AUGUSTUS TO ATONE FOR LATEST DQ

16:05 Newbury

The 16:05 at Newbury is a Class 5 handicap where currently 14 head to post. The going is good to firm at the time of writing.

The 4 market principals have arguably the 4 top jockeys on board at the moment. Tom Marquand (Secret Haunt), Ryan Moore (Aussie Rascal), James Doyle (Doctor Churchill) and Oisin Murphy (Semper Augustus).

Semper Augustus was harshly disqualified last time out at Thirsk over the same distance after a very decent run. I think the fast ground will suit him well as he bids to break his maiden for the KVT Syndicate. He's been rated 68 in his last 4 runs where his form reads 3324, the 4th was then disqualified but as stated, I think this was very very harsh.

Semper Augustus is currently around 8/1 and I think he's the best each way play of the 4 market principals. Oisin Murphy is on board and he is leading the Flat Jockey Championship at the moment. Oisin currently boasts an impressive record at Newbury with a £12.04 P/L and 19.64% strike rate.

The favourite is Secret Haunt. Her pedigree suggests that she's better than her current rating of 67 and she shaped well last time out coming 2nd behind Mark Johnston's Alhaajeb. That performance came on polytrack, so how she'll take to fast turf is an unknown.

My selection is going to be with the KVT Syndicates Semper Augustus at the price of 8/1 at the time of writing.

SEMPER AUGUSTUS (E/W)

written by Charlie Sharp