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Tuesday 28th July

2.10 Goodwood – Paul Goes The Extra Mile Stakes

Mark Johnston has won this race twice in the last decade with horses carrying 9st 9lbs and 9st 10lbs, suggesting that we should not be put off by the fact that DRUMFIRE is shouldering top-weight tomorrow. This is the horse which fell in the 2007 Totesport Mile but he suffered no ill effects and ran a solid race over course and distance in the Group 3 Select Stakes the following year. He is still looking for his first victory of 2009 but has run some nice races in defeat, notably when 4th in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes. Since then he has been stepped up to 12f but I am not convinced that he truly sees out that trip and this drop back in trip and class should be much more to his liking. I thought ALFATAA ran a cracker from a poor draw in the Royal Hunt Cup but this hold up performer wasn’t able to build on that at Sandown last time as he got no luck in running. Personally, I think he has been crying out for 10f and if the leaders set a strong pace they could well set it up for him. MOYENNE CORNICHE is likely to be one of those pace setters as he generally likes to bowl along in front. He ran a respectable race when not beaten far at Doncaster last time but I am not sure that a step up in trip will help and even though he has dropped 4lbs, he may need to drop a bit more before he is winning again. LANG SHINING represents Saturdays King George winning trainer and owner but he is a fair way off being up to that standard. I am not convinced that he is the most straight forward of animals and I think the handicapper probably has him where he wants him at the moment. BLYTHE KNIGHT finished in front of him at York in May and needs no introduction from me. He drops down to below 100 for the first time since 2007 tomorrow but my fear is that he isn’t the force of old and is possibly on a downward curve. AUSTRALIA DAY won well at Sandown in June and returned to run a respectable race off a 7lbs higher mark. He is another that likes to race up with the pace, so I think he is vulnerable here. Admittedly, I don’t know too much about Sabrina Harty’s BRAVELY THOUGHT other than his has won his last two starts in Ireland. Ten furlongs looks his ideal trip and having watched replays of those two races I am not sure he has finished improving just yet. He likes to be held up of the pace to deliver a late challenge and as a result hasn’t won by much of a margin. As a result the handicapper hasn’t been able to clobber him and he should still be competitive here off a 5lbs higher mark. With Richard Fahey’s horses running so well I am reluctant to oppose UNBREAK MY HEART but even though he won on fast ground at Pontefract in April, I think he is a better horse with some juice in the ground. DONA ALBA looks held by the handicapper at the moment although the trip and ground should suit. ROYAL DESTINATION is completely unexposed, especially over this sort of trip. After winning a Haydock maiden in June in fairly comfortable fashion, he improved to win on his handicap debut at Ayr with the minimum of fuss. Both of those efforts came over a mile but the style of those victories suggest that a step up to 10f is well within his compass and there is every reason to believe that he is capable of defying an 8lbs hike up the weights. DARK PROSPECT looks a tad high in the weights at present and SWEET LIGHTNING might just find this trip on the sharp side although he looks like he is close to a winning mark. CHARMINAMIX has been short of form this term and looks in need of a trip but Tony Martin has a habit of throwing up big priced winners in race like this and I think I you right him off at your peril. WILLIAM BLAKE ran a very encouraging race at Ascot on Friday and the drop down to 10f seemed to suit him much better. However, he isn’t the easiest of horse to win with as he can tend to be a bit keen but he looks reasonably weighted at the moment and represents a yard that has to be respected at Goodwood.

