. He looked certain to win at York last week under a quiet ride from Graham Lee but got mugged on the line. I’m prepared to give Heeraat one more chance.
Day’s best bet
My best bet of the day is Music Master in the 4.25. I backed this one each-way in the Jersey Stakes and he eventually finished fifth to Gale Force Ten. Things didn’t really go his way as he had to race up with the pace on the stands side and faded near the finish. He had previously separated Dundonnell and Baltic Knight at Newmarket over this trip and he only needs to perform at that level to win on Saturday.
Alutiq 6-1 Boylesports
Lexington Rose (each-way) 10-1 Ladbrokes
Heeraat 3-1 William Hill
Music Master (NAP) 10-11 Bet365
