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GOODWOOD SELECTIONS

This week at Goodwood has seemed to involve as much time scouring weather forecasts as the formbook. If most are to be believed, then another very wet morning is in prospect on Saturday. With the turf opened up by four days of racing and no fresh ground available once again, those that have proven ability in the mud are the ones to focus on.

The big handicap of the week is the Stewards' Cup (15:35). MR WAGYU   really blossoms at this time of year, with all of his 15 career wins coming in the months of June, July and August. Don’t be fooled, however, into thinking he needs fast ground - one of those wins came on soft ground in the 2021 Stewards' Cup consolation race off a mark of 91. He ran in the Stewards' Cup itself last season off a mark of 106 as a 10/1 chance, but could only finish 10th. This year, with less attractive form figures going into the race, he's a much bigger price off an 11lb lower mark. His trainer John Quinn showed earlier in the week with Lord Riddiford that he is adept at producing horses for repeat victories at the meeting. Mr Wagyu looks the type of horse who will shorten during the day, so take an early price.

Earlier on in the afternoon, I am really hoping FREE WIND  can get her career back on track after a bitterly disappointing performance at Royal Ascot (15:00). She was one of the horses I was most looking forward to seeing this season and, with her form at York being franked by Rogue Millennium, she looked a top chance in the Hardwicke only to come up well short. The return to her own sex, calmer waters and easier ground all mean she can show her true worth before looking to land a Group 1, probably the Fillies and Mares on Champions Day.

Deciding when grand old horses are finally on the decline or capable of a final hurrah can be tricky, but with the likely attritional conditions, old EUCHEN GLEN   is a worth a small interest on ground he loves (14:25). He is clearly not the horse of old but loves coming through the pack and, if the pace is solid, it could be set up for a much bigger run. He was well behind favourite Sweet William recently, but connections of the favourite are possibly having their hands forced as he needs the penalty for winning to get into the valuable Ebor Handicap at York, for which he is one of the leading antepost fancies. The ground will be the softest he has faced and, as a result, he looks short enough to oppose.

OTHER SELECTIONS

Away from Goodwood, SAY HELLO   can again wave goodbye to his rivals (14:05 Newmarket). He blitzed a field over course and distance in first-time blinkers on his nursery debut and, even though he has a hefty rise in the weights to overcome, he could still be well treated given the amount of guesswork involved in initial two-year-old handicap marks. Three of Ralph Beckett’s first four nursery runners have won this season, an angle worth keeping an eye on over the coming weeks.

JOCKEYS FOR COURSES

  • Goodwood – Jason Hart (Actual/Expected 1.99). Already had a good week there.
  • Lingfield (Turf) – Josephine Gordon (A/E 1.44). Two winners from six rides there this season, both on the straight course, suggests she is well aware of the strong stands-rail bias.
  • Thirsk – Danny Tudhope (A/E 1.20). Approaching 100 winners at the track and certain to attract a decent book away from some of the bigger meetings.

FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD

John Bridger now shares training duties with his daughter Rachel Cook and after a slow start to the season their runners have fared much better recently. The quiet patch has seen FIRENZE ROSA   (19:45 Lingfield) drop to a competitive mark of 51, the same as for her last victory on soft ground at Goodwood. One thing you can nearly guarantee she will win is the best turned out, as the yard are renowned for the immaculate way they present their horses.

SELECTIONS

SAY HELLO   (14:05 Newmarket)

EUCHEN GLEN   (14:25 Goodwood)

FREE WIND   (15:00 Goodwood)

MR WAGYU   (15:35 Goodwood)

FIRENZE ROSA   (19:45 Lingfield)