SHORTLIST

DRUMFIRE
ALFATHAA
ROYAL DESTINATION

2.45 Goodwood – Betfair Gordon Stakes

HARBINGER represents last year’s winning trainer and jockey and after winning at Chester earlier in the season, looks a colt with a bright future. He was touted as a possible Derby winner despite the fact that he was only a maiden winner but Stoute though that would be too much too soon. However, the then pulled a muscle and he was forced to miss Royal Ascot but by all accounts he is back to his best now. This represents a massive step up in class but he is obviously held in high regard judged on his Great Voltigeur and St Leger entries. On official ratings the prolific FIREBET is the one they all have to beat. He was won three times since 11th June, seeing his official rating rise from a respectable 88 to a lofty 107. The first two of those victories came over a mile but he responded with a very impressive victory at Newmarket when stepped up to 10f. After being held up early on, he swept into the lead inside the final furlong and stayed on very strongly to the line suggesting that this further step up in trip will not pose any problems. BIG BOUND is another that should appreciate a step up in trip but I feel he will need to improve again to figure here. HELIODOR was behind him in the listed Fairway Stakes in May and I don’t see him reversing the form. The ex-Aidan O’Brien inmate MASTEROFTHEHORSE ran a cracking race to finish 3rd in the Derby behind See The Stars and Fame And Glory but was well beaten in the Irish equivalent. Since then he has been sold to new connections and represents Debbie Mountain tomorrow. That will put a lot of people off but I think it could be very dangerous to write him off. He is confirmed over the trip, is ably assisted by Philip Robinson and looks to hold every chance as long as there isn’t a change in the going. Mick Channon is very keen on MONTAFF and he could prove a dark horse in a first time visor but he will have to repeat his Lingfield Derby Trial second to have any chance in this line up. PARTHENON looked a progressive horse when winning the listed Glasgow Stakes for Mark Johnston in May. He then joined Godolphin but was well beaten in the French Derby. Since then Godolphin’s horses have been running better so he is one to be considered and it will be interesting to see whether Dettori decides to make the running or try different tactics and cover him up. SWINDLER looks an odd entry given that he has only had the one start and been off the track since last July. He has obviously been showing plenty at home but this looks a massive ask on his first start for a year. TACTIC ran respectably to chase home Kite Wood in the Bahrain Trophy but he looks a little one paced to me and may just find things happened too quickly tomorrow. URBAN POET is a bit of an unknown as he didn’t make his debut until 12 days ago, but what an introduction it was! Admittedly, it wasn’t the strongest of maidens but the result never looked in question as he ran out a 9L winner, despite showing signs of greenness and being eased considerably in the closing stages. He is bred in the purple and on the evidence of what we have seen he has the scoop to become a top class middle distance horse and I can’t wait to see how he gets on tomorrow.

SHORTLIST

FIREBET
URBAN POET

3.25 Goodwood – Betfair Cup

All of these runners are well know to us all, so I won’t waste time talking too much about them. I was very keen on Fleeting Spirit for the July Cup and had my heart in my mouth when MAIN AIM threw down his challenge. Fortunately, he just failed that day but I expect him to gain compensation tomorrow. This may be a Group 2 in name but the list of entries suggests it is up to Group 1 standard and I can’t wait to watch the race tomorrow. J J THE JET PLANE promised so much when arriving on these shores but was disappointing in the Golden Jubilee. I thought he ran a much better race in the July Cup and at the time thought that 7f might be the next step as he certainly wasn’t stopping on the run to the line and I see him as a serious threat here. Saeed Bin Suroor has won this race twice since 2004, so ASSET can’t be ignored especially after his narrow defeat to the progressive High Standing in the Wokingham. He seems better suited by tomorrow’s trip as witnessed when beating REGAL PARADE at Leicester in April but he is a horse which needs fast conditions and he may not get that here. Dandy Nicholls’ runner used that race as a spring board to better things, winning at York the following month before a respectable performance in the Golden Jubilee. A return to 7f saw him return to winning ways with a hard fought victory from BALTHAZAAR’S GIFT in a Chester listed affair last time and I believe it could be very dangerous to leave him out of the equation tomorrow. Three-year-olds have a decent record in this race, winning four of the last nine renewals. Of the two tomorrow OUQBA makes the most appeal after his eye-catching victory in the Jersey Stakes last month. I thought he won with a bit in hand that day and if the three-year-old trend continues, he could be the one.

