Glorious Goodwood Service – Day 4

Thu, Jul 29, 2010

By Ian Grimwood

2.10 Goodwood

If we take at face value DUNCAN’s 3 ¼ length defeat behind Harbinger at Royal Ascot we see that John Gosden’s runner must be the one the rest have to beat here. The stable saw Arctic Cosmos run with credit in the Gordon Stakes on Tuesday (finishing 3rd) and although Duncan hasn’t tasted success in over a year there has been nothing wrong with his two runs this term. Cavalryman is yet to hit the heights he scaled last year (Group 1 winner and then beaten just 2 ¼ lengths by Sea The Stars in the Arc) and he has something to prove right now despite his best form putting him ahead of the field. La De Two easily won a York handicap last time but this is big step up in class and so although clearly unexposed and interesting this will see exactly what connections have on their hands. Whispering Gallery is the third Godolphin runner and there was plenty to like about his front running 2nd at Newmarket last time. This may just be too much for him seeing as he is such a lightly raced individual. Redwood has been pretty solid at Group 2 and Group 3 levels this season to suggest if he runs to his 113 rating that he should be in the places once more while Sri Putra was last seen chasing home Twice Over in the Eclipse. That was his best effort on home soil and if this extra 2f here brings out further improvement then he could prove the biggest danger to the selection. It remains to be seen though if that last run was a flash in the pan. Luca Cumani’s Manighar was turned over at odds-on on his last run but drops in trip for this event. He remains interesting despite his latest failure, although he may just need a bit of cut in the ground to be seen to best affect – his best efforts in France last year came on softish ground. Golden Sword, formally in the care of Aidan O’Brien, has place claims on the very best of his form.

2.45 Goodwood

VICTOIRE DE LYPHAR is a sprinter going places and Dandy Nicholls’ charge comes here unbeaten for the season. He was last seen winning the valuable Reg Griffin Memorial Trophy at York and although 7lb higher here is progressing at a rate of knots. OLDJOSAID comes here after finishing 10th, 16th and 15th in his last three runs but there are reasons to believe he can play a part in the finish. For a start he is 11lb below his highest winning mark and if you ignore his last two runs then his form this season has been solid. He was beaten just over 2 lengths at York off 93 and then was beaten just over 4 lengths in the Epsom ‘Dash’ off 93 again so you can see why, off this mark of 91, that he is interestingly weighted. BAGAMOYO was only just denied at Newmarket off this mark last time and as he’s due to go up 4lb in the future he’s well in here. He seems at his best when getting 6f on quick ground so must be seriously considered. Aye Aye Digby has been lightly race this year and this previous course and distance winner looks a live alternative.

3.25 Goodwood – totesport Mile

• Nine of the last ten winners were drawn in stall 16 or higher

• Four and five-year-olds have won eight of the last ten renewals

• Seven of the last ten winners were officially rated between 95 and 105

• Nine of the last ten winners came into the race on the back of a solid effort last time

• Roger Charlton has won the race twice from just three runners

• Nine of the last ten winners have come from the first five in the betting

The most confident of all trends performances comes from the Saeed Bin Suroor trained INVISIBLE MAN. Perfectly berthed in stall 17 the four-year-old comes into the race after winning the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot and that victory means he not only comes into the race in form but also gives him that all important big field handicap experience. His current handicap rating of 101 also fits the bill and with his current price of 10/1 means he sits third in the betting he basically hits every possible positive trend. A strong contender. Three-year-olds shouldn’t be dismissed from calculations purely on age alone and so both SEA LORD and OASIS DANCER must go onto the shortlist. Both were successful last time out so come here in decent nick and with the former having won four of his last five, and the latter thought good enough to contest the Irish 2000 Guineas, they look big players from their kind draws. Of the pair I’d slightly favour Ralph Beckett’s runner on account of the fact he’s had just the seven career starts and should be open to more improvement. I wouldn’t be concerned by his relative inexperience as on just his third start he won the 22 runner Tattersalls Timeform Million at Newmarket last year.

