Keep it to yourself but Wisper fancied each-way at Newbury tomorrow

September 19

Spyce did everything we hoped he would when confirming his debut promise at Yarmouth on Tuesday, but now in what has been a political week we look to our own “first lady” in Wisper to keep the ball rolling in the mile and a quarter Dubai Duty Free Handicap at Newbury tomorrow.

Wisper only joined us at Barbury at the beginning of May, having proved a money-spinner previously for Marcus Tregoning, but the seven-year-old mare quickly acclimatised to her new surrounds, and, having beaten subsequent Glorious Goodwood winner Westridge at Windsor in June, she was herself unlucky not to finish in the money on those famous Sussex Downs, being beaten only a length and a half into fifth place in a fillies Heritage Handicap at their big summer meeting.

Though twice runner-up on the all-weather, Wisper is much happier on turf, winning seven of her 35 races on her favoured surface. And she ran a blinder on her one previous outing on our local course 17 months ago, being bang in contention at the furlong-pole, only to find her welter burden too much in the closing stages and being run out of the frame close home. Ciaren Fallon rides Wisper for the first time today.

Our only other week-end runner is Nap Hand, who carries the colours of our sponsors, Goodwin Racing, in the two-mile handicap hurdle at Plumpton on Sunday.

Nap Hand was beaten at long odds-on at Market Rasen last time, and, though he had previously won his novice at Stratford, even though he has only four opponents at Plumpton, this looks a hot little contest.