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Bobsleigh Can Be Newbury Super Star

Written by 4Racing | Jul 21, 2023 8:16:52 PM

Bobsleigh has shown plenty of pace in his short career to date and can provide Eve Johnson Houghton with a popular success in the Weatherbys Super Sprint on Saturday at Newbury.

The Hannon team and Richard Fahey have dominated this #250,000 sales race down the years, but the local trainer has a huge chance this year with Bobsleigh.

She also has a very strong second-string to her bow in Juniper Berries, who finished a fine fourth in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot, although her stablemate arguably brings strong Ascot form to the table. 

He won his first two races, including the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom's Derby meeting, when he came with a sweeping run around the outside of the field to triumph in clear-cut fashion.

Stepped up in class for the Coventry Stakes last month, he ran with great credit, finishing a three-length sixth behind the exciting River Tiber. 

The Coventry form has stood up well with the third, Bucanero Fuerte, winning the Railway Stakes and the fifth-placed Haatem chasing home City Of Troy in the Superlative.

Because of the conditions of the race, with weights allotted due to purchase price, Bobsleigh is in receipt of weight from the favourite, the filly Relief Rally.

John and Thady Gosden's Sweet William will surely prove better than his current mark of 88 and can take full advantage in the Mettal UK Handicap.

Unraced at two, this half-brother to Irish Derby and St Leger winner Hurricane Lane finished second in two outings at three. 

He was also runner-up to the smart Saint George first time out this term before bolting up on his most recent spin, breaking his maiden at last.

It is the run behind Saint George, giving the year-younger grey well over a stone, that stands out as he has since gone close at Royal Ascot and in the Bahrain Trophy.

Sweet William looks all about stamina and this step up to two miles should be right up his street.

Karl Burke has been in sensational form of late and largely for that reason his Cold Case is taken to bounce back in the bet365 Hackwood Stakes. 

Three-year-olds have a decent record against their elders in this Group Three and based on Cold Case's first run this season, he would have a huge chance.

Having ended last term in great form with wins in a valuable sales race at Doncaster and Redcar's Two Year Old Trophy, he proved he had trained on when winning the Commonwealth Cup Trial at Ascot.

Burke then sent him to Haydock for the Sandy Lane but it was a strange race, not in the fact that champion juvenile Little Big Bear won, more that during that meeting you had to be near the rail, and Cold Case was not.

It is easy to put a line through the race, with Bradsell was another well beaten in it before he bounced back to win the King's Stand.

Oviedo may be the outsider in the bet365 Stakes but none of the others bring rock solid credentials to the table so a chance is taken on Ed Bethell's three-year-old, who was not beaten far in the Hampton Court Stakes.

Dutch Decoy probably faces his easiest task for some while in the Lettergold Handicap at Newmarket.

Placed in valuable races at Epsom and Sandown the last twice, he certainly did not benefit from his high draw at the Esher venue.

He has been creeping up the weights but remains on good terms with himself and is reunited with Oli Stammers, who twice steered him to victory over course and distance last season.

Ralph Beckett sent a three-year-old north to beat her elders on Wednesday and can repeat the trick with Baltic Voyage in the Sky Bet Go-Racing-In-Yorkshire Summer Festival Handicap at Ripon.

It is a long way from Beckett's Wiltshire base to Ripon, just as it was for Diamond Vega at Catterick on Wednesday, so when he sends them that far it is worth noting.

Baltic Voyage has run respectably in two better races than this so far this season and the weight-for-age he receives makes him appealing.

Peter Bowen's Francky Du Berlais is going for a hat-trick in the Unibet Summer Plate at Market Rasen and may have most to fear from stablemate Courtland, who is in receipt of 12lb.

A course-and-distance winner last time out, he looks ahead of the handicapper.

It is Juddmonte Irish Oaks day at the Curragh, where Ribblesdale winner Warm Heart is taken to overturn the favourite and stablemate Savethelastdance. - Press Association

TAB is betting on 7 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.

NEWBURY: Race 1: 14.15 Infinity Blue, Race 2: 14.50 Oviedo, Race 3: 15.25 Sweet William, Race 4: 16.00 Cold Case, Race 5: 16.35 BOBSLEIGH (NAP), Race 6: 17.10 Al Saif, Race 7: 17.45 Karat Karat, Race 8: 18.20 Don’t Tell Claire.

MARKET RASEN: Race 1: 15.05 Wavering Down, Race 2: 15.40 Dancila, Race 3: 16.15 Courtland, Race 4: 16.50 Chess Player, Race 5: 17.25 Roll With It, Race 6: 18.00 Tio Mio.

CARTMEL: Race 1: 15.15 Kinbara, Race 2: 15.50 Ashington, Race 3: 16.25 Judicial Law, Race 4: 17.00 We’ll Go Again, Race 5: 17.35 Kellyiscool, Race 6: 18.10 Lights Are Green.

NEWMARKET: Race 1: 15.30 Squeaker, Race 2: 16.05 Abate, Race 3: 16.40 Dutch Decoy, Race 4: 17.15 Novokai, Race 5: 17.50 Bohemian Breeze, Race 6: 18.25 Star Of Orion.

RIPON: Race 1: 15.46 Respectful, Race 2: 16.20 Unequal Love, Race 3: 16.56 Baltic Voyage, Race 4: 17.30 Dark Jedi, Race 5: 18.05 Spirit Catcher, Race 6: 18.40 Glendown.

DONCASTER: Race 1: 19.15 Beau Roc, Race 2: 19.45 Roman Secret, Race 3: 20.15 Magna Vega, Race 4: 20.45 Gweedore, Race 5: 21.15 Back From Dubai, Race 6: 21.45 Cosmic Soul.

HAYDOCK: Race 1: 19.30 Don’t Look Back, Race 2: 20.00 All In The Hips, Race 3: 20.30 Ice Max, Race 4: 21.00 Kentucky Bluegrass, Race 5: 21.30 Streetzoffilly, Race 6: 22.00 Tango Man.

ALL TO COME: Sweet William and Bobsleigh (Newbury, Races 3 and 5)


For fields, race betting and more information go to www.tab4racing.com