Temple Meads looks Super bet for Newbury’s Sprint
RICHARD Hannon has had a season to remember and he will be going for an unprecedented eighth win in tomorrow’s Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury (3.20pm).
He has entered six this year and the pick of those looks to be Ryan Moore’s mount Reckless Reward. The son of Choisir finished an excellent second in the Norfolk Stakes and has recently been sold to race in Hong Kong.
He is housed in the same No2 stall as last year’s winner Monsieur Chevalier, but I get the impression he’s a six furlong horse. He also has to carry 9st and only one winner in the past decade has carried such a burden.
The rest of the Hannon mob are difficult to weigh up, but I don’t think there are any superstars in there. The one to be on is Ed McMahon’s TEMPLE MEADS, who showed exceptional speed on his debut at Newmarket to win a hot five-furlong maiden.
He races off just 8st 6lb tomorrow and even though he had a slight setback before Ascot, he could be a little bit special. Coming out of stall one (two of the last six winners have come from there), he should get a perfect lead from Reckless Reward to pounce in the final furlong.
Henry Candy had a slightly disappointing Royal Ascot, but his MARKAB ran a stormer to finish second in the King’s Stand. Equiano has since franked the form and the step back up to six furlongs in the Group 3 Shadwell Stakes (2.15pm) will suit him. Candy’s horses are running into some form and this fellow should have too much class for last year’s winner High Standing.
The Queen likes to run her horses at Newbury and she looks to have a decent chance of a winner in the listed Shadwell Beech House Stud Stakes with KINGDOM OF FIFE. The Sir Michael Stoute-trained five-year-old bounced back to form in the Wolferton Handicap at Ascot last time and should take all the beating.
David Lanigan is a trainer going places and MEEZNAH can give him a first Classic victory in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Sunday. She ran a stormer in the English version to finish a neck second to Snow Fairy and compensation awaits in Ireland.
Finally, don’t forget to book your tickets for Sandown’s VIP City night on Wednesday 28 July. Champagne reception costs just £25. Go to sandown.co.uk/cityoffer and use the code: SPCITY10.
POINTERS…
MARKAB 2.15pm Newbury (Sat)
TEMPLE MEADS 3.20pm Newbury (Sat)
KINGDOM OF FIFE 3.55pm Newbury (Sat)
MEEZNAH 3.40pm Curragh (Sun)