Glorious Goodwood Service – Day 5

Fri, Jul 30, 2010

By Ian Grimwood

1.55 Goodwood
This could be a straight fight between ROCK N ROLL RANSOM and WADNAAN. The former comes here unbeaten after two career wins and a mark of 88 is unlikely to be the limit of his ability. Both his two runs to date have come over 1m but his pedigree suggests this longer trip won’t be an issue. Mark Johnston’s runner on the other hand shed his maiden tag at the fifth attempt, on his handicap debut. That came at Beverley when he blitzed four rivals by an easy ten lengths. He’s out quickly under a 6lb penalty so he too can be safely rated far better than his current mark of 81. Valliant Knight has run a couple of decent races recently, finishing runner-up on both stars, and although he has been nudged up in the handicap I couldn’t be too quick to dismiss his chances.

2.30 Goodwood
Rum King and Long Lashes make their seasonal reappearances here and while fitness shouldn’t a major concern they face some potentially decent rivals who have runs already under their belts. Desert Myth was well beaten in the Lingfield Derby Trial but returned to a spot of form in a Nottingham Conditions race last time. It could be that we don’t see the best of him until next year but this lightly raced individual is very interesting. Field Of Dream steps up in trip after finishing 5th in the Jersey over 7f at Royal Ascot. Prior to that run he had beaten the useful Red Jazz at Newmarket, again over 7f, but 1m may bring out the best in him. The only time he’s tried it before he was too keen for his own good on his seasonal debut this year and although you could perhaps argue a bit of give wouldn’t go amiss he could be up to winning this. CRITICAL MOMENT would be a danger for me. Barry Hills’ runner won a decent little race at Newmarket last time and that followed a highly satisfactory effort at Royal Ascot when beaten just 2 ¾ lengths in the Hampton Court Stakes. If he can repeat that run then he could be the one to beat.

3.05 Goodwood
Although Henry Cecil has voiced concerns over the quick ground for MIDDAY if she is allowed to take her chance then last year’s Breeders’ Cup heroine should have too much up her sleeve for her domestic rivals. She hasn’t been seen since being touched off by Sariska at York in May but that won’t be an issue and last year’s winner will be bidding to become the first back-to-back winner since Ruby Tiger in 1991 and 1992. However, French raiders STACELITA and Rosanara look the big dangers, with the former probably the pick of the pair. Jean-Claude Roget’s high class filly won three consecutive Group 1 races which formed part of an unbeaten record which stretched from her debut through to defeat in last year’s Arc, a total of six successive victories. She is a big threat to Henry Cecil’s runner. Strawberrydaiquiri steps up to this trip for the first time and there’s no reason why she won’t go well, along with the admirable Barshiba for David Elsworth.

3.40 Goodwood – Stewards’ Cup

• Four and five-year-olds have won the last nine renewals

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

• Eight of the last thirteen winners achieved a top three finish on their most recent start

• Horses officially rated 95 to 102 have won seven of the last ten renewals

• Eleven of the last fifteen winners had run in the Wokingham stakes

PALACE MOON, under Kieren Fallon, looks the answer to this year’s Stewards’ Cup. Looking at the above trends William Knight’s runner hits every single one and so it’s hard to not be convinced by him. Add into the mix the stable have already landed a big race this week, the Goodwood Cup with Illustrious blue, and that adds another positive to his chances. STRIKING SPIRIT has edged up the handicap without winning this term but he’s run some crackers in defeat, most notably last time out in the Wokingham. We all know a Dandy Nicholls runner should be feared in a big sprint handicap and this fellow performs well on our trends. Mick Channon hasn’t endured the best of luck in this race but RILEYSKEEPINGFAITH couldn’t be ruled out if we look at his performance on the trends. A four-year-old who is rated in the right bracket, finished 2nd last time out, ran in the Wokingham and is prominent in the betting. You could argue he should be top of the trends but as I say his trainer doesn’t have the best of records. Finally, KALDOUN KINGDOM is the last horse on the shortlist. Richard Faheys’ runner was just touched off by Hawkeyethenoo at York on Saturday and is clearly at the top of his game right now. He’s prominent in the betting at around 20/1, officially rated 101 and contested the Wokingham at Ascot to mean he pretty much hits all the right notes. His trainer knows who to get one placed in the race and so it’s surely just a matter of time before he scoops the big first prize.

As you would expect there are plenty of other intriguing alternatives, not least the top three in the handicap. Knot In Wood is always there-or-thereabouts in these big field handicaps while Sir Gerry normally ply’s his trade at Group / Listed level. Last year’s winner Genki is fitted with a visor for the first time and having been successful on his last start should post a bold effort to follow up. Johannes, Jonny Mudball and Enact are all live possibilities as well to name just a handful.

4.15 Goodwood
CAPTAIN BERTIE and SINADINOU are the only two runners here with a racecourse outing under their belts. Both shaped nicely and both shouldn’t be far away at the finish. The interesting one against them though is, typically, a Richard Hannon runner, namely PAUSANIAS. At the stable’s open day prior to the meeting connections were quick to highlight this one’s chances and although this is his debut you have to serious respect what connections have said about him. That makes it tricky to pin colours to just one mast as the two mentioned at the beginning are solid but the form of the Hannon yard this week means his runner must be on the shortlist.

4.50 Goodwood
EUCHARIST easily landed a Kempton Novice race on her last start and her 6 length success that day marks her down as a potentially useful sort. With the stable banging in the winners this week it’s not hard to fancy her here. There are actually seven last time out winners in the field and so unsurprisingly you can fancy three or four. Top weight Majestic Myles is chasing a hat-trick after winning two nurseries and useful apprentice Barry McHugh takes off 3lb but it could be Richard Fahey’s other runner, BAHAMIAN SUNSET, which performs the best of the pair. He was successful in breaking his maiden at Ayr last time and could be nicely treated on 77.

5.25 Goodwood
Gerard Butler’s ELLIPTICAL was far too keen at York last time and you can safely ignore that last run as he gave himself no chance. He ran two crackers earlier on the season and if he can recapture the form of either of those two runs then he could prove tough to beat. He hasn’t been seen since that below par effort at York in mid-June but he remains a very interesting handicapped horse. TRUISM was 3rd here behind Start Right on Tuesday and as long as this doesn’t come too soon for him, and he handles the extra furlong, then there’s no reason why he won’t be in the frame once more, or perhaps even better. Carlitos Spirit has won his last two races but they came in quick succession and he has to run here off a 14lb higher mark in a much tougher contest. It’s not hard to imagine his winning run coming to an end.