USING stopwatch figures as the definitive guide, Tournedos (3.00) must hold an outstanding chance in by far the most valuable race of the day, the £135,000 Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury, writes Colin Woods.

The collateral evidence of the clock is especially useful when assessing two-year-olds over sprint trips and Tournedos has done little wrong in three career starts which include a debut track and trip success, as well as finishing runner-up in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Considering Mick Channon's juvenile only cost 30,000 euros, about twenty grand in our money, owners Ridgeway Downs Racing are looking at a massive return on their investment if the colt lands the five-furlong feature.

Although the contest is certain to be run at a helter-skelter pace from the minute the stalls fly open, don't expect jockey Ted Durcan to have Tournedos on the premises until the closing stages.

Durcan doesn't need to pull the trigger in the first half of the race because his horse possesses a high cruising speed, off which Tournados has the invaluable asset of being able to quicken once maximum effort is required when the winning post comes into view.

Two northern challengers worthy of a mention are Imperial Sound and Bond City. Both have each-ways claims, with preference marginally for Imperial Sound, who didn't do himself justice at Beverley 15 days ago, but was impressive the time before.

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