Glorious Goodwood 2024- Qatar Goodwood Festival

With five days of thrilling action set against the magnificent backdrop of the rolling Sussex countryside, The Qatar Goodwood Festival – Glorious Goodwood to you and me – is one of the highlights of the flat-racing season as far as I am concerned. There is always a lovely atmosphere at what is without doubt one of the most beautiful tracks in the country with fantastic views across the Sussex Downs. There are few places in the world I would rather be in the middle of the British summertime than looking out across the Downs as top-class thoroughbred horses go racing by. 

Last year was a punting minefield due in no small part to the crazy weather over the week, it didn't snow at least, and the meeting was eventually abandoned with three races to go. It just goes to show how much rain we had that they had to call off the meeting on a track renowned for the efficient drainage of its chalk-based surface. The weather does at least look set fair this year if you can trust the long-range forecast.

Update: Following a horrid final day, didn't back a winner, I end the meeting -2.03 to level stakes. It was a shame to end what had been a great week on s low but that's how the game goes some days. I found a couple of winners on Tuesday and Wednesday, four on Thursday and one on Friday but after Big Evs the wheels came off for me and I had ten losing bets in a row! 

Tuesday - Glorious Goodwood 2024 - Qatar Goodwood Festival

Day one dawns on the Downs. It’s an eight-race card, as if this week isn’t tough enough with the traditional seven race cards, and we have another eight-race card on Thursday! We start the week on going described as good-good to soft in places with the weather forecast for plenty of sunshine Tuesday and through the week fingers crossed. The Goodwood Cup is the highlight of day one.

1.50 1m2f Coral Chesterfield Cup Handicap

It is a handicap puzzle to get the meeting underway, there’ll be a few more of these to try and solve over the next five-days. Wadacre Gomez has yet to translate his All-Weather form to Turf but what caught my eye was William Buick booked to ride nice and early by Charlie Johnston, the yard doesn't use him that often. They have three entered in the sort of race they usually target but this one is perhaps the no.1. I mentioned on the page a few days back that Enfjaar was on my watchlist for a Handicap at the meeting and he is running here. An OR of 105 sees him shoulder joint top-weight but the lightly-raced four-year-old has improved since a gelding operation and being fitted with a hood and looks to be on the upgrade. Connections are hoping to be competing in pattern races later in the summer and winning a race such as this is an obvious stepping-stone. I am on at 11-4.

2.25 7f Group Two HKJC World Pool Vintage Stakes

Won by some decent types down the years including Haatem last year and Pinatubo back in 2019 to name just two this can be a pretty hot two-year-old race. The fact Aomori City is the sole representative for Charlie Appleby, also had Al Qudra entered who won the Listed Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, suggests some stable confidence in the son of Oasis Dream. He was third in the 6f G.2 July Stakes last time out and look to me ready for the step-up in trip, couldn’t quite live with Whistlejacket over the shorter trip. Charlie Appleby said this week “Aomori City produced a decent performance in the July Stakes, when it looked as though stepping up to seven would suit. He brings a decent level of ability into the race and I think the track will be a positive as well. We are hoping he can find more improvement over this distance.” I have 4-1 this morning. The Parthenon has some fancy entries for later in the summer and autumn and has to be respected. Cool Hoof Luke went well for a long way in the 6f G.2 Coventry Stakes at a big price at Royal Ascot and is shortlisted.

3.00 7f Group Two World Pool Lennox Stakes

With Haatem not here the field is led by Kinross who will bid to win the race for a third time and simply has to be shortlisted. Surprise G.1 Lockinge winner Audience runs and will be trying to prove that victory wasn’t a fluke though he was well held in the G.1 Queen Anne Stakes last time; he reverts to the seven-furlongs here. Wokingham Handicap winner at the Royal Meeting English Oak is another for the shortlist stepping-up in class. After winning the 7f G.3 Plantation Stud Criterion Stakes at HQ in June I pencilled in Noble Dynasty as a possible for this. Charlie Appleby said after the race “Noble Dynasty has been a consistent horse this year and we are delighted to see him win a G3 race. He is similar to King Of Conquest in that they are both lead horses at home in the mornings but can do a good job in the afternoons as well. We will potentially look at the G2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood and he deserves a crack at a race like that. He showed his versatility on the quicker ground today, which has always been a slight concern. William said he let himself down on it, so it opens up a few more options.” The six-year-old half brother to Barney Roy has become a bit of a seven-furlong specialist, five of his seven career wins over the intermediate trip, and will surely be there or thereabouts at the finish with his prominent racing style likely to suit here. Charlie Appleby added in the build-up “Noble Dynasty is a rock-solid horse who heads into this on the back of a pleasing win in the Criterion Stakes. He didn’t run very well at this meeting a couple of years ago, but he was backing up quickly that day and is a different horse now. This is a step up from his last run and he will need to bring his A game, but he’s in good form and deserves his place in the line-up.” I am on for what would be a quick-fire Appleby/Buick double hopefully at 3-1.

