Eureka is accepted as the most likely winner from Richard Hannon's pack for today's Super Sprint. Photograph: Sam FrostWhen the Super Sprint comes around, everyone wants to know which of Richard Hannon's team is the choice of his main jockey Richard Hughes, because the yard's record of seven wins in this race is deeply impressive. Hughes goes with Eureka this time but he may find it hard to get past a horse he has ridden in her last two starts, Lily's Angel (3.30).
Richard Fahey's filly will be one of the most experienced in this big field after six outings, including creditable efforts when beaten in the Hilary Needler and the Albany at Royal Ascot. She has won her other four starts and improved on anything she had done so far when scoring in a Listed race at Newmarket last month.
The conditions of this race reward Fahey for buying her so cheaply and she is carrying less weight than rivals who have achieved much less.
Market Rasen 2.05 Martin Pipe won the Summer Hurdle with Puntal and Buena Vista and it is just possible that his son, David, has a horse worth mentioning in the same breath. Street Entertainer looked a serious prospect when winning at Fairyhouse in May, beating two horses who won next time.
Newbury 2.20 Two years ago, High Standing followed up his Wokingham win by adding this Group Three and Deacon Blues may complete the same double with Frankie Dettori taking over from Johnny Murtagh in the saddle. James Fanshawe's charge seems much improved this year, though he needs the forecast rain to take any sting out of the ground.
Newmarket 2.35 Meeznah continues to frustrate while Wild Coco still has a bit to prove, so Ceilidh House has an opportunity. She won a decent prize on her final start of last year and left it too late when a never-nearer third to Timepiece on her reappearance. Now that Timepiece is a Group One winner, that form looks useful and Ralph Beckett's runners have hit form since we last saw her.
Newbury 2.55 Although she started favourite, Heavenly Dawn was given a sympathetic ride on her first run for a year last time. Raised 4lb, she still looks well treated.
Newmarket 3.10 Last year Give Your Verdict took time to get the hang of the game but won his last two and is just 3lb higher for winning his handicap debut.
Market Rasen 3.45 At the age of nine, Schindler's Gold seems finally to have come to himself. He struggled when based in Ireland but is two from two since joining Dr Richard Newland, his latest (absurdly easy) win suggesting he has the ability for today's Summer Plate. The Pipe-trained Qulinton wears first-time blinkers and looks a serious danger.
Eureka is accepted as the most likely winner from Richard Hannon's pack for today's Super Sprint but the thinking in the yard is that Redact (3.30) is not too far behind and would not need much luck to bag the prize. Respect should also be given to Brian Meehan's Mention, who looked a lucky winner last time but has improved in the four weeks since. Hannon's Coupe De Ville (1.45) is well liked at home and should give the yard a good start to the day.
William Haggas's Watneya (2.55) is forgiven her flop at Newmarket last time and has a chance to atone in today's fillies' handicap. Another raider from HQ, Dux Scholar (4.05) has been taking the eye in recent work and may land this contest for Sir Michael Stoute.
At Newmarket, Meehan's Diamondhead (2.00) should land the opener, while the vibes are very positive for Sir Henry Cecil's Wild Coco (2.35) in the Aphrodite.
Countrywide Flame (2.40) is expected to make a winning hurdling debut at Market Rasen.
Meanwhile, the latest sighting of Frankel is once again positive. We are told he left Bullet Train and Tranquil Tiger for dead on the gallops on Wednesday.
The shoe which fell off one of Carlton House's feet in the closing stages of the Derby, thought by some to have come between the Queen's horse and a famous victory, made some amends on Thursday when sold at auction for ?7,500 in aid of Racing Welfare. Several bids came from Simon Bazalgette and Ralph Topping, chief executives of the Jockey Club and William Hill respectively, but both lost out to an anonymous bidder, thought to have been the owner Charles Wentworth. Alas, it seems to have brought no luck to his Caspar Netscher, narrowly beaten at Newbury yesterday.
Richard Guest, based in Yorkshire and enjoying his best season, is contemplating a return to Newmarket, where he grew up. The trainer's nephew, Ed Babington, has bid on his behalf for Green Ridge Stables, currently leased to Marco Botti. Matters are at a very early stage, since Botti has yet to secure planning permission for a new yard he hopes to build in the town, between the stables of Ed Dunlop and Luca Cumani.
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