SHORTLIST

MAIN AIM
OUQBA

4.00 Goodwood – Betfair Molecomb Stakes

There have been some decent winners of this contest in recent years, Fleeting Spirit and Finjaan being the most memorable. I believe that we will see another one this year in the form of MONSIEUR CHEVALIER. I thought his recent victory in the Super Sprint was simply breathtaking as although he looked in trouble at one stage, the ease with which he picked up to go past some decent rivals was the sign of a very good horse. ARCHERS ROAD, HERE NOW AND WHY and STAR ROVER finished 3rd, 5th and 6th respectively but I see no reason why any of them should reverse the form off level weights. It is dangerous to get too caught up in the form of a particular race as quite often one of those restricted to maidens and nurseries can improve to spring a surprise. BOULD MOVER falls into that category after a comfortable victory at Beverley last time. It wasn’t the strongest of races but he was totally dominant suggesting that he should remain competitive despite this step up in class. IVER BRIDGE LADS is another although of the pair he would appear to be the one that needs to find the most improvement. MISTER MANANNAN disappointed me in the Windsor Castle and has reportedly suffered from sore shins so he would not be for me. Of the Tom Dascombe pair SOCCER looks the pick marginally ahead of MDAWEE but even so he was no match for the Hannon runner at Newmarket or in the listed National Stakes. REIGNIER ran a cracker to chase home Radiohead in the Norfolk but he disappointed me in the July Stakes next time, although the step up to 6f may not have been ideal. Back over the minimum trip I can see him mounting a bold bid but I don’t think he will trouble Hannon’s runner. Fillies have a decent record in this race so TOTALLY INVINCIBLE shouldn’t be overlooked, especially as she got the better of MDAWEE at Chester last time.

SHORTLIST

MONSIEUR CHEVALIER
BOULD MOVER

4.35 Goodwood – Detica Summer Stakes

DRILL SERGEANT earned his just reward for some consistent efforts with victory in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes. However, he looks in the grip of the handicapper now and he is passed over tomorrow even though his trainer has won this race twice in the last decade. Luca Cumani has an even better record having won the race three times since 2004, so although WALDVOGEL hasn’t been seen on the track since finishing a reasonable 6th to Young Mick at Nad Al Sheba, he is certainly one for the short list. The German recruit was an out and out stayer in his homeland so was always going to find the mile and a half on the sharp side in Dubai but he should be much more at home over this extra two furlongs. I always thought that Dandy Nicholls was a strange choice of trainer for HINDU KUSH and I have no reason to change that view after two heavy defeats. SUGAR RAY isn’t the most straight forward of animals and is extremely difficult to catch right. On a going day he has the ability to get involved here but he cannot be relied upon. CAMPS ROCK looks handicapped to the hilt in my opinion whilst ROCK ASCOT doesn’t look up to this level despite the fact he is a Group 1 winner in Uruguay. PRECISION BREAK is an interesting runner as he looked a very progressive stayer last term, winning seven of his twelve starts. He ran a respectable race on his reappearance at Newmarket behind Hatton Flight in May but has obviously had a set back since then. He may just need the run tomorrow but he is certainly one to keep an eye on for the future. MANYRIVERSTOCROSS is a consistent sort and must have a chance based on his recent Newmarket effort but my gut instinct is that he needs to drop a few pounds in the handicap. Mark Johnston won this race in 2002, 2003 and 2005 so YES MR PRESIDENT warrants respect even though he was awful in the Old Newton Cup last time. The strong pace probably didn’t suit and this step up to 1m6f seems a sensible move as there will be a more sedate pace and he could run a big race if allowed to dictate. RAJEH could prove the dark horse of the race as he has some decent form in the bank. He has already won twice over this sort of trip and I don’t think he is harshly treated at present. BUREACRAT and CANDLE look to have a bit to find so would not be for me and the fact that only the Mark Johnston trained Scott’s View has managed to win this race as a three-year-old suggests QUAI D’ORSAY and COOL STRIKE look up against it.

