Hi all,
Saturday’s highlights include a second day of action at Goodwood with the Group 2 Celebration Mile (3.35) worth £125,000 is highlight of a valuable card which also includes two Group 3s, the £100,000 March Stakes (3.00) and £60,000 Prestige Stakes (1.50).
The Celebration Stakes see’s the return of the smart Benbatl who will be one of the leading fancies for the Goodwood feature race.
The ITV cameras will be broadcasting four races from Goodwood plus the best of the action from Newmarket and Beverley where the feature race is the Listed Beverley Bullet (3:15). The last two winners of the ‘Bullet’ Dakota Gold and Judicial are among the 12 declare runners.
As ever I’m looking at the all the ITV races in this Saturday preview beginning at the principal meeting Goodwood.
Goodwood
The going at Goodwood is good, good to firm in places and with the weather set fair they be racing on good quick ground.
1:50 – tote Prestige Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies) – 7f
Eleven juveniles are set to go to post. Hello You has been keeping good company since winning at Wolverhampton on her racecourse debut. Finishing runner-up in the Albany at Royal Ascot and third in a Group 2 at Newmarket. Only 6th on first start for a new yard in the Lowther Stakes at York last week. Shaped last time like a step up to 7f will suit but she does need to settle better than she did at York.
There are plenty of unexposed fillies in the field who will test Hello You including the well bred Daneh who followed up her racecourse debut win at Kempton with a solid third in a Group 3 at Deauville last time.
Mark Johnson saddled the winner of this in 2015 and runs Value Theory who won a Newmarket novice (good to firm) on her second start and improved further when a 2 ¼ length 3rd of 10 in the Group 3 Sweet Solara Stakes back at the same venue. Handy draw in stall three for a front runner but could face competition for the lead.
Ralph Beckett won this with Antonia De Vega in 2018 and has Prosperous Voyage here. A winner at Epsom two starts back. The daughter of Zoffany improved again to finish runner-up under a penalty at Chester last time. Open to further improvement and she should be fine on the track.
Tinderbox won at Kempton last time and the runner-up won easily at Newmarket yesterday. The Andrew Balding trained Wilderness Girl won over C&D maiden (good to soft) at the Qatar Goodwood Festival and should be capable of winning more races.
Mise En Scene and Clitheroe are the least experienced having just had the one run each. Mise En Scene won at Haydock on her racecourse debut and is open to further progress. Clitheroe finished runner-up at Newbury on her first start. The daughter of Ribchester was a very expensive £590,000 Breeze Up purchase. Might well have made a winning racecourse debut at Newbury but for running green in the final stages. Should be sharper now and today’s extra furlong is set to suit.
Verdict: A very interesting renewal. The lightly raced Mise En Scene and Clitheroe are capable of better. As is Value Theory who has a handy low draw and could be hard to pass if she was to get out in front.
1pt win – Value Theory – 15/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power
1pt win – Clitheroe – 7/1 @ Ladbrokes
2:25 – tote Quadpot Starts Here Handicap (Class 2) – 7f
A slightly disappointing field for this handicap. Clive Cox has the font two in the market with Aratus & Dance Fever.
Aratus landed the hat trick when winning on his handicap debut at Newbury. The colt showed a nice turn of foot to take up it up a furlong out and was always holding the closing runner-up. Suited by a sound surface and will be hard to beat off just 4lb higher.
Like his stablemate Dance Fever goes well on quick ground. A ½ length 3rd of 19 behind Danyah in the International Handicap at Ascot two starts back. He also ran well under a big weight when a ½ length runner-up behind an improver at Doncaster last time.
Persuasion a juvenile winner at the track looked set for a good season when beating 12 rivals at Haydock on his seasonal return in April. Was said to have burst a blood vessel when down the field in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot last time. Now 3lb higher than for his Haydock win but not of this if reproducing his best.
Kimfive is having his first start for David Bridgewater. The 7-year-old is a former C&D winner and ran his best race when beaten a short head in last season’s Stewards Cup, off 4lb higher. Well handicapped if at his best. Trainer is better known for his National Hunt horses but he does have a good record with his stable switchers – 19 winners from 91 runners 21% +32.13.
Verdict: Kimifive is well handicapped if the change in stable has freshened him up. Persuasion is better than he was able to show last time and has won here in the past. The Clive Cox pair of Aratus and Dance Fever have obvious claims and preference is for the former if he handles the track.
