Maria Branwell is the standout tip for the Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes at Newbury on Saturday. The two-year-old filly, trained by David O’Meara, was purchased for €22,000 as a yearling and has already shown top-class form, winning on debut at Thirsk and then taking the Listed National Stakes at Sandown. She finished third in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot last month, and a repeat of that performance could secure the £98,340 first prize.
Diligent Harry is tipped to reverse last year's defeat by Happy Romance in the Group 3 bet365 Hackwood Stakes. Trained by Clive Cox, the son of Due Diligence went down by a neck in the same race 12 months ago and was subsequently disappointing on soft ground. He made a promising return in the Listed Cammidge Trophy in March but was caught late by Volatile Analyst. After a below-par run in the Group 1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, he is expected to relish the less demanding conditions.
Diamond Bay is fancied to land the Highclere Castle Gin Cup Stakes over two miles at Newbury. The Tom Ward-trained gelding struggled on heavy ground at Goodwood when trying the distance for the first time, but he bounced back with a strong runner-up effort on fast ground at Salisbury last month. With further improvement likely, he gets the vote to go one better under David Probert.
Cadillac, trained by Kevin Philippart de Foy, is the market leader for the Listed bet365 Stakes after a promising second in the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot. Meanwhile, the defection of favourite Emily Upjohn leaves Magical Lagoon as the one to beat in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks. At Market Rasen, Manofthemountain is tipped to end a losing run in the Summer Plate Handicap Chase, while Cirque Royal brings a progressive profile to the handicap hurdle, and Apache Creek can strike for the Jonjo O'Neill team.