3.35 2m Group One Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes  

Kyprios has been odds-on for this since the Bookies first priced-up following his three wins this season including the G.1 2m4f Gold Cup at Ascot last time. There is no real reason to believe that any of the usual suspects can reverse recent form with him other than perhaps the shorter distance giving them hope of catching him out. Looking at the race last week the biggest dangers appeared to be his stablemates but it was never likely Tower Of London or Grosvenor Square would line-up having run in the G.2 Curragh Cup a couple of weeks ago where they were first and second. I have doubled Kyprios with Opera Singer later in the meeting with the double paying 2.61-1.

4.10 5f Coral Racing Club Handicap

The fact that owner Fitri Hay had two entries here in the shape of Equilateral and Democracy Dilemma was the main thing I took from the entries last Wednesday with both being 104 rated and decent types at this level. Fair Wind arrives in fine form, the grey having won twice this season already, but is creeping up the weights and is now on 94. Lord Riddiford has won the last three renewals of this race and is a must for any shortlist. The pace will likely be on the high numbers side and there are a few in here that won’t be hanging about and as such might set this up for a closer. I have gone for Fair Wind at 100-30 in the hope he can burst through late.

4.45 6f British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes

It can pay to check jockey bookings in a race such as this and I noted last week Ryan Moore booked on I Maximus for Richard Hughes. I Maximus was third at Newbury over six on debut where he reared at the start before late headway saw him going third inside the final furlong; it was an eye-catching run. Bred for the game, a half-brother to three winners two of whom Group class in France, you’d expect he can win a race like this. I am on at 11-4. Third on debut Carrados was then runner-up in a track and trip Novice seven-weeks ago the form of which is working out with three subsequent winners in behind that day. He is feared.

5.20 1m Ridgeview Fillies' Handicap

Forever Blue in the ownership of Wathan Racing catches the eye. She was on the wrong side and got no sort of run really in the Sandringham Stakes at Royal Ascot and James Doyle was far from hard on her when her chance had obviously gone. She’s drawn on the wing again in one here but the way she won over seven at Haydock suggests she will get the trip and she is a tentative pick for this with potential of improvement yet as a lightly raced three-year-old. I have 14-1 each-way (4-places).

5.55 6f HKJC World Pool British EBF Fillies' Handicap

Wednesday - Glorious Goodwood 2024 - Qatar Goodwood Festival

We are, as we have been for many, many years now, trackside on Wednesday in the Gordon Enclosure for Sussex Stakes Day; hopefully somewhat less eventful than 2023 with the poor weather and 2022 with the train strikes! The Qatar Sussex Stakes is one of the key highlights of the flat racing season and has earned its moniker the ‘Duel On The Downs’ with previous winners including Frankel, Solow and Mohaather and is very much the highlight of Wednesday. I am going up early as I am on a train at sparrows fart in the morning to get down to Sussex. Just the seven races to deal with on the day; I am not getting involved with the Qatar International Stakes (Arab Group One).

1.50 1m4f Coral Daily Rewards Shaker Handicap

A tricky little handicap to get day two at Glorious Goodwood underway. There’s a couple in here that may have plenty more to offer yet as lightly raced three-year-olds which muddies the waters further. Voyage looked a real prospect winning over 1m2f on debut at Newbury and was pitched straight into the Derby after that. It all went wrong at Epsom where he unseated leaving the stalls and when last seen at Royal Ascot in the 1m4f G.2 King Edward VII Stakes he was tailed-off as if something was amiss. A mark of 92 could be incredibly lenient if he is as good as connections obviously though he was. I noted Richard Hannon saying in an interview last week “Voyage is fine but he scoped badly after Ascot, so we put him on antibiotics and he’s back now. There are a couple of races for him at Goodwood and Julie is coming down to the yard this week, so we’ll make a decision on him then.” Fingers crossed he is back and he’s worth an each-way (⅕ 4-places) investment at 16-1

