Thoughts on two runners at Newbury today

Covenant makes his debut in the 4.35 at Newbury this afternoon. Steve Drowne takes the ride on the big three year old gelding in the first division of the mile maiden. This trip would be his absolute minimum but as the course is a local and its nice track to introduce a young horse it seemed like a good starting point for a horse who has a hot temperament and wears a hood to help counter this.

Karnage runs in the 5.10. Steve Drowne rides him in the second division of the mile maiden. The step up to a mile following a nice introduction over seven furlongs three weeks ago at Doncaster when he was quite green and tired late on. He has come on for the run and this big colt should put in an improved performance today. He has the advantage of being the only horse in the field with a run this season, fingers crossed he can put it to good use.

Both races are very similar as the conditions of this traditionally very strong maiden state that no horse can have run more than twice. There are therefore a lot of well bred horses that haven’t run or maybe just been to the races once and are very much unknown quantities and anyone of the excitingly bred newcomers could be a future star. In the 4.35 Intilaaq and Ice Lord who have both had one run look the pair to concentrate on Ladurelli is an interesting newcomer. In the 5.10 Wheat Sheaf has the best form of those who have run, Victoriously and Sahaafy are likely to have improved a lot for the experience and Raw Impulse seems a likely contender of the newcomers.