Today’s horse racing preview comes from Day 4 of Glorious Goodwood, with 6 selections from the meeting.
13.50 Goodwood – Betfred Glorious Stakes (Group 3) (11.9f)
Last year’s winning combination team up again with Poet’s Word, the son of Poet’s Voice will step up into new distance territory this afternoon when he tackles the mile and a half for the first time. His first run in pattern company saw him finish runner up to Deauville in the Group 3 Huxley Stakes when beaten by a neck. With only one run on this type of ground saw him defeated at Epsom in a 0-105 handicap, concerns for me is distance and ground.
Fighting for favouritism will be Charlie Appleby’s Frontiersman who has been beaten twice since landing a valuable 0-105 handicap at Newmarket back in May. His only run on soft ground also resulted in a defeat when finishing sixth in the OCSL Stakes at Newbury, once more he could be vulnerable off his current mark.
Hugo Palmer’s Crimean Tatar and the inform Lord Yeats of Jedd O’Keeffe’s also come into the reckoning. The latter has been in great form this year notching up both starts at York when landing the Jorvik Handicap by six lengths over this index on good to soft ground and improved even further when taking the Fred Archer Stakes at Newmarket when defeating Second Step by a neck when in receipt of 3lb. Having to concede that 3lb back this afternoon could make it difficult of landing the hattrick, however he is in the form of his life and will relish the trip and ground.
Hugo Palmer is 0-8 this month and looks to have fallen by the way side at the end of July with winners after the yard were firing, their representative here is Crimean Tatar who would not be out of this very open contest. He has had two attempts at pattern company and has not shown the ability from his first two runs which resulted wins. The last run, there looked something amiss when trailing in last over the index in the Yorkshire Cup, excuses could have been made as he did not seem to get the distance. He drops back to 12f this afternoon and has only half a length to find with Second Step from the John Porter Stakes.
Second Step was conceding just a 1lb that day, and now they meet off level weights and with Second Step getting the weight back you would have to think that form will be upheld. Roger Charlton’s charge is the only runner in the field that has solid course form when winning the Tapster Stakes here over course and distance back in May. On that merit, I am willing to give him another chance of winning this under Jamie Spencer.
SECOND STEP : 2pt Win @ 13/2 (BOG)
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14.25 Goodwood – Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes (Group 3) (8f)
I was very impressed with the way Make Time won his race at Sandown two weeks ago when thrashing his field by six lengths. His only run on soft ground came in maiden company when again thrashing his field by five lengths, the third Anythingtoday, has recently franked that form at Newmarket when landing a 0-95 handicap. he is the son of 2000gns wining sire Makfi who relished the soft conditions, another step up is required, however can be on the premises.
Andrew Balding’s Beat The Bank has seen only one defeat in his career when finishing midfield in the Jersey Stakes. He improved well when stepping up to 8f when landing the Listed Henry Cecil Stakes at Sandown, beating Forest Ranger by three lengths. That form took a huge boost when D’Bai landed the Porshe Handicap last week at Newmarket when beating a subsequent winner in Pealer. He looks the one to beat for me as his entry in the Park Stakes in September is significant enough that they feel he is worthy of landing this race under Ryan Moore.
BEAT THE BANK : 2pt Win @ 4/1 (BOG)
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15.00 Goodwood – Betfred Mile Handicap (8f)
One I like very much in this is the fast improving Charlie Appleby’s colt Blair House. The four-year-old looked in need of the run when runner up from the Royal Hunt Cup when splitting winner Zhui Feng and Tashweeq. The fourth Ballet Concerto franked the form at York recently when taking the John Smith’s Cup. Getting an extra 1lb from Zhui Feng this time around for a half a length defeat should see him go close once more.
Soft ground should not inconvenience him with a win last year at Pontefract on good to soft ground and he equipped himself well again when runner up on soft ground in a 0-105 handicap, I feel he is the one to beat here.
One I will Dutch here is David Elsworth’s Master The World who ran a cracking second at Newmarket on soft ground in a 0-105 handicap two weeks ago and eighth in the Royal Hunt Cup when behind the likes of Zhui Feng and Blair House, he gets an 8lb turnaround from Zhui Feng for just over a three length defeat and is getting 7lb back from Blair House so deserves to be on the premises once more.
BLAIR HOUSE : 2pt Win @ 6/1 (BOG)
Master of World : 1pt each way @ 11/1 (BOG)
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15.35 Goodwood – Qatar King George Stakes (Group 2) (5f)
Two against the field here is the consistent Marsha and Clive Cox’s Priceless. First the latter, who is one of two representatives for Clive Cox. Despite winning the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Haydock, I feel she is better suited to soft ground and was impressive when landing the Listed Scarbrough Stakes at Doncaster last year in a quick time. Since then she has won twice at Bath and Haydock, this is another step up, however she is very capable.
The other is Marsha of Sir Mark Prescott’s. This ultra-consistent filly has been rewarded with a big win this year when landing the Palace House Stakes on Guineas weekend. Since then she has been overhauled by Lady Aurelia in the King Stand Stakes and was just denied when turning up in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh.
Her form on ground that has come up good or less has been impressive showing a return stat of 1211, the ground has been probably too quick on her recent two runs for her to make a blow, back on this easing ground she has a chance to redeem herself.
PRICELESS : 1pt each way @ 9/1 (BOG)
Marsha : 1pt each way @ 7/1 (BOG)
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