Hi all,
It was a tough on Tuesday which just goes to show how you can be on a high one day and then quickly brought down to earth the next.
No time to dwell as we move on to day two of the Goodwood Festival. The highlight of the card is the Group 1 Sussex Stakes and another ‘Duel On The Downs’.
It’s day three of the Galway Festival with the feature race of the whole meeting and the biggest jumps race of the summer the Galway Plate.
Let’s begin today’s preview at Goodwood.
Goodwood
1:10 – British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Handicap (Class 2) – 1m 2f
Just like Tuesday, it’s the fillies that get the seven-race card underway. Just the eight are declared to go to post.
Waliyak heads the market after a career best effort in finishing runner-up in the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot. She’s bred to improve for today’s step up to 1m 2f and looks the one to beat.
William Haggas saddles two in Ghaziyah & Nkosikazi. The latter has improved to both her starts this season including a weak Group 3 at Newmarket last month. Raised 8lb for that success and she’s vulnerable to unexposed fillies in the field. Ghaziyah is a 4-year-old but has only had the five starts. She improved with each of her starts last year ending the season finishing runner up in a Newmarket handicap. This is her first start for 298-days but she did win first time up last season so should be fit enough.
Dean Street Doll represents the very much in form David Menuisier yard. Fifth in last years Irish 1000 Guineas for her previous trainer she then seemed to lose her way and was switched to his present trainer. Seems to be progressing with each of her three starts this season. Last time out she ran well to finish 4th of 7 at Sandown 24-days ago. She’s unexposed over 1m 2f, that was just her second run over the distance, and has dropped 1lb since Sandown. Ryan Moore who rode her last time stays in the saddle and I think she’ll run well.
Dean Street Doll – 11/1 @ Bet365 & Coral
1:45 – Unibet You’re On Goodwood Handicap (Class 2) – 2m 4 ½ f
Oleg a winner over fences last Autumn returned from a winter break to win on the fibresand at Southwell. He then followed up at Pontefract over 2m 1f last month. Has only been raised 3lb for that win and remains on a winnable mark.
True Destiny won three times last year and finished 3rd of 19 in this race 12 months ago. Has returned in great form finishing runner-up at Kempton and then 3rd of 11 in the Marsh Cup Handicap at Newbury. The drier the ground the better he is.
Mark Johnston saddles a couple of live contenders in Summer Moon & Rochester House. The former finished a ½ length 3rd of 30 in last year’s Cesarewitch at Newmarket last Autumn. And matched that form when third in the Ascot Stakes at the Royal Meeting. Ran too bad to be true when last of 5 in a Group 3 at Sandown 24-days ago and is from a stable where horses often bounce back from a poor run. Rochester House finished 5th in the Ascot Stakes and was doing his best work at the finish that day. Reproduced that form when 5th in the Marsh Cup. The step up in trip should be in his favour and can continue to run well.
1pt win – Oleg – 8/1 @ Coral
1pt win – Rochester House – 8/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes
2:15 – Unibet 3 Boosts A Day Handicap (Class 2) – 1m 4f
Win O’Clock, a winner at Haydock,finished 7th of 17 in theKing George V Handicap at Royal Ascot. Dropped back to 1m 2f posed no problem for the son of Australia, as beat two rivals at Leicester in Class 4 company. Up 4lb in a better race but he’s progressive and should run well.
Carlos Felix took a big step up in trip on his second start of the season when winning at Ascot 18-days ago. He’s gone up 10lb in the weights for that win but looks the sort to continue to improve with racing.
A Star Above is another whose improving with racing and made a winning handicap at Leicester on just his fourth career start. Up 7lb in a better race but is another capable of further improvement.
Sarvan has improved with each of his three starts this season and impressed when winning a Pontefract maiden 22-days ago. Well backed that day and races like he will progress further for the step up to 1m 4f. Handicap debut off what looks a workable mark.
You can never rule out a Mark Johnston horse at the course and his runner Glenties showed he remain on the upgrade when finishing off strongly to win at Windsor 16-days ago. Up 4lb in a better race but is unexposed over this sort of trip.
1pt win – Win O’Clock – 5/1 @ Bet365 & Coral
1pt win – Sarvan – 9/1 @ Bet365
2:45 – Markel Insurance Molecomb Stakes (Group 3) – 5f
Irish raider Steel Bull created a very favourable impression when winning a maiden auction at Naas just 7-days ago. Knew his job that day and looks a useful juvenile. Interesting that connections turn him out quickly for this and I think he can close with normal improvement.
3:15 – Qatar Sussex Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) (Class 1) – 1m
A small but select field for this year’s renewal but what a good field it is. We have the English & Irish 2000 Guineas winners Kameko & Siskin, three-time Group 1 winner Circus Maximus and the back to form Mohaather. Add in Wichita and the potential improver Vatican City and you have the makings of the race of the meeting, if not the season.
4:20 – Theo Fennell Handicap (Class 3) – 7f
Just the twenty runners for the ‘lucky last’.
Society Lion, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, is sure to be popular after his good second at Doncaster 24-days ago. He travelled like a good horse that day and showed notable change of gear to take up the running a furlong out. Has a wide draw in 16 to overcome though!
Dirty Rascal has yet to hit form on his three start this season but did win this race 12 months ago and has dropped down to the same mark. This track clearly suits and he can’t be ruled out from a handy low draw.
Battered won over C&D at this meeting three years ago. He’s been more hit than miss since switching to Ralph Beckett but even on his best form of last season is handicapped to win a race. Maybe better on softer ground but can’t be totally ruled out if on a going day.
Arigato twice winner over 7f at Newmarket this season wasn’t disgraced when 4th of 17 in the Bunbury Cup 18-days ago. Same mark in a slightly easier race and should continue to run well from stall one.
