Hi all,
A busy week ahead with Doncaster’s St Leger Festival beginning on Wednesday culminating on Saturday with the latest running of the final English Classic of 2022 season. On Saturday’s it’s also the start of Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown which ends on Sunday at the Curragh. The highlights of an excellent Saturday card are the Group 1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (3.45) and the Group 1 The Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes (4.55).
There’s plenty of rain forecast for both tracks and if it does materialize then we could see some upsets to the form book.
The Listed Oyster Stakes (6:40) is the feature race of an eight-race card at Galway this evening. The best of the action this side of the Irish Sea is at Goodwood. The Sussex track hosts Tuesday’s most valuable race the British EBF 100,000 2yo Fillies Series Final (4:10) which has £100,000 in guaranteed prize money. Add in a couple of Class 2 handicaps and you have decent card for a Tuesday.
Goodwood
3:40 – Whitehaven was a disappointing 8th of 9 here (1m 6f) on his seasonal reappearance in June. The 5-year-old seems to be at his best in the second half of the season with all five of his career wins coming between August & October, albeit four of then have come in October. He’s won on good to soft but four of his wins have come on soft & heavy ground. If the thunderstorms arrive, then he’s capable of going close off his present mark.
4:10 – British EBF 100,000 2yo Fillies Series Final (4:10) – 7f
Two that interest me most for this valuable contest are Fariba and Munch. Fariba built on the promise of her Newcastle debut when winning at Kempton (1m) last month. Drop back to 7f around here is a slight worry but if the rain gets into the ground than it will being her stamina into play. First run on turf but she’s by Farhh so rain softened ground should be fine.
Munch is bred to do better over middle distances, dam won over 1m 4f in France, so its to her credit that she’s been able to win over 7f as 2-year-old. Got within a neck, under a penalty back at Kempton last time shaping like she needed further than 7f. Wouldn’t want a tactical race but there should be a decent gallop on and further ease in the ground should suit her. We likely haven’t seen the best of her yet and she’s one to be interested in going forward.
Galway
6:40 – Ardilaun Hotel Oyster Stakes (Listed Race) (Fillies & Mares) – 1m 4f
The easing of the ground means a big field of fillies and mares for this Listed race.
Yaxeni has already won at Listed level which means she has to give weight to all her rivals. He claims are there for all to see and she’s got a favourites chance on ground that suits. That said Pita Pinta was only 1 ¼ lengths behind the favourite in a Gowran Park Listed race in May and is 3lb better off here. A winner of a heavy ground C&D handicap last October the 4-year-old won’t be far away especially if the ground eases further. Mighty Blue was 3 lengths behind in third in that Gowran Park race and the mare isn’t easily discounted on the best of last year’s form.
Goodie Two Shoes won on racecourse debut at Killarney in July she’s open to plenty of further progress but stall 18 makes life difficult for such an inexperienced filly.
Ralph Beckett brings over Thanks Monica. The 3-year-old takes a big jump in class after winning a couple of small field Class 5 handicaps at Salisbury & Leicester last month Has plenty to find on official ratings but is going the right way and hails from a yard among the winners. Very soft ground is an unknown but if she handles it she looks set for a good run.
Dermot Weld has had a quiet enough season but he’s 3 from 11 in the past 14-days which makes Azallya of plenty of interest here. The 4-year-old ended last season with a career best when ½ length 2nd of 16 to Jason the Militant in a Naas Listed race over to today’s distance. The heavy ground that day seemed to hold no terrors for her that day so any further easing of the ground should be in her favour. Shaped like the run was needed when an encouraging 6th of 12 in a Listed race at the Curragh in May. First run since but the trainer has won this three times since 2015.
Betting Advice:
Goodwood
3:40 – 1pt win – Whitehaven – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
4:10 – 1pt win – Munch – 11/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Galway
6:40 – 1pt win – Azallya -10/1 @ Bet365 and 1pt win – Thanks Monica – 15/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John