REDCAR'S bright new initiative of staging a £50,000 sprint handicap for three-year-olds has been rewarded with a useful field for the inaugural running of the richest race in Britain tomorrow.
A total of 14 horses are set to line-up for the Weatherbys Insurance Summer Sprint over six furlongs.
Sir Michael Stoute appears to hold the key with Mutamarres, the mount of Derby-winning jockey Martin Dwyer.
A Ripon winner two outings ago, Mutamarres was beaten by only a head by Dark Missile in a hugely-competitive and valuable handicap at Newmarket's July meeting last week.
The fact that Sir Michael has identified this good prize as a target for his progressive three-year-old is a hint worth taking and Mutamarres is napped to overcome Grazeon Gold Blend and Blazing Heights.
Middleham trainer Mark Johnston can get punters off to a good start by winning the opening race, the Brooke Equine Charity Maiden Stakes, with White Deer.
Although he was outpaced on his debut at Carlisle, where he finished unplaced, White Deer caught the eye with his general physique.
The step up to seven furlongs tomorrow should suit him and he is expected to leave his debut display well behind.
Butterfly Bud goes in search of deserved compensation in the Electrolux Handicap.
Jimmy O'Reilly's sprinter failed by just a short-head to beat Wheelavit at Nottingham last week and is fancied to go one better.
Richard Fahey is going great guns at present and the Malton trainer can land the Gaffney Industrial & Welding Supplies Handicap with Shaydreambeliever, who left the impression that his winning turn was near when finishing second at Chester last weekend.
Richard Whitaker is another trainer with his horses in excellent heart. Keep an eye out for his Mr Majestic in the Hot Chocolate Plays Redcar 24th August Apprentice Handicap.
The increasingly impressive Michael Stainton has the mount on the four-year-old, who goes well on this course.
Racing Selections
Today
Today's Nap: Mount Usher (Ripon 3.20).
Today's meetings: Haydock (evening, Flat), Lingfield (evening, flat, races on turf and the all-weather track), Market Rasen (afternoon, National Hunt), Newbury (afternoon, Flat), Newmarket (afternoon, Flat), Ripon (afternoon, Flat)
Tomorrow
Redcar: 2.20 White Deer, 2.50 Butterfly Bud, 3.20 Shaydreambeliever, 3.50 Mutamarres (Nap), 4.20 Thornaby Green, 4.50 Mr Majestic.
Stratford: 2.10 Is It Me, 2.40 Wiscalitus, 3.10 Mungo Jerry, 3.40 Maidstone Monument, 4.10 Sky Warrior, 4.40 Jacaranda.
Tomorrow's other meeting: Newton Abbot (afternoon, National Hunt).
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