Supplicant 3.25 Pontefract 5/1 Nap
I really like the look of Richard Faheys Supplicant in this 6 furlong sprint, he was a G2 winner at 2 but things didn't quite go to plan for him as a 3 year old, and as a result he has slipped right down the handicap. There where some positives towards the back end of the season when he was 2nd by a head on his penultimate start behind Spinatrix who went on to win again NTO. Supplicant ran massively below par on his final start a week later behind Spinatrix again, though I'm prepared to forgive him that in what was his 8th run of the season. He goes again off 95 tomorrow, and has a great draw in 2, and with the usual progression from 3 to 4 with sprinters he should be very well handicapped off 95. He is also no stranger to winning first time up, having done that on his debut as a 2 year old. Paul Hanagan is in the saddle aswell which is a good jockey booking.
The favourite in the race is Lexington Abbey who finished 4th of 21 in a 0-95 off 89 LTO. He has been put up a pound and is going up in class as this ones a 0-100, and he doesn't have a great draw in 8, so I think theres enough reason to oppose him. The only other horse of note in my opinion is the bottom weight Yeeoow off 84 who's drawn 1. At his best he was rated in the 90s, but has been running on the all weather throughout the winter, so a return to turf could see him refind some of his old form, and his form certainly suggests he is better on the turf than the AW. But he hasn't won for 20+ runs so it's hard to give him a chance even off what looks a good mark.