Sky Dogs Preview: Newlawn may just edge out Storm again

Sky Previews / Darrell Williams / 01 March 2010 / Leave a Comment

"Personally I think the betting has got it about right, with Eye Onthe Storm and Newlawn Class looking the two most likely winners. The latter has not raced competitively since inflicting defeat on his rival back in December, but his trials suggest he is ready to do himself justice. It’s possible to back the pair at better than [1.6] combined, but forced to choose I’d just side with Newlawn Class"

If the Derby final field in three months time is better than the line up for the Racing Post Juvenile at Wimbledon - live on Sky Sports tonight - then we'll be in for a treat says Darrell Williams, who believes Newlawn Class may just edge out Eye On the Storm for a second time.

The wise decision to move tonight's one-off contest to early March has yet again paid dividends, with a contest just oozing with class, headed by the winter Derby favourite Eye Onthe Storm and the dog that surprised almost everybody by beating him just before Christmas in Ireland's Newlawn Class.

The fact Eye On the Storm is drawn out in trap four adds further scope to the clash as he will need to clear fast starting Ten Large Down and Oaks winner Shaws Dilemma, as well as the Irish runner, if he's to get the chance to unleash his back straight pace.

As trainer Mark Wallis put it, he will need to 'smash out'. Not an impossible task, of course, for a dog that has won 15 of his last 17 starts, including the Eclipse final at Nottingham late last year where his superior early pace somehow allowed him to clear an equally strong field, and that time from trap five.

Personally I think the betting has got it about right, with Eye Onthe Storm and Newlawn Class looking the two most likely winners. The latter has not raced competitively since inflicting defeat on his rival back in December, but while Pat Buckley, his trainer, has already voiced concern about his trap one draw, his trials suggest he is ready to do himself justice. It's possible to back the pair at better than [1.6] combined, but forced to choose I'd just side with Newlawn Class, whose only defeat in six career starts came when he was knocked over in the National Puppy heats at Shelbourne.

Freedom Emma looks the best bet of the night on the undercard, and the Oaks runner-up is taken to complete a four-timer in the 'Ladies' race at 7.40. Likely to trade at around [1.9], there's no reason why she can't again account for Millwards Dream and Klockwork Kyla as she did in a similar race here three weeks ago.

Droopys Del Sol will be even shorter in the marathon (8.50), but having won both her starts over the CD is certainly not for opposing. Knockies Hannah is interesting having won on her marathon debut at Yarmouth last week, but Supreme Pace looks the logical forecast link having got within three lengths of the favourite over CD last month, certainly not the first time he has run well behind a classier marathon rival.

Regardless of Ten Large Down's fate in the Juvenile, Honey Trampas can provide Diane Henry with success in the preceding four bend race at 9.25. In another red hot affair, his status as the sole wide seed, outside rails favouring Gilbeyhall Jake could prove vital when considered alongside his excellent trial over the 460m trip last week.
Arc winner Farloe Titan may struggle to clear trickily drawn Irish raider November Weather.

Kinda Easy will be a popular choice in the six bend race at 9.10, but aside from his Leger win, Mark Wallis' runner has been turned over in his other four starts over the CD, including when well beaten just before Christmas and it might be worth taking a chance with Romeo Maldini. Third in the Eclipse last autumn, Dave Firmager's runner has run only selectively over six bends for sometime, but has good Wimbledon form previously, and looks interesting at around [7.0].

Kennelmate Romeo Active is also of interest in the 'British Bred' race at 8.35, with his draw outside Go Big Hitter set to offer him plenty of racing room. Unraced at the track, he has run three excellent trials, each more progressive than the previous one and offers some value against Westmead Osprey, whose old Wimbledon form has been disappointing, at around [6.0].

Freedom Man also makes some appeal at a decent price in the hurdle race at 8.15. While Springbok winner Royal Honcho and kennelmate Glenwood Dream will take most of the money, as novices they are still prone to the odd mistake, which could potentially allow the in-form Champion Hurdle finalist in, especially if he traps in front.

Freedom Emma 2 pts @ [1.9] 7.40
Droopys Del Sol/Supreme Pace 1 pt FC 8.50
Honey Trampas 1 pt @ [3.8] 9.25