From Pillar To Post For William Haggas

Newbury’s valuable juvenile sprint on Saturday is always associated with trainer, Richard Hannon, who will look to his son Richard Junior to carry on the good record.

Richard Hannon
Indeed, with Richard Senior having landed this race four times since 2002 – no easy feat considering the bumper field each year – the yard look to mean business once more via five entries, including Tiggy Wiggy, who won Listed race at Sandown (5f, soft) where Roudee was back in third, before a career best second in a Group 2 at Royal Ascot (5f,good to firm).

Officially rated the highest in the race on 105, Tiggy Wiggy only went down by a 1/4l on that occasion at Ascot and with the sixth, Arabian Queen, having already won a Group 2 last week, the form looks strong.

The only off-putting piece of Tiggy Wiggy’s profile is that he has already raced five times and has become exposed, unlike the majority of past Weatherby winners…

Trends
Of the last 10 Super Sprint winners…

9 winners had 3 career runs or less 9-109 (8%); 4 career runs or more 1-123 (1%)
9 winners had 1 win or more 9-175 (5%); yet to win 1-57 (2%)
8 winners had 21 days rest or more 8-125 (6%); 20 days or less 2-107 (2%)
Second or third last time 0-66

A glance at the above stats covering the last 10 winners highlights some interesting angles, with those boasting just three runs or less at an advantage. With that in mind…

…the likes of Willie Haggas’ Pillar Box, stand out having won impressively on only his second career outing last time.

That 4l victory at Bath (5f, firm) was also recorded in a fast time, and this colt looks a useful prospect.

Another colt with a similar profile is Kevin Ryan’s, Fast Act, who also won on just his second outing over 5f at Carlisle (good to firm), drifting right to hold on by over 1l. Jamie Spencer was aboard that day and will be in the saddle once more on a runner Ryan has laid out for the race and rates highly.

Draw
It’s also worth noting the draw with so many sprinters hurtling down the Newbury straight, especially as those drawn middle to low came out best, as the following stats show: drawn 12 or lower 8-113 (7%); drawn 13 or higher 2-119 (2%). With such evidence at hand, the likes of LEtacq, who despite being rated much lower than the majority of the field, won a 6f maiden on his third outing last time and has the right profile.

Also well drawn with the right background is Richard Fahey’s Tachophobia, who narrowly won a 6f maiden at Catterick last time (good to firm), while the yard also have Bond’s Girl from the higher drawn numbers, who won a Pontefract maiden before given too much to do in a Group 2 at Royal Ascot.

Recommended Bets
Plenty in with a chance in this big field, but of those with the right lightly-race profile and boasting a victory is Willie Haggas’ Pillar Box, who has been tucked away since impressing in a Bath maiden last month.