TimeformBlog

Amour Propre can get the ball rolling for us in the King George Stakes this afternoon given his prominent running-style should be ideally suited to Goodwood's sharp 5f course. Although a smart performer at two years, during which he won three of his four starts, including the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes at Ascot, Henry Candy's gelding has undoubtedly had problems since, most notably when returning from the 2009 Nunthorpe with bruised feet. However, he was almost back to his very best on his seasonal reappearance at York just nineteen days ago, and with that run likely to have bought him on from a fitness point of view, he looks sure to go close today.

Opinion Poll has always threatened to deliver big race victory and his day in the sun could well be today. Since joining Mahmoud Al Zarooni, Opinion Poll has performed better than ever, yet to finish out of the frame in five starts this year, including when producing a career-best to finish three lengths second to Fame And Glory in the Ascot Gold Cup last time. Opinion Poll seemed to find the soft ground and extreme trip particularly suitable there, but with today's ground perfect and the likely strong pace sure to suit, he can prove himself a force over two miles and give Frankie Dettori his third win in the popular feature race.

The progressive Wild Coco can become Sir Henry Cecil's second winner of the Lillie Langtry Stakes in three years when stepping up to a-mile-and-three-quarters for the first time this afternoon. Wild Coco has come a long way in very little time as this is just her fourth career start, but she showed a smart level of form when beating 2010 Oaks runner-up Meeznah over 1m4f last time, the pair pulling ten lengths clear of the pursuing group. Three-year-olds tend to be helped by a very favorable weight-for-age allowance at this time of year and Wild Coco's main danger not come from an older horse, but Field of Miracles, who was second behind Banimpire in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot. Of the two, Wild Coco is open to the more improvement and with the trip expect to suit, she gets the nod.

Recommendations
Back Amour Propre @ 6.4 in the 14:45 Goodwood
Back Opinion Poll @ 6.0 in the 15:15 Goodwood
Back Wild Coco @ 2.8 in the 15:45 Goodwood

For more racing betting articles, go to http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/