The horse racing broadcaster offers four selections for the fourth day at the Qatar Goodwood Festival and updates his stable tracker.
Day four of Glorious Goodwood gets underway with one of the quirky races in the calendar, the 2m 4f Coral Goodwood Handicap, where they start without stalls right by the winning line.
In these sorts of contests, it can often pay to side with horses who have run well in the race in the past. SUPER SUPERJACK
13/2
(13:50 Goodwood) was second in the race back in 2022 when sent off favourite but was forced to miss last season through injury, and his two comeback runs for Olly Murphy have looked to be with the aim of getting him ready for another crack at this race. He lines up off a 2lb lower mark than two years ago, which tips the scales in his favour as opposed to last year’s winner Temporize, who could get a soft time up front but lines up 10lb higher than last season.
Tom Marquand has chances of a double if he can use SOCIALITE’s
15/2
(14:25 Goodwood) energy a little more efficiently than was the case at Newmarket, where the horse didn’t last home behind Al Musmak, who reopposes along with the third that day, Lead Artist. That was only Socialite’s third career start, and his front-running tactics might be easier to execute round the bend, especially as the cutaway has been removed, making it harder for those in behind to get a run. He looks the only front runner in the field and can reverse the form with those who beat him at Newmarket.
With thunderstorms forecast overnight on Thursday, I am hoping the rain stays away as the faster ground would be a plus to the chances of CLASSIC
17/2
(15:00 Goodwood), whose good cruising speed is a big asset in a big field round here. He was caught wide last time but is nicely drawn in stall 3 to get a good smuggle into the race, and hopefully he can find the gaps at the right time.
The feature race is the Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes, where I see no reason Aussie speedster ASFOORAH
3/1
(15:35 Ascot) cannot confirm the Royal Ascot form with the sprinters he beat that day. The early downhill run may be a bit alien, but the sprinting division is not strong and he has pace either side of him in Ponntos and Live In The Dream. Czech sprinter Ponntos does have the potential to go off over the odds, having looked to improve this season, and wasn’t beaten too far in this race twelve months ago. I know nothing about his rider Sabina Mokrosova – he has been ridden by Mickael Barzelona on his last three starts, and while that will again contribute to a big price, it is a big ask to get the fractions right up front if you have never ridden at the track before.
Stable Tracker update
Another busy week with the following results:
Brightwalton (second, 7/2) was beaten narrowly and now has the option of nurseries in the one remaining run.
Simmering (first, 11/8) made slightly hard work of it but got up close home and is now released.
Middle Earth (unplaced, 12/1) never travelled at any stage. He is released early as he’s likely now to be prepared for campaign in Australia.
Glamour Show (second, 11/8) was unsuited by the drop back to 5f but could well have been a deliberate move with a nursery run in mind back at 6f. One run left.
Vaunted (unplaced, 9/2) has a final run back at Bath on Friday. It’s the right track, and the stable is going OK but he needs things to drop right as there is an element of temperament in there.
Forager (first, 9/4) confirmed the promise and comes from an excellent Yarmouth race, which has thrown up lots of winners and is worth checking out. He’s done the job and is now released.
Original Outlaw (16:10 Goodwood) runs on Thursday and both Vaunted and We’re Reunited (19:35 Bath Friday) in the same race on Friday are the next runners.
Additions:
Silent Flame did best of those up with the pace at Newbury and looks very competitive off a mark of 63.
Kinross allowed the front pair too much rope in the Lennox but that is first of a few similar 7f races such as the City Of York, Park and Challenge.
Released: Simmering, Forager, Middle Earth.
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