There was plenty to enthuse about today with some excellent performances from a few unsung heroes.
Mark Johnstone’s horses are typically tough, genuine and extremely difficult to get past once they have hit the front. Crosspeace is one such and landed his second win of the week at Goodwood today under Royston Ffrench. Crosspeace took the lead turning into the straight and just kept on galloping.
I have been going on about the importance of previous form at Goodwood and this was again borne out in the 5.00. Smokin’ Beau usually runs well at the Sussex track and ran another cracker to finish 3rd. He is a 9 year old while the second, Idle Power is a year younger. He has won 4 times at Goodwood once again showing that you can’t ignore the horses for courses thing here.
I was rather pleased with myself when I tipped Just Dust to win a seller at 6/1 earlier in the season. I didn’t dream at the time that she would go on to win 3 times more. She made most of the running under 5 lbs claimer Marc Halford in the nursery at Goodwood. She really skipped round the turn. She was gambled on from 20/1 to 10/1 and I suppose I should have spotted the fact that she has won at Catterick and Brighton, both sharp tracks and so was likely to handle Goodwood.
Another 2 year old to mention is Suhayl Star who was dropped in class at Thirsk and won the claimer there by a street.
I pointed out on here last night that Sir Gerard was badly drawn in the mile handicap. He had an impossible task from stall 1 but still managed to run a blinder to atke 4th. He remains one to follow, particularly on a more galloping track.
Moving on to Saturday we have a representative from the list to follow in the first race at Goodwood at 1.30 Cool Customer has won three times so owes me nothing. He has not been out of the first 2 in his last 5 outings but has been raised 8 lbs for his last success and carries top weight. F Dettori replaced usual pilot J Spencer. Ed Dunlop has his horses in fair form and Cool Customer has an each way chance at odds of around 7/1.
I do not seem to pick the right horses from Sir Michael Stoute’s yard for my list to follow. City of Troy has been typical in this respect. He looked full of promise as a two year old but has it to do now after showing very little in his two runs this season.
The Nassau Stakes (2.30) is a race not to be missed and the ever popular Ouija Board is the likely warm favourite. I was impressed with the way that Nannina won at Ascot though and I am going to select her to triumph here. The other horse from our list to follow is Race for the Stars whom is held by Nannina on their running at Ascot.
The 28 runner Stewards Cup is obviously going to be difficult to solve. However, five of the last 10 running have been won by horses in stalls 27, 28 and 29. Tax Free is drawn 27, and as I believe he is the best horse in the race anyway he gets my tip. The other two runners from the list to follow are Intrepid Jack and Borderlescott. Both have a chance but I will suggest Borderlescott as a saver with Tax Free.
There may have been excuses for Coup D’Etats poor showing earlier in the week and he is worth another chance in the 4.50.
Imperial Gain represents the list to follow in the 8.25 at Lingfiled. He won over course and distance last Saturday.
There is a tricky looking nursery at Newmarket at 3.10. My short list is Kings Bastion, Gremlin and El Bosque. Gremlin would just get the nod with an each way saver on El Bosque.
So Sweet is an interesting runner for Mick Channon in the 4.20 at Newmarket. She didn’t show much on her debut at Sandown last week but she should improve on that in time. She is a full sister to Crosspeace mentioned earlier in this bulletin. Sir Michael Stoute introduces a potentially interesting newcomer in Cliché. Trafalgar Day has changed stables since I selected him for my list to follow. He was 3rd at Chester on his seasonal reappearance and should be better suited by the galloping track at Newmarket where he runs in the 5.25.
Up at Thirsk Naayla is a fairly tentative suggestion for the 2.45. She won a maiden at Southwell earlier and looks each way value at 16/1.
8 year old Celtic Mill has 14 career wins to his credit with 4 of them coming at Wolverhampton where he is something of a specialist. He has also won at Windsor and returns there for the 2.20. The small field may well suit his style of running and I can see him making every post a winning one.
Fear to Tread is no world beater but has at least recorded a win for the list to follow. She has an each way squeak in the 2.50 as long as all 8 runners hold their ground.
After 4 runs without winning Cheap Street has rather an exposed look. His trainer does well at Windsor though and the horse has already been 2nd at the track. He could run well in the 4.00.
Turning to Sunday the 2.50 at Chester has gone to the favourite or joint favourite 8 out of the last 10 years. Having said that the winner last season was returned at 25/1. I am a bit interested in Jafaru as a long term prospect. He is a half brother to several winners including Kodiac who runs in a Group 1 at Deauville on Sunday (3.020)
That brings me nicely to that Group 1 sprint where the runners include our horse to follow Presto Shinko who won a Group 3 at Maisons-Laffitte last month. Balthazaas Gift also runs from the list to follow as well as a number of old friends including Baltic King, Somnus and Eistedfodd.
Duke of Tuscany has his first run in the 2.30 at Newbury and looks one for the notebook.
Staying with the juveniles, Stagehand made all to win a Kempton nursery and looks to follow up in the 3.05 at Newbury.
Sindirana represents the list to follow in the 3.40. She won the Lingfield Oaks Trial and ran OK I thought last time at Newmarket.
See you on Sunday evening.
ahorse 