2.25 Group Three 7f Visit Qatar Oak Tree Stakes

A fair field of Fillies and Mares here. Alice Haynes is a trainer I have talked of a bit in the last couple of years on the Trainers and Jockeys page and I noted she had Ziggy’s Dream entered for this last week as well as a handicap on day one but she comes for this. The filly has been progressing nicely and won a 7f Listed heat out in Italy at the San Siro the start before last. The 7f G.3 Jersey Stakes at the Royal meeting looked a big ask and she was never really involved there but could snaffle some decent prize-money here. Runner-up in the G.1 mile Falmouth Stakes at Royal Ascot Jabaara, no match for Porta Fortuna but there’s nothing of her calibre in here, caught the eye in the entries for this, taking a drop down in class and trip. She had won Listed races over seven at Musselburgh and Carlisle prior to her fine effort at Ascot and Roger Varian seems to have her in fine form. James Doyle was booked to ride again nice and early and I am on at 11-4.

3.00 Group Three 5f Jaeger-Lecoultre Molecomb Stakes

Sixteen two-year-olds are due to line-up for the five-furlong dash and it is a bit of a head-scratcher with little form to go on. Mick Appleby and owners RP Racing took the race last year with Big Evs and they are set to be represented again by Big Mojo who was runner-up on his debut at Beverley. Francisco's Piece has a chance if you can forgive his latest effort when well-beaten in the G.2 Coventry Stakes and Vingegaard is another shortlisted. Aesterius for Archie Watson and Wathnan Racing was last seen impressively winning a 5f Listed contest at Sandown, having previously finished a staying-on fifth in the G.2 5f Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot. The early pace looks likely to be middle to high stalls which will help the selection and I am on at 2-1.

3.35 1m Qatar Sussex Stakes

Very much the race of the day, in fact the week, though some of the gloss has been lost with Rossallion missing; the colt was officially declared a non-runner shortly after 11am on Tuesday, with a respiratory infection put forward as the reason for his defection. Aidan O'Brien saddles Henry Longfellow who was second in the G.1 St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot following a disappointing effort in France earlier in the campaign. His chance is there for everyone to see. The French raider Facteur Cheval was runner-up to Paddington in this race last year and looks the main hope for the older brigade but needs to bounce back from a disappointing effort in the G.1 Queen Anne Stakes last time having won the G.1 Dubai Turf earlier in the year. He won’t want it too quick. Notable Speech was no match for Rossallion or Henry Longfellow at Ascot in the St James's Palace Stakes but the team of Charlie Appleby were under a bit of a cloud then and the colt did have Rosallion a length and a half behind when an impressive winner of the 2,000 Guineas at HQ in May. I have plumped for Notable Speech based on his Guineas victory and in the belief the run in the James's Palace Stakes was simply a blip. I have 13-8. I was delighted to hear Charlie Appleby say in a recent interview “He’s showing the signs of what we see on the racetrack – his speed, he’s got an electric turn of foot and he’s been showing us that over the last few weeks. I’m looking forward to it.”

4.10 1m2f British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies' Handicap

A tricky little handicap in which a couple that I had shortlisted sadly don’t run. Power Of Destiny was beaten by a potentially very good one at Nottingham in June and after just three starts looks the type to be leaving her opening handicap mark of 87 behind as the season progresses. A daughter of Sea The Stars and the first foal out of winning Kingman mare Rux Power she's from a family that have produced some decent ones down the years. I thought she might be a little bigger than she is bit have taken the 3-1.

4.45 5f British Stallion Studs EBF Alice Keppel Fillies' Conditions Stakes

Another two-year-old 5f sprint on the card that's arguably trickier than the Molecomb Stakes! Coto De Caza has been fairly short-priced in the build-up off the back of her win at Beverley on soft earlier this month. She won by five-lengths there easing down though it is hard to know what she beat. She was third on debut, behind the re-opposing Baileys Jubilation in first and Lucky Gift second in a three-way photo. Lucky Gift has improved with each of her three starts and looked to be coming to win the race at Lingfield but became unbalanced and was bumped in the final furlong. There was nothing between the three at Lingfield and at the prices I am prepared to back Lucky Gift with William Buick in the saddle for the first time at 11-1.

