The Titanbet.co.uk Spring Sprint, run
over 5 furlongs at 2:55 30 May in York, has thrown up seven winners at double-figure
prices in the last ten years, so it’s the perfect race for us to
get our teeth into.
Low drawn horses tend to have an
advantage in large fields on the straight course when the going is
good, or faster, while the opposite is true when the going is on the
soft side. The going on the Knavesmire is currently good but, with
showers forecast for Friday and overnight, it’s hard to predict
what the prevailing underfoot conditions will be by mid-afternoon on
Saturday.
Willbeme (16/1), drawn 13, remains
weighted to her very best after two highly creditable efforts in
defeat in Pattern and Group company towards the end of last season.
Neville Bycroft’s 7-year-old mare could only finish fifth of
fifteen, beaten 3 lengths, behind Out Do over course and distance on
her reappearance earlier this month, but is entitled to improve for
that run, her first since August. She’s also 5lb better off for 2¾
lengths with the runner-up Red Baron, so appears to have every chance
of reversing the form. She’s won on good to firm, good and good to
soft going and her prominent racing style should be an asset on the
Knavesmire.
Astrophysics (16/1), drawn 14, nearly
caused a shock when only beaten a head, at 50/1, by Beacon in the
Polypipe Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster last September, only to
be turned over, at 1/2, in a match at Salisbury on his only
subsequent start. The son of Paco Boy, who’s made a good start with
his progeny, is effective on good to firm and good going, but is
untried on softer. He’s yet to actually win over 5 furlongs and has
an absence of 241 days to overcome, but remains a sprinter of no
little potential after just five starts and looks reasonably treated
on his handicap debut.
Kingsgate Choice (20/1), drawn 4, looks
extraordinary value for a horse that ran in the Prix de l’Abbaye de
Longchamp in 2013. Ed de Giles 8-year-old raced just three times,
without success, last season, but is consequently 1lb lower in the
weights than when winning the William Hill Scottish Sprint at
Musselburgh. Just about all ground comes the same to him, too, and he
has the ability to run well at a huge price.
Our three against the field, this week,
are Willbeme (16/1), Astrophysics (16/1) and Kingsgate Choice (20/1).
All prices are will the sponsors, Titan Bet. Good luck!
