Goodwood, Beverley and Newmarket provide our TV action on Saturday, with a mixture of sprints, middle distance races and a decent Listed staying contest. If the rain stays away then the ground will be perfect everywhere. So let’s get punting.
2:45 Goodwood – Prestige Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies) Cl1 7f
There is a form line that ties in Grecian Light, On Her Toes and Urban Fox, as they were in behind National Alexander in the Group 3 at Newmarket. The question is which one can find further improvement and of that three you would have to think Grecian Light is the least exposed so far and should again finish on top. Kilmah comes in to the reckoning on the Group 2 second at Royal Ascot but she hasn’t performed to that level since. Promising, also is exactly that after finishing close up behind Partitia who was a good winner at Chester last week. We think it’s all about the Godolphin runner in this one
2 units e/w Grecian Light
3:00 Newmarket – Eddie Stobart Industrial Sector Handicap Cl3 7f
A decent handicap with some interesting sorts. Richard Hannon’s Shawaahid will take some beating but has to give weight to everyone. Penwortham for Richard Fahey looked the real deal when in behind Arcanada at Chester but then flopped at Epsom – that can happen at that course. Kitaaby is interesting off a lighter weight for Brian Meehan and is in search of a hat trick and if Tigerwolf can replicate his Goodwood 3rd to Hawatif then he has a real chance. We will side with the hottest trainer and that’s Richard Fahey and the hat trick seeker for Brian Meehan
1 unit e/w Penwortham | 1 unit e/w Kitaaby
3:10 Beverley – Bullet Sprint Stakes (Listed Race) Cl1 5f
In a race where only 1 favourite has won in 10 years a word for Kingsgate Native. How brilliant his victory was last time out at 11. He might just find this a bridge too far but while he is well he should run. Caspian Prince assures a fast pace but he will find it hard to sustain that up the hill from stall 10. Paul Midgley’s horses are running well again and Line of Reason features in our calculations. He looks a horse about to win again and he has won here before. Maarek is of interest. Speedy and happy with any cut in the ground. It’s interesting that all the fancied runners are drawn wider in what looks to be a pacey encounter. If it rains they could stay in the middle of the course and this will really help Mr Lupton. The safe option in this race is Muthmir who might just be better than all of them over this trip and on any ground
2 units e/w Muthmir
3:20 Goodwood – Goodwood Revival Stakes (Handicap) Cl2 7f
The draw plays a big part in these 7 furlong races at Goodwood. Wider than 9 is tough. So immediately we are looking inside that gate for fancied horses. They include Karl Burke’s Rivellino who is coming back in to form. Intransigent who is going to pop up shortly and it may be in this race as he ran well at Chester last time out and Above the Rest for whom David Barron feels confident. So do we.
1 unit e/w Above the Rest | 1 unit e/w Intransigent
3:35 Newmarket – Fly Stobart Air Handicap Cl2 1m5f
Lots of “Greats” in this race. Two of them, Fighter and Glen could feature. Knights table was in front of a few when second here last time out to Fire Fighter and the admirable Masterpaver who rarely runs a bad race will keep them all honest but it’s probable that Hugo Palmer has the answer with his lightly raced 4yo Walpole for whom the trip and any ground change will cause little or no difficulty. He looks a nap today.
2 units e/w Walpole
3:55 Goodwood – Lewis Badges 1832 March Stakes (Listed Race) Cl1 1m6f
Hughie Morrison should never be ignored in these distance races and Sweeping up has as good a profile as any without it being a compelling one. Sir Michael Stoute’s Platitude ran well over further at Newmarket than he did at Goodwood and this looks more his level. The interesting one is Mr Singh who looked like he might be a real staying force when winning in July last year at Newmarket and might just be finding his feet again.
1 unit e/w Platitude | 1 unit e/w Mr Singh
4:10 Newmarket – Stobart Club And Shop Hopeful Stakes (Listed Race) Cl1 6f
Mayfair Lady has to put two poor runs behind her to run at her best, like she did when winning at York, to win this race but we don’t know what happened and we might have to wait and see if she can regain her form but she is capable of winning at her best. For Naadir to win both Baccarat and Eastern Impact have to run below their best and whilst one might both wont. That then leaves us with the choice between the Fahey and Appleby horse. On the basis of age we will go with Eastern Impact who may still be improving at 5 years of age as a sprinter
1 unit e/w Eastern Impact
4:30 Goodwood – Doom Bar Celebration Mile (Group 2) Cl1 1m CH4
Six 3yo’s have won this in the last 10 years suggesting, at this time of year, the allowance heavily favours the younger horses. The two 3 yo’s, Thikriyaat and Zonderland have both won Group 3’s last time out over this trip and if Clive Cox’s horses were flying then his would be a confident selection. He should finish in front of the Stoute horse though. The question is can Toormore or Arod rekindle their best efforts and triumph. We think there is a good chance the older horses will prevail and Richard Hannon’s Toormore is the selection
2 units win Toormore