5.20 7f HKJC World Pool Handicap

The lucky last on Wednesday is a typical Glorious Goodwood puzzle with eighteen handicappers due to go to post at the time of writing (two non-runners). Miss Information has won her last two and a mark of 88 may not stop her yet as an improving three-year-old; she was fourth behind Treasure Time at HQ prior to that so I am very aware of her form lines! She is very short for a race like this though. Mum’s Tipple is a standing dish in handicaps such as this and tends to win one each year so has to be respected off a mark of 91. The Turpinator was a track and trip winner back in 2022 off a mark of 88 that he runs off this afternoon. He rarely runs a bad race, won last time out easing down at Pontefract, and may be arriving cherry ripe for this. I have plumped for Turpinator 12-1 each-way (⅕ 5-places)

Thursday - Glorious Goodwood 2024 - Qatar Goodwood Festival

I will also be trackside on Thursday this year with Treasure Time, the three-year-old gelding I hold a handful of shares in with RaceShare due to run. Team Triple G are actually in the Coral Racing Club Rooftop Lounge hopefully taking full advantage of whatever old Joe Coral is offering. I know from experience of staying down in Sussex that Wi-Fi connection can be a bit of a nightmare in some of the more rural areas so below are my thoughts as they stand for Thursday. Hopefully I will be able to log-on somewhere to update the site at some point; probably in some boozer. We may get Thunderstorms Thursday which of course could change things drastically and in turn my selections.

1.50 1m2f Coral Kincsem Handicap

Two that were on my shortlist don’t run so that narrowed the field for me a bit! Peter Chapple-Hyam aint the power he once was in the game but he knows who to train them and his Blake is shortlisted but would surely like some rain. There are a few in here that need to prove they stay but one that does is Approval who won over the trip at Windsor before running well for a long way in the 1m2f Golden gates at Ascot, possibly going a little too hard in front before fading there. I tipped the chestnut gelding for the race and I am almost certainly going to tip him again as I think there is more to come from this one on Turf over middle-distances this year.

2.25 Group Two 6f Markel Richmond Stakes

The Strikin Viking has been a short-price since they chalked-up for this having won over six at York on debut and then finished second at the Curragh in the G.2 6f Railway Stakes. Henri Matisse that beat him in Ireland has some very fancy entries and Wathnan Racing look to have a good juvenile on their hands. Now in the care of Hamad Al Jehani having been with Kevin Ryan originally he looks the one to be on here.

3.00 Group Three 1m4f John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes

Jan Brueghel arrives unbeaten in two starts for Aidan O’Brien. Winner of a maiden over 1m2f at the Curragh back in May he came out a month later to win over the same track and trip in the G.3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai International Stakes. He looked like he was going to get beat on his second start but got going when it mattered to get up and it would be no surprise to see him put in a big performance here.

3.35 1m2f Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes

The prestigious Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes is the highlight of the eight-race card for day three of Qatar Goodwood Festival. It is a little surprising that Aidan O’Brien hasn’t trained the winner of this since Winter won in 2017 but he looks to have one of his best chances since then in the shape of Opera Singer. Having missed the early part of the season the daughter of Justify was third in the G.1 Irish 1,000 Guineas and then finished second in last month's G.1 Coronation Stakes behind Porta Fortuna, who franked the form when following up in the G.1 Falmouth Stakes. The step-up in trip from a mile could suit and she can gain a deserved first victory of the season in this. I am convinced Inspiral doesn’t stay the trip and you couldn’t back her on what she has shown this year anyway. Dirty Dozen member See The Fire is by Sea The Stars and out of Arabian Queen so she is bred to get at least ten furlongs and her effort when fourth in 1m2f G.1 Coral-Eclipse last time behind City Of Troy wasn’t that bad, she was ridden to give her every chance of staying, and she has a chance of placing-up racing against fillies and mares only here. I doubled Opera Singer with Kyprios who duly won the Goodwood Cup on Tuesday with the bet paying 2.61-1.

