KNOT IN WOOD Ultra tough and consistent in these big handicaps and ran crackers to finish placed in both last seasons Ayr Gold Cup and this seasons Wokingham off 1lb higher. Deserves major respect and makes plenty of each way appeal.
SIR GERRY Having his first run in a British handicap and is an excellent performer on his day (Grp One placed). His rider takes a handy 3lbs off his back and probably doesn't deserve to be as big a price as he is. Couldn't rule out.
GENKI Game winner of this last term and fully entitled at another crack here today. Has been running consistently well so far but is 10lbs higher than when landing this last year and needs to reverse Wokingham form with some of these.
PALACE MOON Looked a horse going places when landing Doncaster win on only fourth ever start last year and finally showing his ability now. Wokingham third/Bunbury Cup second give him major chance; Fallon booked; 5lbs "well in" on the figures. One to fear.
JIMMY STYLES Down the field here last year but won Ayr Gold Cup later in the year in grand style. Is 4lbs higher here today though and hasn't looked in the best form so far, which is a concern. Capable claimer/first time blinkers a bonus though.
CASTLES IN THE AIR Winner of Ascot's International handicap over 7f only last week and special effort needed to land the double. On highest ever mark now and this could be a bit on the sharp side for him. Talented trainer/jockey combo a plus.
EDGE CLOSER Never been the most consistent of performers but his two handicap efforts this term have been encouraging. His mark is creeping down to an appealing one but likely there will be other days for him.
KALDOUN KINGDOM Sublime effort last time out behind Hawkeyethenoo at York and is in this off the same mark. Lee Topliss gets the leg up again and claims a handy 5lbs. Thinking is he is best on a flat track though and the undulations might catch him out.
RILEYSKEEPINGFAITH Has been running really well all season and landed a bit of a gamble at Newbury a few starts back. Interesting Hughesy gets the leg up today but has finished down the field in three big handicaps this year and beaten by Genki twice.
ADVANCED Another consistent performer who landed a big race win last season at Ascot to add to his Ayr Gold Cup triumph in 2007. Slightly in and out this term so far and two visits here have been disappointing.
HITCHENS Loves to hear his feet rattle along on ground, so unlikely to get his ideal conditions in this today. Very interesting jockey booking but more likely he has targets later in the season.
IVER BRIDGE LAD Running fairly well in handicaps this term and the return of the blinkers should aid his cause. Remains on a very stiff mark now though and probably better chances in this.
STRIKING SPIRIT Better than ever this term and storming run behind Laddies Poker Two in the Wokingham to finish second. Raised 5lbs for that effort and while that might be enough to stop him he could run another big race.
JOHANNES Now 17lbs higher than when landing the consolation race here last season but started this term with a decisive win at York. Jockey takes 3lbs off here but needs to bounce back after two disappointing efforts of late.
JONNY MUDBALL Has been an improved performer since the addition of the tongue-tie and ran away with Newcastle event last time out. Seb Sanders keeps his place in the saddle and could run well despite inexperience and 9lbs rise.
RUN FOR THE HILLS Likely to find things extremely tough in race of this calibre after not really setting the world on fire so far this term. Ideally needs his mark to drop before he is seen at his best again.
ANCIEN REGIME Dropping further and further down the weights now after finishing virtually last on his last three starts. Very hard to fancy in against this opposition when so much out of form.
PROHIBIT Continued his excellent run of form this season when fourth behind Masamah at Ascot last Sunday. Finished down field in this last term off 1lb higher and hard to envisage him landing this today despite positive runs of late.
EVERYMANFORHIMSELF Remains on a high mark now after being ultra consistent last term and has been struggling in races of this nature all season. Will be of interest again once dropped a few pounds and there are other days for him.
EVENS AND ODDS Excellent second in this last season off the same mark; so claimer taking 5lbs off today a big plus. Not been in the best of form of late, but trainer is, and big price if course wakes him up again.
