Newmarket Tip: Sutton Veny

The 2.45 at Newmarket is a unique event in the flat season; it is a race restricted to grey horses. Often dismissed as a gimmick, the £20,000 prize fund is serious money for connections.

Due to the eligibility constraints the race is often weaker than other 0-85 handicaps. Looking at the field, 14 of the 20 declared runners are more than 10lbs below the handicap ceiling. Despite the prize fund, this is a weak class four race, verging on class five status.

Rated 84, one of the best horses in the field is Sutton Veny. Unlike many of her rivals she also arrives in excellent form. She finished a close sixth in a higher grade at Goodwood last time, in the process clocking a speed rating far better than her rivals have ever achieved.

An all weather specialist, Jeremey Gask has experimented with waiting tactics for the horse. Previously a one-dimensional front runner, she now makes her moves from off the pace, helping to see out her races better on turf. This has borne fruit this season with excellent results on grass.

The one thing Sutton Veny doesn’t want is soft ground. Favourite for the race last year, she was scuppered by constant rain turning the going soft. She finished 1.5 lengths behind the winner and probably would have won on better ground. Currently the official going is good to firm and with no rain forecast she should go well.