RACING fan Graeme Johnston (@GraemeJ_83) picks out his best bets from a brilliant day at Newbury.
14:25 Newbury | Bet365 Stakes | ITV
The Bet365 stakes are over 10 furlongs and are perhaps the most fascinating race of the day. A race that looks slightly better than listed level there are some horses in this who are on the up and some trying to regain the winning thread and at around 3/1 the field it's a good betting heat.
Best of Days was a very good juvenile and ended the season winning the Royal Lodge. He's run once this year finishing last at Royal Ascot and he has to improve on that significantly to feature here. He remains of interest and his breeding suggests he should have trained on but despite the weight allowances here I can't back him.
Mount Logan is a horse I like and ran in a decent race at Newmarket where he came third. He's always promised more than he's delivered, and though I wouldn't be surprised if he was to win this I can't back him however he could be one to look out for at Goodwood in August where he has a fantastic record.
The one I've backed here is the Brian Meehan trained Spark Plug. Winner of the Cambridgeshire last year he's progressing well and this seems his ideal trip these days. He should have won at Goodwood 2 starts ago and won well last time under Ryan Moore. He has a penalty here but is the most progressive runner in the field and him and Moore look like a perfect fit.
15:35 – Newbury – Wetherby's Super Sprint
The Weatherby's Super Sprint is one of the big sales races of the year and attracts a real range of horses.
A mixture of maidens, unbeaten horses and horses who have group race experience it's a real mixed bag and there is plenty of value on offer here.
Richard Fahey loves these races and his main hope looks like Maggies Angel. She has plenty of listed race experience and despite having only won once she arguably brings the best form into the race.
She has plenty of pace and the set up of the race should suit and she is likely to run well but is a really short price for the field size.
Time Trial is unbeaten and done well to win last time out under a penalty however that was at Catterick and this is a big step up in class.
She has plenty to find to win this but she's the least exposed and I wouldn't be surprised if she ran into a place here but I'm looking elsewhere for my bet.
Mother of Dragons is yet to win but run with real promise in her first 2 starts before finding it all a bit too much at Royal Ascot.
She came second twice before that and the form has been franked with both winners running with credit since (one winning) and she gets into this race off a feather weight.
I make her a solid each way shout.
Best Bets
14:25 Newbury – Spark Plug to win (10/3 Bet365)
15:35 Newbury – Mother Of Dragons e/w (12/1 Paddy Power)