4.10 7f Jaeger-Lecoultre Nursery

Amo Racing had four entered in this and have left in just Sunshine State, trained by Charlie Johnston. She won on debut at Chelmsford before finishing midfield in a Listed heat at HQ over 6f. A few ahead of her that day have gone on to run well at Pattern level since including Arabian Dusk winning the G.2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes so it may have been a pretty hot heat. An opening handicap mark of 77 could prove workable. El Burhan arrives off the back of two pretty impressive Novice Stakes wins and looks a prospect but carries top-weight here as a result with a mark of 90. Fearless Freddy and Brighton Boy have both been improving with experience and won last time but both might want soft in the going description. I have gone with El Burhan

4.45 5f Buccellati Handicap

A wide-open looking affair with plenty in with chances and a final decision will be taken on the day for this one definitely. The draw may prove significant with a lot of the likely early pace drawn in the low stalls. Kendall Roy has won five of the eight handicaps he has contested going from a mark of 57 to 96 in under a year. He has top-weight up in class and under a penalty but the booking of Ryan Moore catches the eye. Grandlad is two from two over track and trip but a career high of 89 is a concern; never really got involved at York last time off 88. Enchanting is another with a C&D victory to his name, was second behind Grandlad on her other effort here, and she’s 4lb better off at the weights for this with that one. Kendall Roy is the pick to just be ahead of the handicapper still.

5.20 7f Tatler British EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes

A field of mostly unraced two-year-old fillies here. You have to take note of any Aidan O’Brien brings over for a race such as this and he had three entered with Dreamy due to run making her racecourse debut. By US Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup Classic winner American Pharoah out of G.1 Yorkshire Oaks winner Tapestry (Galileo) you’d expect this one the make a fair middle-distance type in time and it’s no surprise to see her make debut over seven in mid-summer. Stellenbosch sets the standard of those we have seen having been placed on both outings thus far. Ghaiyya is another with an eye-catching page being by multiple G.1 winner Ghaiyyath out of Reckoning she is a half-sister to six winners including Subjectivist and Sir Ron Priestley which makes you think will be likely to see the best of her when she tackles much longer trips. Dreamy has been backed.

5.55 1m HKJC World Pool Handicap

The lucky last and hopefully it’ll be lucky for me. There is only one I can tip up here and that is Treasure Time. I hold a handful of shares in the three-year-old gelding with the RaceShare team and hopefully he can improve again as he has with every run so far this season. Following his last two efforts, a win over 7f at Newmarket and then a second place over the mile, when he was caught in the shadow of the post at HQ, he’s up to a mark of 87 now. The one that beat him at HQ will surely be contesting Pattern races for Godolphin soon whilst the form of his win on the July Course is working out with three behind him that day winning since. The twists and turns of Goodwood will be very different from the straight track on the July Course but he seemed to handle Chester fine when running there earlier in the season; just got shuffled back in the pack at the wrong time on the final bend. Similar prominent riding tactics as employed at Newmarket the last twice would suit here and it’s a fairly long straight giving him every chance if he turns in in a good position. The team from Somerville Lodge have just the two runners across the afternoon but at such a big meeting it’s not that surprising that stable number one Tom Marquand rides; first time he has been onboard since his debut run at Newbury last summer. I will be on and you will probably hear me and my fellow owners if he is there or thereabouts in the final furlong! He faces two he has beaten before in the shape of Jungle Mac who was second when he won at HQ, that one gets a 2lb turnaround in the weights today and Qirat who was fifth in the race Treasure Time was second in. The Juddmonte owned gelding gets a 6lb pull at the weights in this from their meeting at HQ. Miss Information may have given his form another boost on Wednesday.

Friday - Glorious Goodwood 2024 - Qatar Goodwood Festival

All being well I’ll be back in Triple G Towers before racing starts on Friday and can update the site in full but as you never know with travel below are my initial thoughts for Friday. I will update the site as and when I can on my travels if need be. Just the seven races on Friday 

1.50 2m4½f Coral Goodwood Handicap

Scaramanga on an OR of 84, rated 142 over Hurdles, was the one that really caught the eye in the entries for Willie Mullins but hasn't come over. Kyle Of Lochalsh is the clear best of the usual Flat performers his third in the 2m4f Ascot Stakes giving him every chance here though he'll have top-weight to shoulder. Temporize won this race last year and won last time out at Newbury suggesting he's fit and we'll for the race again this year.

2.25 Group Three 1m Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes

Another race that looks wide-open. Wafei, Trouvillen and Houstonn were three considered by me and only Wafei runs. Blake would be feared if rain arrives.

Saturday - Glorious Goodwood 2024 - Qatar Goodwood Festival

The final day of Glorious Goodwood dawns and it’s a slightly grey morning with the afternoon forecast for cloud and sunny intervals. The going remains good-firm. After a couple of great days at Goodwood I am plotted up back at Triple G Towers for the day. 

