IT IS Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes day at Newbury and I have to confess I have always had an aversion to having a wager in the feature event for a number of reasons. Firstly, backing juveniles simply isn’t my thing with so many imponderables on the table and secondly one slight bit of bad luck in running in this rapidly run race could ultimately cost a horse a winning chance as there is very little time to get back on an even keel and roll again.

This year’s renewal sees a horse rated as low as 44 (ridiculous) taking on the top ranked charges that are namely Bint Archange (rated 94), Vollering (91), Bill The Bull (88) and Final Appeal (86).

Of that quartet I much prefer the filly Vollering who was 10 lengths off subsequent Queen Mary winner Victorious in a Group Three event at Naas and then ran two very solid races in Listed company in France at Chantilly and Deauville.

This fast-run five on quick ground should hold no terrors for the daughter of Sioux Nation (won on her debut on good to firm at Redcar) and she is a speed ball pure and simply. I shall be having a saver on her behind my relatively big priced selection MINSTER BOY (3.37).

At the weights and on the official ratings this son of Calyx has an absolute mountain to climb having been outpaced on his debut at Windsor (finished off nicely into fourth) before stepping up to a sixth furlong and finishing second to the well regarded Mirzimaan here at Newbury.

The evidence of those two runs suggests coming back to the minimum trip will be too sharp for him. But after examining those two races again he travelled strongly on the bridle for a long way, once again a bit keen through the first furlong and a half last time out, before pointing his toe well and finishing his race off nicely.

He is once again drawn on the likely unfavoured far side in stall four, but there seems to be plenty of pace around him and if the bookmakers are offering extra places I think he should at least hit the five in a race where there is a whole lot of dead wood.

Among the other six races on the card there is only one double figure field which is wholly disappointing especially with the good prize money up for grabs and in particular the field of just seven for the Pertemps Handicap over two miles.

Baileys Khelstar has been on a roll for Charlie Johnston winning off marks of 78 and 81 and you would fancy 84 should be well within his compass.

However, those races were not particularly deep and several others are preferred. If only trainer Richard Hughes could get the talented Duraji to settle at home we may well see a better version on the racecourse. Sadly, he has given Finley Marsh no help in the early stages of his last two races, running well at Chester over two and a quarter miles and then way below form at Royal Ascot in the Copper Horse Handicap. If ever he learnt to settle then the five-year-old would be a decent stayer.

Ride The Thunder has a similar mantra through the early part of his races, but did much better last time out when only fading inside the final furlong when a close up sixth behind Align The Stars in the Northumberland Plate.

He should go close here if conserving his energy behind BAHADUR (3.25) about a length and a quarter ahead of the Roger Varian charge at Newcastle. The big differential though was that the selection had a horrible passage way out wide and which meant that he saw too much daylight and it was to his credit that he lasted as long as he did at the sharp end of the race. If William Buick can get him settled early on then a sixth career win, only a second on turf, seems highly likely in this lung-bursting event. As far as the rest of the card is concerned, I also fancy big runs from ARABIAN LIGHT (1.55) in the opening Listed Steventon Stakes and ALL MOONSHINE in the fillies’ handicap at 5.20. The last named looked highly progressive when reeling off a hat-rick of races at three different all-weather tracks. Sent to Royal Ascot for the Kensington Palace Stakes she had no chance racing on the unfavoured far side of the track, finishing 15 of the 24 runners beaten a shade over seven lengths, and will be better suited to this set-up despite having to carry the welter burden of 10 stone.

It is a big day of racing over the sticks at Market Rasen with their big midsummer card and I am really keen on the chance of outsider CHARLUS (2.10) in the Summer Handicap Hurdle. Formerly with Willie Mullins, won a heavy ground Naas maiden hurdle, he has been hugely disappointing since being beaten in 10 races, although his mid division run in the Ebor Handicap on the flat was a fair performance, it is interesting that Dan Skelton has persevered with him as his handicap mark has dropped from 132 to his current level of 122 and there was a bit more light at the end of the tunnel last time out when following wind surgery he ran well for a long way at Newton Abbot.

The theory is that horses run so much better after such a procedure second time around and I am hoping he can finally show his true colours here despite the fact that you obviously have to be a loyal follower to support the son of Churchill again.

The feature Betway Summer Plate Handicap Chase at 2.45 has surprisingly only attracted a field of 13 but affords a massive chance to last year’s runner-up SOUL ICON off a 4lbs higher mark. He rallied really well that afternoon to be beaten a neck by Sure Touch and I am not sure that three miles since then has suited the gelding. He was then subsequently brought down at The Chair early on in the Topham Trophy at Aintree and this has obviously been his aim since.

The nine-year-old gets the vote over the well treated Gunsight Ridge and Pour Les Filles with the last named taken to reverse recent Cartmel form with Breizh River.