Newbury Preview: Spirit can land the hat-trick

The progressive My Spirit looks capable of defying a rise in the weights and maintaining her unbeaten record in the 1m 2f handicap at Newbury this evening (8.35).

The William Haggas trained filly looked a nice sort when finishing strongly and showing a nice turn of foot to score on debut at Nottingham, and duly had little problem following up in a 1m 1f handicap at Carlisle earlier in the month.

The daughter of Invincible Spirit raced keenly in fourth place in the latter, before making good headway two from home and quickening well to beat Maven by a length.

The pair pulled 11 lengths clear of the third to give the form a solid look, and My Spirit scored with far more in hand than the winning margin suggests.

The handicapper has reacted by putting up My Spirit 8lb, but the three-year-old looks on a serious upward curve and one to keep firmly on side.

My Spirit also now gets the services of Ryan Moore in the saddle for the first time, and he has a 22.5% strike rate when teaming up with the stable in the past 12 months.

Perfect Muse has finished runner-up in her last four starts but looks to have been a good opportunity to go one better in the 5f handicap that closes proceedings (9.05).

The daughter of Oasis Dream was denied a clear run when last seen in action on the at Lingfield and failing by only a short-head to overhaul Whitecrest.

Although now 4lb higher in the weights, the Clive Cox trained filly would have won that contest had things gone to plan and is effectively a winner without a penalty.

The four-year-old is also open to further improvement after just six starts, and granted better luck in-running this looks a nice opening for Perfect Muse to notch her first success.

Selections:
6.20: Conquestadim
6.55: Dubai Breeze
7.25: Star of Spring
8.00: Prim And Proper
8.35: My Spirit (NAP)
9.00: Perfect Muse (NB)