A few of the big name riders are missing with work to be done elsewhere, more about that on the blog pages as there are bets to be had all over the world today, but it's still a great days racing down at Goodwood.  Just the one winner for me on Friday making it my least successful day of the week thus far; hopefully I have a few for Saturday. I go into the final day in front but it's not a winning week yet.....

1.50 1m4f Group Three Coral Glorious Stakes

Just the five runners for this and you can make a case for all five. Al Aasy and Phantom Flight are closely matched on their run at Newbury but you’d expect William Haggas' seven-year-old to reverse that form over further and with that seasonal reappearance run having put him straight. That said he isn’t one to overly trust. Aimeric has put in two good efforts in defeat to the above average King Of Conquest recently and deserves to win a race such as this. Lions Pride won a couple of decent races last year, beat subsequent G.1 winner Measured Time, but hasn’t as yet shown anything to suggest he has improved from three to four with a couple of third place finishes this season. The race may get tactical with just five runners and I have plumped for Aimeric to power passed them all late at 100-30.

2.25 1m6f Coral Summer Handicap

Tides Of War has won and come third here in his two visits to date so is shortlisted as he clearly likes it on the Downs and a big run at a big price could be on the cards. Fairbanks and Align The Stars are both considered but they are also both creeping up the handicap and will require career bests. Dancing In Paris has bottom weight and looks of interest. He pulled a bit too much over a fairly pedestrian paced two-mile at Newbury last time but won at Ascot before that over 1m6f and was second over 1m4f here before that. They should go at a fair pace from the of here which will suit the chestnut gelding and he can take this. I have the 8-1.

3.00 1m6f Group Two Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes

Some nice fillies and mares in here and it should be a good renewal. Free Wind never really went on last year having won on her seasonal re-appearance but put in a number of fair efforts in big races. Fourth in this last year on heavy going she put in an encouraging return when second to Bluestocking in the G.2 1m2f Middleton Stakes back at York in May and she gets the vote to return to winning ways back up in trip. I am on at 5-2.

3.35 6f Coral Stewards' Cup

One of the races of the week with twenty-eight thoroughbreds charging up the six-furlongs. There are of course plenty in with chances here including Purosangue who is due to rise another 4lb in the weights after this. Fivethousandtoone and good old Summerghand are ones I have tipped down the years and you can’t ignore. Qatar raider Dark Trooper is another to consider after his Wokingham Stakes second, but he is up another 3lb and may have to settle for a place again. Lethal Levi only lost out late on in the Wokingham Stakes when fourth and he surely has a chance here. Second in the 7f Bunbury Cup at HQ since then a bold front-running effort is expected from the Karl Burke trained five-year-old. I am on each-way (⅕ 6-places) at 11-1.

4.10 7f Whispering Angel Handicap

A couple of non-runners here but it’s still a competitive looking heat. Kevin Ryan trained Jehangeer had decent form as a two-year-old but showed what would appear to be the benefit of breathing surgery and having been gelded after his three-year-old debut run in May when winning at Thirsk last month over six. With this step up to 7f looking sure to suit he is the tentative pick with just a 5lb rise for the win not expected to stop him. I have some of the 13-2.  Mission To Moon and Arctic Thunder are feared.

4.45 7f British Stallion Studs Ebf Maiden Stakes

Some potentially nice two-year-old in here but not a lot of form to go on. Consolidation never really got involved on his debut but suggested he had learnt from the experience when second last time splitting a couple of decent ones at Doncaster; winner New Century was second in the Listed Pat Eddery Stakes and the third Field Of Gold went on to win well at Newmarket. With stablemate Angelo Buonarroti a non-runner this looks a great opportunity for the Ralph Beckett trained Wathnan Racing owned colt to gain a first victory and I am on at 15-8.

5.10 1m1f Coral We're Here For It Handicap

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23rd July 

With the meeting just a week away I am yet to have an ante-post punt. With the plethora of Handicaps across the five-days it's always a tricky meeting to get involved with ante-post, not many races offered by the Bookies yet anyway, but over the next few days the fields for the Pattern races will become clearer and there will likely be the chance of an ante-post bet or two. One horse I will be backing will be Treasure Time, the three-year-old gelding I hold a handful of shares in with RaceShare. Trainer William Haggas has indicated quite strongly that the mile 0-90 handicap on the Thursday is his target at the meeting, the World Pool Handicap, which at the moment is the lucky last on Thursday. Now rated 87, having been hiked 6lb for his second at HQ earlier this month, hopefully there is more to come from him yet; his siblings have all progressed with racing as I have mentioned before.