SHORTLIST

WALDVOGEL
YES MR PRESIDENT
RAJEH

5.10 Goodwood – Tatler Summer Season Stakes

There is any number of horses with a chance here and the trends don’t really help us. There has been a pretty even spread of winning age groups and trainers but it should pay to concentrate on the first half a dozen or so in the betting and the longest priced winner in the last decade was just 12/1. Dandy Nicholls has won this race twice so BENCOOLEN interests me, especially as I think he is at his best over a mile and is starting to drop to what looks a winning mark. THE WITCH DOCTOR is the next one to interest me. After a poor reappearance at Windsor in June, he improved to finish a respectable 4th at Lingfield last time. Having watched the race he still looked a little ring rusty to me and I think that will have brought him on again. I am tempted by SUNNYSIDE TOM even though he is 5lbs higher than when finishing runner-up to MOUNT HADLEY at Carlisle last time. I am a big fan of following genuine and tough horses and this fellow fits into that mould but putting my personal feelings to one side for a minute, you would have to have reservations about the ground as he is clearly at his best of a very fast surface. Another favourite of mine is Jim Boyle so MORE TIME TIM catches my eye but he is a much better horse on an artificial surface. MISTER DEE BEE secured the hat-trick at Leicester in June before running a sound race off a 6lbs higher mark at Newmarket behind Firebet. He is up another 1lb tomorrow but I can’t help but feel that there may be a bit more to come as he drops back to a mile. MULL OF KILLOUGH is the least exposed of these but he also has form with Firebet. After winning his first two starts this term, he was just under a length behind Richard Fahey’s stable star. He is up another 4lbs as a result but as we have seen a three-year-old win this race twice in the last three years, he has to be one for the shortlist.

SHORTLIST

BENCOOLEN
THE WITCH DOCTOR
MULL OF KILLOUGH

5.45 Goodwood – EBF Selsey Maiden Stakes

Day one of the festival concludes with an interesting looking maiden. It has thrown up some nice horses in the past such as Invincible Spirit, Goggles, Tahreeb and Prince Of Light, so it is certainly a race to keep an eye on for the future. Looking at those to have run first, GEORGE BENJAMIN makes limited appeal despite the fact he is yet to finish out of the first three on his two starts to date. After being held up on his debut over 5f, connections opted to try a more prominent approach over 6f at York last time and although he saw the trip out well enough something tells me that he needs to drop back to the minimum trip. LOWDOWN, representing the 2005 winning trainer, improved on his Newcastle debut when stepped up to 7f at Yarmouth last time. The soft ground certainly didn’t help him so it will be interesting to see how he fares on a sounder surface and I also thing the drop back in trip is the right way to go for the time being. SHEER FORCE is another than improved on his debut performance but I believe he has the most to find of the four to have run. RED BADGE looks to the pick to me though after he caught my eye when making his debut at Chepstow at the start of the month. After a tardy start he really ran on well once the penny had dropped, making up plenty of ground in the closing stages. I think he ran into a nice animal at Windsor last time and did well to finish as close as he did. That provided some important experience and I have him down as a serious prospect tomorrow. The betting will probably prove the best guide to the un-raced animals but from their pedigree’s AETOS and ILSTON LORD may just need further than 6f. I don’t think MACHINE GUN KELLY will have a problem with the trip but Gary Moore is 0/14 with his juveniles so far this year. ONE GOOD EMPEROR represents the shrewd John Best but he is another trainer with a modest record with his juveniles this season. VIKING DANCER looks the pick on breeding, being related to the speedy Speed Cop, Siren’s Gift and King’s Siren. Andrew Balding has a 20% strike rate with his juveniles this season and any market support could tip the scales in his favour.

SHORTLIST

RED BADGE
VIKING DANCER