These would be my three strongest picks but there are probably half a dozen that can be given a decent chance. Al Muheer performs well on the trends and was noted staying on nicely in the closing stages of the International Stakes at Ascot at the weekend. That was his first run for Dandy Nicholls and although his form figures don’t exactly inspire confidence he is interesting. Moynahan has already run at Goodwood this week but failed to sparkle over 10f and this drop back to 1m will be ideal. However, he seems to find trouble wherever he runs so is not one for the fainthearted. Marajaa would technically be too old to win this, seeing as he is an eight-year-old, but he has run with credit in all the big handicaps this year. A 2nd in the Spring Cup was followed by a 3rd in the Victoria Cup and a 4th in the Bunbury Cup. Perhaps not a likely winner but he looks sure to give you a cracking run for your each-way money. Finally, Roger Charlton’s Proponent is worth a mention. The stable have been in impressive form of late and this one was beaten just 2 ¾ lengths behind Invisible Man in the Hunt Cup. Off the same mark here he appears to have an obvious chance but I’m worried over his draw, stall 9.

4.00 Goodwood

Highly unoriginal but LIBRANNO for the all conquering Richard Hannon is the one to beat. His two race unbeaten career has seen him land a Newmarket maiden before returning to HQ, although on the July Course this time, to win the Group 2 July Stakes. He must carry a 3lb penalty as a result of that last success but as we saw earlier in the week with King Torus that shouldn’t be enough to stop a big performance. Two other unbeaten colts line up in opposition, namely Windsor Castle Stakes winner Marine Commander, and Hamilton maiden winner Satin Love. Both look exciting colts. Saeed Bin Suroor saddles the Coventry Stakes 3rd, Roayh but he has already been beaten since that runner in a Newmarket Conditions Stakes so doesn’t look a stable star at this stage while the field is completed by The Long Game and The Paddyman, winners of an Ascot and Yarmouth maiden respectively on their last appearances. It looks an intriguing race but one that the Richard Hannon yard seems to hold all the aces.

4.35 Goodwood

Once again a Richard Hannon juvenile catches the eye, namely ROYAL EXCHANGE. It took him three runs to get off the mark but with the step up to 7f looking sure to suit he is an obvious contender. The hat-trick seeking Major Conquest comes into the race in top form, along with the top weight Memen who has won two of his last three but must conceded plenty of weight. Silence Is Bliss and Philharmonic Hall are interesting now sent handicapping but the Barry Hills trained DIAMOND GEEZAH is my selection. Although he couldn’t go the pace in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot on his penultimate start he found he step up to 7f to his liking when easily winning his maiden at Ayr last time. The stable won a decent nursery at York last weekend and could follow up here.

5.15 Goodwood

Three-year-olds have won eight of the last ten renewals of the Oak Tree Stakes and this year looks another for the classic generation. The three to concentrate on are seemingly Puff, JAQUELINE QUEST, and TABASSUM. The former won the Fred Darling at Newbury on her seasonal debut before being off the track until a 10th place return behind Lille Langtry at Royal Ascot. The dimorph back to 7f looks a wise move but her stop-start campaign may just find her out in a hot looking renewal. As a result the Henry Cecil and Sir Michael Stoute fillies are top of my list. The former, the 1000 Guineas ‘winner’ confirmed that 66/1 run was no fluke by finishing 3rd in the Coronation Stakes at the Royal meeting. It is interesting that connections drop her back in trip but her class means she merits serious respect. Tabassum went in to everyone’s notebooks when winning the Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket last autumn before she was turned over as an odds-on shot in the Rockfel at the same track. She started her season by also contesting the Coronation Stakes but found that too much of a task on her return and tired to finish a well beaten 11th. The stable tasted success here on Wednesday and this filly has always promised to be something special. Perhaps now is when she starts to really show it.

5.45 Goodwood

A tough race to end the day. Kevin Ryan’s PERFECT BLOSSOM couldn’t be in better form, arriving here the winner of five of her last six races. Her last success came at Epsom, highlighting the fact she can handle unconventional courses and a revised mark of 84 may not stop another win. Diamond Johnny G beat TAWAABB at Chester last time but the difference between the two was just ½ a length and so a 2lb pull in the weights offers hope to the 3rd horse home. Good enough to finish 3rd in last year’s Norfolk Stakes he could be attractively handicapped off 95. Confessional is fitted with an eye shield for the first time and this consistent sort shouldn’t be far away under conditions that should be fine. Kingsgate Choice, Little Garcon, Ignatieff and Rule Of Nature are others to consider in a typically competitive affair.