Goodwood Turns On The Style
With 5 UK meetings and Listed action topping the bill, there’s a lot to look forward to on Thursday. Goodwood is certainly the pick and the first race is a 2-year-old encounter, over 6f (1.50). 3 of the 5 runners are on debut, with Afendem and Son Castello both benefiting from a just a single outing. Afandem won readily at Doncaster and will be heavily-backed to follow-up here. Son Castello was less impressive, finishing 5th, while Yalta (who has 1 G1 Phoenix Stakes entry) looks by far the most dangerous of the 3 unraced newcomers.
Dessert Can Be Sweet, For Punters
With Frankie Dettori on-board, John Gosden’s The Black Princess has to be a serious contender in the Listed Height of Fashion Stakes (a race for 3-year-old fillies, at 4.00). However, her list of future entries looks far more impressive than her actual form. She was beaten when an odds-on favourite at Nottingham and Dessertoflife has already achieved far more. 4th in the Cheshire Oaks, where she finished ahead of both Play Gal and Mirsaalah, she has won a G3 race in Germany. Mark Johnston’s horse does face a penalty for that success, but should still be a big threat. Cajoled is a handicap winner and the booking of Ryan Moore can only boost her claims.
The 3.05 at Lingfield is a 1m 3f handicap, with few horses looking well-treated. Astra Hall won by 5 lengths, at Catterick, but an 8lb hike looks more than enough for that win. Quality Song is also penalised (4lb), for finishing runner-up on the polytrack, while Forced Family Fun is still paying the price for earlier impressive runs. Saumur looks to be on a winnable mark, although German runner Donna Graciosa is dropping in grade and looks better value.
No Hope, For Neumond?
The handicapper clearly is in no mood to be made a fool of by Neumond, in the 4.55 at Worcester and a mark of 109 should put paid to Nicky Henderson’s hopes of a winning debut. Nicholascopernicus looks to have got his hooves comfortably under the table, at Kerry Lee’s yard and can improve on his Huntingdon effort. Glengra concedes only a single pound to Neumond, despite finishing ahead of that horse at Warwick, but the improving Glenariff is the tentative pick in what looks a very competitive race.
Rock To Foil Doyle?
There’s always a buzz when one of Hugo Palmer’s juveniles takes to the track for the first time and today will be no exception, at Sandown (5.50). James Doyle has the ride on Bithynia, a filly who is a half-sister to several winners (a couple in their 2-year-old campaigns). Tropical Rock just about gets the nod, though. Ralph Beckett’s young inmate certainly hit a flat spot, when debuting at Ascot, but she recovered to stay on strongly for 3rd place and should improve.
The 7.50 at Ripon should be a cracking contest, with Richard Fahey’s Dolphin Vista facing a an impressive contingent of Mark Johnston runners. Out of Montsarrat, Galesburg, Miniturist, Tawakkol and Byres Road, only the latter looks obviously held. Novinophobia also represents Fahey, but Ann Duffield’s Ninetta can upset the applecart despite a poor showing at Newmarket. She finished 3rd, behind Alice Springs and Clear Skies, in the 300,000 Tattersalls Millions 2YO Fillies’ Trophy (also at Headquarters) before that disappointing run and can bounce back this evening.
Mullins Booking The Clue, At Clonmel?
Over in Ireland, there are 8 races at Clonmel starting with a maiden hurdle at 5.00. The final race on the card (8.45) is an I.N.H. flat race and much is expected of Sweet Shirleen. The booking of Patrick Mullins is unlikely to go un-noticed by cannier punters and don’t be surprised if there is a big gamble on this 6-year-old.
Listed Action, In France
There’s Listed action at Angers (France), in the shape of the Grand Steeple-Chase, although the overall card at Fontainebleau looks even better. The Prix de la Forêt de Fontainebleau should be very exciting, with La Zamtoff and Running Waters topping the ratings. Today’s South Africa meeting is at Vaal, with 8 races to get stuck into (no less than 4 of which are for juveniles).
Today’s Picks
GOODWOOD
1.50 Afandem
2.20 Enlace
2.55 Fitzwilly
3.30 Scarlet Dragon
4.00 Dessertoflife
4.35 High Hopes
5.05 Lewisham
LINGFIELD
2.00 Glasgow Central
2.30 Sherdat
3.05 Donna Graciosa
3.40 Onorina
4.10 Mystic Jade
4.45 Clement
5.15 Colourfilly
RIPON
6.15 Eva Gore
6.45 Dot Green
7.20 Lexi’s Boy
7.50 Ninetta
8.25 Livella Fella
8.55 Mowhoob
SANDOWN
5.50 Tropical Rock
6.25 City Of Ideas
6.55 Defrocked
7.30 Midhmaar
8.00 High Shields
8.35 Robins Pearl
WORCESTER
2.10 Dainty Diva
2.40 Fight Commander
3.15 Whatmore
3.50 Castlemorris King
4.20 Moonracer
4.55 Glenariff
5.25 Buy Me Out
5.55 Sheer Poetry
CLONMEL
5.00 Belle Fortune
5.30 Munstead Pride
6.00 Alamein
6.35 Wither Hills
7.05 Scenic Star
7.40 Bootsandcats
8.10 Toreen
8.45 Sweet Shirleen
ANGERS
R1 Baltic Spirit
R2 Fou Et Sage
R3 Speculator
R4 Gold Forever
R5 My Marlim
R6 Anneli
R7 Luxe Vendome
R8 Amansara
FONTAINEBLEAU
R1 Deremah
R2 Fixed Rate
R3 Running Waters
R4 Beata
R5 Red Shine
R6 Flavio Forte
R7 No Sell
R8 Bohemien
VAAL
R1 Blazing Winter
R2 Legend Seeker
R3 Pachuco
R4 Golden Attitude
R5 Dream Leader
R6 Top Shot
R7 Tobesuretobesure
R8 Post Grad
