I personally took over the Placespotter mantle at the corresponding Newbury meeting last season and that day

was supremely confident of a 25/1 shot in the mud drawn high in the big Sprint race. CLEAR SPRING duly won;

and a few months later I was sat in its yard chatting to John Spearing courtesy of the SP2A Racing Club having

2 horses with John. I keep in regular contact and although we have missed the odd one (Whitecrest recently

I particularly remember what he told me about CLEAR SPRING being a spring horse who needs cut and a

run to get fit and having won this race in 2015 and 2016, I cannot discard it today. It won't be 25/1 but still

offers some each way value, Going will be soft enough, a draw in 12 is fine and the horse actually exceeded

my expectations, and I know the trainers on seasonal debut, on unsuitably firm Going at Newmarket. It ticks

every box and although very rare for us to have it, and we only mention it when factually true, it does come

with some useful inside knowledge, so lets hope for another win for the horse and connections.