After running well on the all weather last year Jonny Mudball has been well fancied for both his starts on turf this season but has proved a bit disappointing. There may have been valid excuses for these efforts though and he is a horse worth sticking with. He runs in the Goodwood 2.15 tomorrow where he will be ridden by Hayley Turner. He might be worth a small each way interest.
Hayley Turner rides Brunston in the 2.45 for trainer Roger Charlton. A 40/1 winner at Newbury already this season he is a course winner at Goodwood which is always a big plus and he will act on the quick ground.
Beat the Rush impressed when winning at Pontefract last time and there could well be more to come from him. He is my selection in the 2.00 at Haydock where the in form jockey Paul Hannigan will be in the plate.
In the big handicap at 2.30 my two against the field are not very original I am afraid. Our Joe Mac was an unlucky loser at Chester last time and I have had him in my notebook for this race ever since. Balducci has only had four runs in his life and ran a cracker when 2nd at Newmarket on his handicap debut. Both look open to further improvement and should run well.
The Temple Stakes at 3.00 looks very tough and a case could be made for half a dozen of them. There are 3 I am particularly keen on. Old favourite Borderlescott rarely runs a bad race and showed that he has lost none of his ability when 2nd at Newmarket earlier this month. He is very closely matched with another ultra consistent sprinter, Benbaun (pictured below) , who he beat by a neck at York last August. This pair are very tough and reliable sprinters and it would be surprising if they are not involved in the finish. The other one I like is Total Gallery who beat both Borderlescott and Benbaun in the Prix de L’Abbaye at Longchamp last season. If pushed for a single selection I would just go with Total Gallery who is much younger than his two rivals and may still be improving.
Anglezarke is yet to find her form this season but on last season’s form would be in with a good chance in the 3.30. Trainer William Haggas started the season slowly but he is firing in the winners now and his 3 year old Redden could be the answer in the 5.15. He runs off an attractive mark and 7 furlongs should be just right for him based on pedigree.
Trip the Light is a winner of 8 races and could well add to that tally in the 2.05 at York where he is a course and distance winner. Halla San is a tough competitor in staying races and was 3rd in the Chester Cup. He looks each way value in the 3.10.
The 3.40 is a competitive sprint handicap. Cheveton may find the ground too quick while Invincible Lad might need the run so I will go with recent course and distance winner Johannes and the consistent Hamish McGonagall as my two against the field. Mr Freddy won at Pontefract on his seasonal reappearance and can follow up in the 5.25.
Dubai Dynamo is in fine form at present and although not having an ideal draw should go well at Chester in the 3.25 where Invincible Force looks the each way value. My other fancy at Chester is Saga de Tercey who should appreciate the step up in distance and has had a recent run to blow the cobwebs away.
The Irish 2,000 Guineas at The Curragh (3.45) looks an open contest. The 3rd and 4th from the English version, Canford Cliffs and Xtension turn out here. There are doubts perhaps about stamina with the former and class with the latter but they should be in the shake up. The Ballydoyle pair of Steinbeck and Fencing Master have to command respect while Noll Wallop, who won the trial at Leopardstown is an interesting dark horse. A fascinating race in prospect but not one I have a really strong view on. Elsewhere on the card English raider Jimmy Styles should put up a bold show in the 3.10.
Today’s pictures are courtesy of the artists Sarah Aspinall (The mile start at Goodwood) and Karen Davies (Benbaun).
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