1pt win – Persuasion – 10/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
3:00 – tote March Stakes (Group 3) (In Memory Of John Dunlop) – 1m 6f
This looks a weak renewal of the March Stakes with a likely odds-on favourite.
Nagano won a competitive handicap here over 1m 4f last time. Seems ikely to stay beyond 1½m and remains open to plenty of improvement. The ground was soft last time and if he’s as effective on quicker ground is the one to beat.
Dancing King is a consistent and useful 3-year-old. He looks set to lead again and will be hard to pass if his jockey gets the fractions right. That said he’s not as open to as much improved as Nagano.
3:35 – tote Celebration Mile (Group 2) (Class 1) – 1m
The race sees the return of the high class Benbatl who hasn’t raced for almost a year. Drying ground is a big positive for the 7-year-old who has won off a lay off in the past and remains the one to beat.
Duke Of Hazzard won this in 2019 and his form figures here on good or quicker ground are 1112. His only poor run at Goodwood came in this race last year but the ground was soft that day which wouldn’t have suited. Not at his best so far this season although he did run with a bit more promise at York last Saturday and a return to Goodwood could see him back to his best.
Chindit, a very useful juvenile, looked set for a good season when coming from behind to win the Group 3 Greenham Stakes at Newbury on his seasonal reappearance. Fourth in the 2,000 Guineas on his next start. He’s been highly tried in Group 1 company since at Royal Ascot and when a 3-length 5th of 8 behind Palace Pier in the Jacques le Marois at Deauville last time. Slightly calmer waters and if handles the Goodwood undulations won’t be far away.
Mutasaabeq an impressive winner at Newmarket’s Craven Meeting. He was well fancied for the 2,000 Guineas (6/1) but found the race to hot, on just his third career start, finishing 7th of 14. Ran no sort of race in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. Ground versatile, he should stay a mile and although he needs to improve to win, but could yet fulfil his early potential.
The 3-year-old Perotto goes well here, twice a winner in the past, and he wasn’t disgraced when 4th of 7 in his first run in pattern company over C&D two starts back. The return to a sounder surface suited him even better when a 1 length 3rd of 10 in the Group 3 Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury 16-days ago. Needs to improve again but he’s a 3-year-old going the right way.
Verdict: All eyes on the smart Benbatl on his return from a long absence. Chindit and Mutasaabeq are big threats although I’m not sure the former will like the track. No issues with the track or quick ground for Perotto or previous race winner Duke Of Hazzard.
1pt each way – Duke Of Hazzard – 12/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
1pt win – Perotto – 8/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power
Beverley
2:05 – William Hill Silver Cup Handicap (Class 2) – 1m 2f
Barn Owl a Ripon winner in June has finished runner-up on his last two starts. Needs the addition of the first time cheekpieces to eke out some improvement to win this. Looks plenty short enough in the overnight betting and worth taking on.
Titian is having his first start of the season and is bred to stay 1m 2f as 3-year-old. Might prefer a softer surface though.
Mark Johnson saddles two in His Excellency & March Law. The latter is having his first start for 418-days but is interesting on his 2nd of 8 to Battleground in last year’s Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot. He didn’t have to reach that level of form when winning a match at Ayr. Not sure what’s kept him off the track for so long but he’s bred to improve for 1m 2f as a 3-year-old.
Farhan looked set for a good season when beaten a nose on his seasonal return at Salisbury in May and wasn’t disgraced although not at the level of his Salisbury form when 4th of 10 at York 12-days later. Back to form after a 12-week layoff when a neck 2nd of 7 at Sandown last time. Handicapped to go close but may be better with more ease in the ground.
Life On The Rocks represents Richard Fahey who saddled the winner of this in 2016 & 2017. The colt showed ability on his first three starts for Kevin Ryan in maiden/novice company. Caught the eye when 3rd of 6 at Ripon on his stable debut 14-days ago. Might not have been totally at home at the track that day and wasn’t subjected to hard race when his jockey realized his chance had gone. Remains unexposed, is suited by quick ground and looks on a good mark off 76.
Verdict: At the prices I’m happy to take on Barn Owl. I’m not sure the quick ground will suit Titian or Farhan. Life On The Rocks looks to have the most scope for improvement off his present mark and has a good chance of giving trainer Richard Fahey a third win in the race. March Law returns from a long absence but must be considered a strong contender.
