Newbury preview: Sagaciously weighted to strike under Doyle

Sagaciously posted a cracking effort when runner-up last time out and can go one better in the 1m 5f handicap on today’s card at Newbury (15.20).

The Ed Dunlop trained filly had some smart form as a juvenile, winning on her debut before finishing a fine fourth to the classy Irish Rookie in a Listed contest at Newmarket.

Sagaciously then shaped as if badly needing the run on her seasonal reappearance at Ascot after 251 days on the sidelines, and duly put in a much improved effort at Newmarket three weeks go when runner-up to Novancia off mark of 87.

The three-year-old looked all over the winner when taking up the running inside the final furlong, but Novancia rallied gamely to get up on the line and prevail by a nose.

It was a really solid performance, and Sagaciously is due to run off a revised mark of 96 in future assignments.

The fact that the daughter of Lawman is able to race in this off 90 means that she is currently 6lb ahead of the assessor, and that gives Sagaciously major claims at the weights.

Sagaciously also remains unexposed and open to further improvement after just four starts and, with James Doyle taking over in the saddle, for the first time looks to have everything in her favour to get back on the winning trail.

In the 5f handicap (16.30), Deeds Not Words can take advantage of huge drop in the weights to land the spoils.