ENACT Beautifully bred daughter of Kyllachy who travelled gracefully at Newmarket on seasonal debut when finding just Hawkeyethenoo too good. Sure to come on for that run and bold bid on the cards for Stoute/Moore combination.
INGLEBY LADY Struggled of late after hugely promising seasonal debut when taking York handicap in good style. Down the field in last weeks Sky Bet Dash and needs to show plenty of improvement to take a hand in the finish today.
SONNY RED Well back in this last year but was never at the races and form has been patchy at best this time around. Never one to rely on too heavily, he has a big race in him but it seems unlikely today will be his day.
NOVERRE TO GO Finished second on his "side" in the Wokingham behind Genki and has probably been saved for a crack at this. No reason why he can't run well once more although he would have a bit to find with some of these to take a hand.
SECRET ASSET Lightly raced gelding who has a fair level of form coming into this contest. Some decent handicap runs to his name this term in addition to his Grp Three third last time gives him a chance; this much tougher though.
PRIME EXHIBIT Hasn't built upon his encouraging second behind Penitent in the Lincoln back in March. First try over six on a turf course is a worry here but claimer is decent and the horse clearly has talent.
PARISIAN PYRAMID Running as well as anything this season and likely to shoot from his stall one position and try and make all. Already a dual course and distance winner it would be no shock to see another bold show.
SINGEUR Struggled last week in the Sky Bet Dash and has the first time blinkers on today to spark some life back into him. Tough assignment on the cards in against his elders off bottom weight and others more likely
SUMMARY
One of the toughest sprint handicaps of the year and this renewal looks like following suit. A four or five year old has taken the race for the past nine years and that trend could continue with two near the head of the market, in Enact and Palace Moon, catching the eye. Enact clearly has talent in abundance and ran a highly encouraging race behind one of the best sprint handicappers around this season, Hawkeyethenoo, on her reappearance. She should have come on for that run and her mark has been preserved as a result of coming straight here after that Newmarket effort. Ryan Moore is in flying form and a bold show looks likely. Palace Moon has been somewhat unlucky so far this season, despite some cracking efforts in big handicaps. He is due to go up five pounds after this anyway on official figures and can come out on top of his Wokingham rivals here today. Fallon is back in the saddle and with a clear passage he has an excellent chance. Best of the rest could come in the shape of Parisian Pyramid who has shown highly consistent form all season. He is racing off the same mark as last week when caught by Hawkeyethenoo at York and could break from his stall one berth and make a dash for the line. He is two from three at Goodwood and again looks some each way value. All in all it looks an extremely tricky puzzle to crack.
It would have saved me a good few hours taking your approach Sint
It is a nightmare of a race to crack though this year. Not like when Gift Horse stormed to victory five seasons ago in what is one of my favourite races ever!
It would have saved me a good few hours taking your approach Sint It is a nightmare of a race to crack though this year. Not like when Gift Horse stormed to victory five seasons ago in what is one of my favourite races ever!
Like last year the rain and mist has arrived .. that put me off Genki and I ended up backing Markab
Lots of them look to be out of form but the ground could change that imo.
Fallon had a treble last night at HQ. Masterfull stuff
Like last year the rain and mist has arrived .. that put me off Genki and I ended up backing MarkabLots of them look to be out of form but the ground could change that imo.Fallon had a treble last night at HQ. Masterfull stuff
Does anyone have a list of the balloted out horses or know where I can get one etc.? Very important to me. Can't see anything in yesterdays ot todays post.
Does anyone have a list of the balloted out horses or know where I can get one etc.? Very important to me. Can't see anything in yesterdays ot todays post.
Thanks yet again Value King for the fantatic write up. If only you followed National Hunt racing as much as you do the sprints.
Enact is certainly unexposed and has every chance however I think you may have been slightly too dismissive of Ancien Regime who has been freshened up and looks on a great mark for a group winner. Godolphin bought this horse to compete in group 1s.....