1pt win – March Law – 9/1 @ Bet365
3:15 – William Hill Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes (Listed Race) – 5f
The draw has been important consideration when it comes to finding the winner of the Beverley Bullet. Of the last 13 winners of the race, ten of them were drawn in the first four stalls. That’s 10 winners from 48 runners + 31.5 20 placed. As a comparison those drawn five plus have produced 3 winners from 95 runners -73.5 18 placed.
At the head of the ante post betting is the admirable Judicial (5) trained by Julie Camacho. The 9-year-old bounced back to form when winning a Listed race at Chester 27-days ago. The drying ground will suit and he won the race in 2019. He looks a worthy favourite and granted a favourable draw is the one to beat.
William Haggas saddles Hurricane Ivor (12) and he’s very interesting after his effort in a valuable sprint handicap at York last week, A stiff 5f should really suit the unexposed 4-year-old but his wide draw looks a negative.
Dakota Gold (10) won last year’s race but it was soft ground that day and he’s a much better horse when he can get his toe in and only finished runner-up to Judicial at Chester last time.
Lampang (2) is suited to quick ground, will be more at home in a smaller field and has had much better luck with the draw today.
Tarboosh (9) tends hit form in the second half of the season and nine of his twelve career wins have come from August onwards. A dual C&D winner he finished 5th in last year’s race.
Tis Marvellous (6) was sent off 2/1 favourite when a close-up 5th in the race in 2019 and was bit unlucky as he didn’t get any sort of run on the far rail. Comes into race in winning form after a 5f handicap success at the Shergar Cup.
Significantly (3) runner up to the smart Creative Force and Dragon Symbol in the spring and improved again for the return to handicap company when landing two 5f handicaps at Ascot. Slowly away and had little chance thereafter when only 4th of 8 back at Ascot last time. Better than he was able to show last time and has nice low draw to work with here. Might be better with some juice in the ground
Justanotherbottle (1) ran away with the Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon last time. The first-time blinkers had the desired effect there and if the headgear continues to work he’s not out of this from his rail draw.
Ostilio (4) is slowly adapting to going sprinting but seems to be slowly getting the hang of it. Was set too much to do when a 3 ¾ length 9th of 22 over 5 ½ at York 10-days ago. Good draw but may need an extra furlong and easier surface to score.
Verdict: if it wasn’t for his wide draw, I would strongly fancy Hurricane Ivor. Dakota Gold surely wants more ease in the ground. There are no going or draw concerns for Judicial who must have a great chance of winning this race for a second time. Lampang will like the ground and has a handy low draw. Another with a good draw is Significantly and if the ground isn’t too quick the 3-year-old won’t be far away.
1pt win – Judicial – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Newmarket
2:45 – Close Brothers Hopeful Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) – 6f
Tabdeed a Group 3 winner at Newbury last season and was a close-up third in the same race last month. The one to beat back down into Listed company here.
Khaadem would go closeif reproducing last year’s best form when finishing 4th in both the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and in the July Cup over C&D. Not at that level of form this season and needs the first-time blinkers to galvanize him back to his best. Return to quick ground is a positive.
Chiefofchiefs must be respected on his excellent 5th of 22 in the Stewards Cup and 4th of 21 in the Wokingham Handicap. The quick ground will suit and if they go hard up front the 8-year-old could get into the places from off the pace.
Royal Scimitar is another stepping out of handicap company. The 3-year-old caught the eye when a ½ length 4th of 17 over C&D two starts back. The drop back to sprinting has seemed to suit him. Missed the start badly at the Shergar Cup last time but still ran a cracker to finish a ½ length 3rd of 9 . The good to soft ground wouldn’t have suited him at Ascot and he will be better suited by a return to quick ground. Remains unexposed as a sprinter and although he does need to improve to beat the likes of Tabdeed he could be capable of doing so. Looks set for a big run for the inform Clive Cox yard.
Adaay To Remember made it 2-4 when winning on her handicap debut over C&D 28-days ago. She did hang markedly left a furlong out but still ran out a comfortable 3 ½ length winner. Maybe it was quick ground that led to her waywardness last time, if it was then it be a worry today. That said she’s filly on the upgrade and whilst she needs to improve again it can’t be ruled out given her lightly raced profile.
Verdict: An interesting contest. Tabdeed, a Group 3 winner last season has the strongest form claims. Khaadem would go close if reproducing his 2020 July Cup C&D or Diamond Jubilee performances and is interesting in the first-time blinkers. Adaay to Remember is a filly inform and can’t be ruled out although she needs to improve again to win. Royal Scimitar is another inform contender and the quick ground is a definite plus for the 3-year-old.
1pt win – Khaadem – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John