Bets Of The Day: Kirk's Speed to prove her stamina at Newbury

Alan Dudman
30 June 2016

Blue sky at night - winner at Newbury for Alan Dudman?

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Alan ends his week in the tipping chair, and is looking to finish on a high note with selections at Newbury on Thursday evening...

"Step forward Critical Speed. She's a lightly-raced filly trained by Sylvester Kirk, who belied her fast pedigree to see out 1m2f really well on handicap debut when last seen. That came at Leicester with an uphill finish on heavy ground - so there were plenty of positives in that run."

Back Critical Speed @ 7.0 in the 21:10 at Newbury

19:30 Newbury - Capture the Corinthian spirit

My old friend Yangtze lines up in this 1m4f handicap. I say 'friend', as twice I have backed him this season and been stuffed like a Dundee cake. He clearly is very well-handicapped from his current mark - but I cannot chase him again, and it's no surprise he was backed on the Sportsbook on Wednesday night into 11/8. I have been clinging on to his Imperial Aviator run for quite a while - but it's time to let go at those prohibitive odds.

Meanwhile Roger Varian's Corinthian has been living the dream. If the dream was winning a 1m4f maiden at Haydock

The three-year-old son of Sea The Stars traded at 25 in-play during that contest, showing plenty of inexperience before and during the race. His jockey that afternoon Andrea Atzeni described him as mentally not quite with racing, but a horse with lots of ability. He was driven early and received reminders; but I like those characters that find plenty in a finish.

I have taken a fairly positive view of his maiden success, as I'm a fan of the third (Superyacht). He starts life handicapping from a mark of 85, and he must clearly be a strong stayer for the future; as winning his first start over 1m4f takes a bit of doing.

His price is far more appealing at 5/2 than Yangzte's.

21:10 Newbury - Speed a critical selection

This could be a critical pick. As the week has been somewhat disappointing, and odds of the selection winning at around 7.06/1 will bring back some air of respectability.

This 21:10 handicap looks wide open, with a few all-weather performers, exposed runners, and ones that might not act in soft.

Step forward Critical Speed. She's a lightly-raced filly trained by Sylvester Kirk, who belied her fast pedigree to see out 1m2f really well on handicap debut when last seen. That came at Leicester with an uphill finish on heavy ground - so there were plenty of positives in that run.

Actually she has an attractive pedigree with some decent runners in there; but they were all quick.

She is in again off the same mark of 69, and showed more than enough at Leicester to be a player in this sort of contest. Crack apprentice Tom Marquand claims 3lb and gets my vote.

Thursday's Recommended Bets

Back Corinthian @ 5/2 Sportsbook price in the 19:30 at Newbury
Back Critical Speed @ 7.06/1 in the 21:10 at Newbury

Weekly P/L: -7.20

Previous week: -2.25

2015 P/L: +20.14