THE size of the field suggests a betting minefield. The betting, in contrast, suggests more of a stroll in the park.
So what's it to be for Penny's Gift in today's Super Sprint at Newbury?
Twenty-three go to post for the Weatherbys-backed cont
est but, such is the market confidence behind Richard Hannon's runner, it appears the other 22 are only there to make up the numbers.
Given the record of the filly's trainer in the race, that's hardly a surprise as Hannon has landed the Super Sprint six times since it was first staged in 1991.
It's not only that vice-like grip her handler has enjoyed, however, that makes the daughter of Tobougg look worth supporting, even at her relatively skimpy odds. She also boasts better form than any of her numerous rivals and that's always a bonus.
Coming from a yard renowned for being home to a multitude of talented two-year-olds, the first inkling that Penny's Gift might have shown a bit on the gallops came when she made her debut at Salisbury in May.
Backed in from 16-1 to almost half those odds, she may well have landed the gamble but for inexperience. She was slowly away and then ran green but still managed to finish third. The knowledge gained from that run was put to use next time out when the filly scored at Chepstow, a victory she repeated at the same course a few weeks later.
It was, though, her performance in Royal Ascot's Albany Stakes that stamped Penny's Gift as a young lady with a future as she made strongly fancied Irish challenger Cuis Ghaire pull out all the stops to get the better of her.
As a cheaply-bought yearling, always assuming you consider 10,000 guineas as cheap, the selection gets in to today's big event with a tasty looking weight of just 8;3 and she has already shown she acts on a variety of surfaces.
There is, of course, no such thing as bombproof, but in the circumstances, Martin Dwyer's mount looks about as close as you'll get.
Just to emphasise the diversity of the action today, contestants in the other main event will travel a couple of miles more than the sprinters at Newbury.
On a jumping card that wouldn't look out of place in the height of the winter game, Market Rasen's Summer Plate takes pride of place. The entire meeting at the Lincolnshire venue promises much but, whatever the season, it's a safe bet the big guns of the National Hunt scene will again be booming away so expect Paul Nicholls and Philip Hobbs to be among the winners.
Sporazene represents the champion trainer in the opener and has an obvious chance, but for once, his Somerset neighbour Hobbs could be the one to follow when he saddles Bureaucrat.
In the bigie, it's worth sticking with Seymour Weld who has established himself as something of a course specialist in his last couple of outings.
The eight-year-old hadn't looked anything out of the ordinary for most of his career but he has really come to life of late – a last-time-out trouncing of Zilcash a particularly eye-opening display – and he looks primed to climb another rung of the chasing ladder today.
It seems a long time since Kim Bailey was sending out Grand National and Cheltenham Festival winners but, according to his latest publicity blurbs, "Kim Bailey is Back."
Talk, as well know, is cheap so let's see if he can back up his words by saddling the nap Double Mead to success in Market Rasen's finale. Now there's a challenge!
The best bet has been running consistently recently, as in not being out of the first three in his last six attempts, and that sort of record makes him one to take on the bookies with.
The full article contains 665 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
