Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Trust fancied Chipotle
CHIPOTLE can scoop the near £100,000 first prize in the Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury.
There is the temptation, of course, to look away from a potentially short-priced favourite in a 22-runner race, which has had a fair share of long-priced winners over the years.
Equally, however, the 100-30 head of the market prevailed 12 months ago, and there is no question that Chipotle has outstanding credentials.
Eve Johnston Houghton’s colt is a three-time winner, from his four starts, up to Listed level. He began his career by proving himself a leading light among the early two-year-olds with victory in the Brocklesby at Doncaster – where the reopposing Vintage Clarets was four lengths adrift in fourth.
Chipotle subsequently took a conditions race at Ascot and most recently overcame a slow start to take the Windsor Castle Stakes at the Royal meeting.
His only defeat has come at that same Listed level, when encountering soft ground at Sandown in the National Stakes.
Back on a sound surface now and still at the minimum trip, Chipotle’s only comparable challenger on ratings is Coventry Stakes third and dual winner Vintage Clarets.
A duel is therefore in prospect from their wide draws, and although the form book has precious little between them, Chipotle won last time in the manner of a classy juvenile who can continue to progress.
The lightly-raced Zeeband has looked a young stayer to watch, and he can prove the point by winning the Bahrain Turf Series Handicap. The fouryear-old, trained by Roger Varian, appreciated the step up to an extended two miles when winning the consolation race for the Northumberland Plate.