Day 2 of Glorious Goodwood begins with a fillies' handicap over
a trip just shy of 10f. The classic generation have won three of the last four
renewals and I think they will hold sway again this afternoon.
Roger Varian's Waliyak (1.10) finished runner up in the
Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot last month over the straight mile and she
is bred to appreciate the additional quarter of a mile. A 3lb higher mark looks
fair and the selection has yet to finish out of the first two in four career
starts. She was backed into 4/1 in a competitive 15-runner handicap last time
and she looks open to significant further improvement. Godolphin's Lake Lucerne
and the William Haggas-trained four-year-old Ghaziyah look the main dangers in
a cracking opener.
In the two-and-a-half-mile handicap which follows, my two
against the field are last year's second and third Seinesational (1.45) and
True Destiny with preference for the former who finished half a length in front
of Roger Charlton's stayer last term and is 4lbs better off this afternoon. The
ew selection is 14/1 with bet365 and 11/1 with sponsors Unibet who are offering
five places. William Knight's five-year-old is ridden by last year's winning
jockey Luke Morris and carries just 8st 1lb.
I am a big admirer of Gussie Mac and am prepared to give
Significantly (2.45) another chance in the Molecomb Stakes having been just
touched off by Roger Teal's juvenile in the National Stakes at Sandown last
time. The selection has now finished runner up in all three starts but this flying
five furlongs looks sure to suit him down to the ground. He is drawn out on the
wing in stall one which is a slight concern but the 4/1 available with
Boylesports looks a fair price.
The Gp 1 Sussex Stakes is the feature race of the whole
meeting and it is, in my opinion, the best race of the flat season so far with
a clash of the generations involving the Newmarket and Irish Guineas winners
and two very good older horses.
Siskin looked very good at the Curragh, but I thought
Vatican City would reverse the form with Ger Lyons' colt next time they met in
the immediate aftermath of the race. Vatican City subsequently ran in the Derby
for some strange reason but returns to a mile this afternoon. We still do not
know if he stayed the trip at Epsom because of the way the race unfolded, and
the same sentiment applies to Kameko (3.15) although I believe the latter's
Newmarket Guineas success is the best form on offer.
It is possible that the selection's best trip going forward
will be 10f and this sharp mile may catch him out but he did us a big favour
last month and the way he travelled on the Rowley Mile suggested he had the
necessary pace for today's test. Andrew Balding's colt is well drawn in stall
two although I am surprised that owners Qatar Racing have not engaged a
pacemaker. At 9/2 with William Hill he gets the ew vote with the Marcus
Tregoning trained Mohaather considered the main danger.
There is a cracking 3m handicap chase at Bangor-on-Dee and
if Bandsman (2.30) is in the same mood as he was at Uttoxeter last time he will
be hard to beat. Dan Skelton's nine-year-old failed to get home over that additional
quarter of a mile last time and he would have been a comfortable winner at
today's distance. A 2lbs rise looks more than fair for that run in the Summer
Cup although today's race looks every bit as competitive. The drying ground is
a must and a plus.
Alan King's Potterman is unexposed at this 3m trip although
it was just a moderate three-runner race that he won over 2m 7f at Worcester
last summer.
At Thirsk I must give Glen Force (7.00) another chance to
break his maiden tag stepped up to a mile for the first time. The selection was
easily brushed aside at Ayr last time but do note the winner – Parent's Prayer –
is entered in a Group 3 at Goodwood later in the week and he can finally end
his sequence of placed efforts.
King's Charisma is chasing a hat-trick in the concluding 12f
handicap but I thought Camahawk (8.30) ran a very promising race on his
handicap debut over 10f and he gave the impression this evening's additional
couple of furlongs would see him in an even better light. Trainer Tim Easterby
had a treble at Redcar on Monday including Winter Power who is one to follow if
she runs at Goodwood under a penalty later in the week.
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