Mottrib hails from a stable that had a winner here yesterday. The 3-year-old has a decent draw in stall ten and makes his handicap debut off a workable mark. The return to 7f should bring out more improvement in the colt.
Toro Strike, a winner at Thirsk as a juvenile, finished a close-up third in a C&D nursery at this meeting 12 months ago before finishing third in a valuable Sales race at Doncaster on his final start of 2019. Shaped well when 5th of 22 in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot on his return to action. He seems to be going the right way and shouldn’t be inconvenienced by the drop back to 7f. Osin Murphy has been booked for the ride and he’s 3 wins from 3 rides +12 when combining with trainer Richard Fahey.
1pt win – Toro Strike – 7/1 @ Bet365
Galway
I have had a look at couple of races at Galway, including the Plate.
6:45 – Tote Galway Plate (Handicap Chase) (Grade A) – 2m 6 ½ f
With €118,000 on offer to the winner this historic handicap chase has attracted the usual strong field. Of the 22 runners you can make some sort of case for 17 of them which just shows how competitive a renewal it is.
Gordon Elliott has won three of the last four running’s of the race and Henry De Bromhead trained the winner in 2015 & 2018. Both have runners again this year. Elliott saddles five and De Bromhead two. Looking first at some of Elliott contenders.
Recent Killarney winner Galvin heads the market for Gordon Elliott, that was the 6-year-old’s first win over fences but he was an excellent second to Imperial Aura in the novices’ handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Big chance if his jumping holds up in this company.
The Storyteller, also trained by Gordon Elliott, has won his fair share of races over both hurdles and fences, including a Grade 1 novices chase at the Punchestown Festival in 2018. Looked like he would win the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham when taking the lead at the last but was just outstayed in the final 50yds. Sean O’Keeffe talks off a handy 5lb and the 9-year-old has a good chance on his best form.
Three Musketeers landed a valuable big field handicap hurdle at Aintree on his debut for Gordon Elliott in April 2019. Just the two starts since but returned from a 435-day absence to finish 2nd of 14 in the Midlands National at Kilbeggan 19-days ago. Up 4lb for his nose defeat but Conor McNamara has been booked to take off 5lb which negates the 9-year-old’s rise in the weights. A reproduction of that run would see him go close.
Of the Henry De Bromhead pair the one I like is Spyglass Hill. The 7-year-old lacks the experience of most of his rivals, having just had the four starts over fences. Looked to be still in with a chance when falling two out in a Grade 3 novice chase at Naas before running out at easy winner of a beginner’s chase at Gowran Park. First run since February but won first time up last season so fitness should be a problem. Might prefer softer ground but looks on a decent mark for his handicap debut.
Champion trainer Willie Mullins saddles six and is seeking his first Galway Plate success since 2011. Royal Rendezvous is the choice of Paul Townend. Two from over fourover fences last season.The 8-year-old ended last season with a last gasp success in a Grade 3 at Naas in March. A winner here over hurdles he should go well.
Easy Game is even less experienced than his stablemate. The 6-year-old won on chase debut at Leopardstown in December before running Faugheen to ½ length in the Grade 1 Flogas Novices Chase back at the same venue at the Dublin Racing festival. Was beaten when falling at the last in the RSA Novices Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Handicap debut off 154 but was a classy novice chaser and won’t have any problem with underfoot conditions.
Snugsborough Benny won the ‘Blazer’s over C&D in 2018 and finished third in this 12 months ago. Had a prep over hurdles at Kilbeggan 19-days ago and will be fitter with that run under his belt. Now 2lb higher but the first time cheekpieces are applied and given his liking for the track can’t be ruled out with any confidence.
Early Doors, trained by Joseph O’Brien, is another fitted with the first time cheekpieces for his handicap chase debut. Just the four starts over fences. He’s yet to win over the larger obstacles but has finished runner-up in three of them, including in a beginners’ chase over C&D 12 months ago. Had run over hurdle last month so should be spot on fitness wise. A Cheltenham Festival winner over hurdles last year he starts his handicap chase career off could be a lenient mark for powerful connections. He’s another who will appreciate any ease in the ground.
Plate Verdict: Galvin, Easy Game and Early Doors all have claims but my picks are Royal Rendezvous and Three Musketeers.
1pt win – Royal Rendezvous – 9/1 @ Coral
0.5pts each way – Three Musketeers – 20/1 @ Bet365 (paying 5 places ¼ odds)
7:15 – Tote Proud Sponsor Of The Galway Races Handicap Chase – 2m 2f
All The Answers won this 12 months ago when trained by Joseph O’Brien. Still owned by J P McManus but has now moved to Aidan Anthony Howard stable. The 9-year-old is having his first start since finishing down the field in the Kerry National 322-days ago. Has gone well fresh in the past and although he’s 9lb higher than last year he’s only had the nine starts over fences so remains open to a bit more improvement.
Thecraicisninety returned from a 253-day absence to finish an excellent 2nd of 13 at Kilbeggan 30-days ago. Just 1lb higher here, will like the good ground and looks set for a big run.
Rewritetherules is an interesting contender for the ‘Shark’ Hanlon yard. A twice winning hunter chaser in points at the beginning of the year before pulling up in the Foxhunters at Cheltenham. Is 4lb out of the handicap here but 5lb conditional Conor McNamara has been booked which means he can run off his correct mark. Well suited to good ground he hasn’t ben disgraced two starts over hurdles since Irish jump racing returned. Makes his handicap chase debut off what could be a good mark of 120.
1pt win – Rewritetherules – 15/2 @ Bet365
1pt win – All The Answers – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John