No Barrier to Reef

Barrier reef looks a great bet to give Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien his second major success in Britain this month by winning the Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury today.

Stravinsky stormed to victory in the Group One Darley July Cup last week and O'Brien can now give Ireland their first-ever win in this £125,000-added event over an extended five furlongs.

Barrier Reef may not be in the Stravinsky class, but he showed that he had speed to burn when making a successful debut at Navan a month ago.

A well-backed favourite, the punters' money was safe from the moment the stalls opened with Mick Kinane taking his mount to the front.

Barrier Reef romped home in the 13-runner six-furlong event by six lengths from the subsequently disqualified Saintly Sow'n'Sow.

The form may not amount to much but Barrier Reef won as he liked and showed that he has every chance of providing Ireland with their first success in this race which is restricted to horses bought for 30,000 guineas or less at five of the major sales rings in Britain or Ireland.

Arkadian Hero returned to his best when fourth to Stravinsky at Newmarket and can land an overdue success in the L'Exclusive De Ruinart Champagne Stakes, formerly the Hackwood Stakes.

Luca Cumani's sprinter has not won since taking the Group Two Mill Reef Stakes here as a two-year-old but his luck can change in this Listed race over this six furlongs on the fast ground he loves.

Cumani has enjoyed tremendous success with fillies and the well-bred Innuendo can continue the trend by winning the Foodbrokers Aphrodite Stakes, a Listed race over a mile and a half at Newmarket.

He trained the four-year-old's dam Infamy and Innuendo showed progressive form throughout last season ending the campaign with victory in a similar race on the Rowley Mile course last October.

The day's Showcase Handicap, the Foodbrokers Animal Health Trust Trophy, is best left to Fair Warning, trained by John Hills.

He looked desperately unlucky when third to Hoh Steamer at Ascot on his latest start, having being stopped twice in his run.

Sandmoor Chambray has cut no ice in the John Smith's Cup at York or Sandown's Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy on his last two starts, but is one to consider in the Leeds Hospital Fund Handicap at Ripon.

Ben Hanbury's progressive three-year-old Enfilade can show his older rivals a clean pair of heels in the Ripon Bell-Ringer Handicap.

Blundering judge Jane Stickels has kept her job but will miss out on the prestige meetings when her bosses eventually allow her to return to action.