4:30 – Newbury – SALLY, NATASHA, LOUIS MONEM HANDICAP (CLASS 4) (3yo 0-80) Good 6f8y
Byton may well have been let in lightly for her handicap debut with an official rating of 74 considering that she has an improving profile and the way in which she won her Maiden race at Folkestone last time out. The 3 year old bay filly is trained by Henry Candy who has saddled 5 winners in the last 14 days.
Byton has only run three times to date. She made just one appearance last season when she ran at Windsor where she finished 3rd and was noted staying on well on her debut. She made her seasonal reappearance at Lingfield on the all weather surface in May finishing 5th to Dutch Old Master by just 1 ½ lengths which was another promising run. Her last run was at Folkestone 49 days ago when she won a Class 5 Maiden Fillies Stakes by 1 ½ lengths. The form of the race is working out very well as the horses placed 3rd, 4th and 5th have all come out and won again. The race was also noteworthy as Byton’s winning time was 0.41 seconds faster than the standard time for the distance at the track.
The going at Newbury is Good and Byton made her debut on Good ground at Windsor last August and appeared to act well enough on the surface. Her half sister on her dams side, Normandy Maid has won in Good to Soft and Good to Firm ground and her sire Byron’s progeny also act in the going which gives plenty of optimism for Byton chances in the ground.
Byton runs over 6 furlongs again this afternoon which was both the distance that she won over at Folkestone and her debut 3rd place at Windsor last August. Not surprisingly Byron’s progeny do well over sprint trips with a 27% winning strike rate for winners to runners over 5 and 6 furlongs. She is ridden by Dane O’Neill again today who has ridden her on all three of her starts.
Having progressed well in her three runs in Maiden races, further improvement can be anticipated from Byton today. Her last race was run at a true pace which is always better from a form perspective and she won in a fast time with three subsequent winners behind her when she made all to win. She has not been overburdened with her handicap mark and providing that she handles the going she has a good chance of following up again this afternoon.