Thanks yet again Value King for the fantatic write up. If only you followed National Hunt racing as much as you do the sprints.Enact is certainly unexposed and has every chance however I think you may have been slightly too dismissive of Ancien Regim
Ancien Regime does has talent somewhere within him but I would have just liked to see some decent form before coming into a race an competitive as this is bound to be.
Thanks Meat, appreciate the comments.Ancien Regime does has talent somewhere within him but I would have just liked to see some decent form before coming into a race an competitive as this is bound to be.
if its really gone to soft then i do think singeur has a far better chance than the 90's i got . blinkered first time and hopefully it wont run in snatches so much. hold up and come through getting a good lead to near the line. striking spirit was second in a very good race at ascot too, for the f/c.
if its really gone to soft then i do think singeur has a far better chance than the 90's i got . blinkered first time and hopefully it wont run in snatches so much. hold up and come through getting a good lead to near the line. striking spirit w
The former because he ran well here back in May and lto where he'll now be getting a few pounds from Genki
The latter because he's gone well here before, likely to pop up when you least expect it and is a big price
gl
av backed Rileyskeepingfaith and Evens and OddsThe former because he ran well here back in May and lto where he'll now be getting a few pounds from GenkiThe latter because he's gone well here before, likely to pop up when you least expect i
Delighted. The race was run to suit with him having the winner nearby to keep him concentrating better to the line. I do wonder if there had been no rain and no watering what might have been. And something tells me the horse may still actually be more talented than he has shown even here. He perhaps likes to just keep something back for himself!
Delighted. The race was run to suit with him having the winner nearby to keep him concentrating better to the line. I do wonder if there had been no rain and no watering what might have been. And something tells me the horse may still actually be mor
Secondly, really disappointed with the way the ground went. I don't think the clerk of the course handled the watering situation brilliantly with the rain that was forecast and those drawn high seemed to flounder. I was bullish about Enact even more so after Sir Michael gave her a very positive word on Channel Four, there is surely something special in her with better conditions in her favour.
On a side note, I was so close to plumping for Evens And Odds as my each way selection after my upbeat analysis of his chances...
EVENS AND ODDS Excellent second in this last season off the same mark; so claimer taking 5lbs off today a big plus. Not been in the best of form of late, but trainer is, and big price if course wakes him up again.
But went for the the horse in slightly better form in Parisian Pyramid. Ah well. I did have a small saver on Evens And Odds this morning to cover myself and I'm thankful I did now. Goodwood has never been the luckiest of tracks for me so I'm looking forward to the Ebor meeting at York next, which is my favourite track of them all
First of all well played FFT Secondly, really disappointed with the way the ground went. I don't think the clerk of the course handled the watering situation brilliantly with the rain that was forecast and those drawn high seemed to flounder. I
10,12,14,15,16,17,18,19 (8 out of 9) finished in the first 9, strongly suggesting that the middle was the place to be imo, whether or not it was ground or pace.
10,12,14,15,16,17,18,19 (8 out of 9) finished in the first 9, strongly suggesting that the middle was the place to be imo, whether or not it was ground or pace.
Evens & Odds had three poor runs coming into this race .. so he did well to win imo , one is excusable, two just about, but three ..
A nice run from Prohibit again .. one day things will drop right.
The Coc was liberal with his hosepipe but isn't the Stewards Cup dominated by horses in the middle section of the draw each year anyway .. I do agree though the watering did seem excessive and was happy to watch today.
wd FFT/VK.Evens & Odds had three poor runs coming into this race .. so he did well to win imo , one is excusable, two just about, but three ..A nice run from Prohibit again .. one day things will drop right.The Coc was liberal with his hosepipe but i
cheers Phs. Is that down to the CoC then ? Is he basically altering trends with his hosepipe ?
And did Stoute give a reason why Enact had not run for a while ?
cheers Phs. Is that down to the CoC then ? Is he basically altering trends with his hosepipe ?And did Stoute give a reason why Enact had not run for a while ?