For this Saturday’s racing, Matty Sutcliffe has sought value at just the one track. he has three selections at Newbury, including two former Royal Ascot winners, as well as a Super Sprint hope to down one from this season.
13:50 Newbury – BetVictor Steventon Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Rashabar 7/2 1pt WIN
In what looks a very modest Listed affair, RASHABAR is taken to land the spoils if forgiving him for his ten length defeat in the St James’s Palace.
Last year’s Coventry winner is yet to add to that success, but he’s finished second twice in Group Two company and proved he trained on this season when second to Jonquil in the Greenham Stakes here, setting the race up for the winner who slipstreamed him throughout. Jonquil was then beaten a head in the French 2000 Guineas to frank the form as did the seventh Noble Champion who’s subsequently landed the Jersey Stakes.
Rashabar lost little in defeat when fourth to Field of Gold in the Irish 2000 Guineas, finishing 3/4L behind Hotazhell who ran a solid race in the Eclipse to be beaten three lengths by Delacroix next time out. Field Of Gold once again battered the field in the St James’s Palace, so the fourth from Rashabar might’ve been credible enough given he was only two lengths behind Ruling Court, who franked that with his two length third in the Eclipse.
Connections have said the plan was always to step Rashabar up in trip this season, unsurprisingly given he hails from a stoutly bred German dam-side, and he looks to have been found a nice opportunity in a moderate contest receiving 9lbs from his elders.
14:57 Newbury – Hallgarten And Novum Wines Hackwood Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Ain’t Nobody 20/1 0.5pt EW 4 places
A typically muddling sprint which you could pick several holes in the market protagonists suggests it may pay to chance the rear of the market and AIN’T NOBODY gets the nod.
Three-year-olds have won four of the last ten renewals and the former Windsor Castle winner has held his form well without winning this term. He was beaten a length by Big Mojo in the Pavillion Stakes on seasonal debut, coming with what looked like a winning run before just lacking the finishing kick to draw clear.
He was again behind (3/4L) Big Mojo in the Sandy Lane Stakes when that pair were fourth and fifth respectively in a race that ended up favouring those toward the rear. Ain’t Nobody travelled strongly there but again just lacked the finishing kick, and he was far from disgraced when a five length ninth in the Commonwealth Cup. Once again, he was half a length behind Big Mojo who franked that form healthily when beaten a neck in the July Cup, as did Shadow Of Light who was beaten half a length in the Prix Jean Prat, and the fourth landed the G3 Summer Stakes next time out.
He’s drawn out on a wing in a race that looks to have plenty of early pace, so I’d suspect the race will be run to suit if dropped in and with how he’s ran this season, his winning turn looks near particularly now dropped back in grade.
15:30 Newbury – Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 2) (2yo) – Our Cody 8/1 1pt EW 4 places
The market is entirely taken up by Windsor Castle winner Havana Hurricane for largely the right reasons given she’s the top rated and carries just 8-13, but you’re asking for trouble backing one at evens in a twenty runner two year old novice and the value may lie with bottom weight OUR CODY.
Richard Hughes has his string in fine fettle having landed the July Cup last weekend, and Our Cody can maintain that momentum. She was sent off the 9/4F on debut but like most of Hughes’ two year olds she just blew up late on shaping as if needing the run. She then bumped into Venetian Lace when a length second to her at Chelmsford, pulling four lengths clear of the third and the fourth, with the latter going in twice since now rated 81.
The winner, Venetian Lace, has also franked the form healthily as she’s subsequently been beaten two lengths in both the Chesham and the Superlative Stakes now rated 98. It was no surprise then to see Our Cody get her head in front next time out when comfortably making all at Windsor from a subsequent comfortable winner, pulling six lengths clear of the third.
For all she’s only officially rated 77, on collateral form she rates several pounds higher and given she carries the least weight here, she’s arguably treated better than most by the conditions. Luke Morris gets the leg up to do his minimum weight, and he’s two wins from eight rides all time for Richard Hughes.
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