Glorious Goodwood - Wednesday; Day Two

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Wednesday of Glorious Goodwood promises to be a day for the history books at Dawn Approach takes on Toronado for the third time this season in The Sussex Stakes (3.05) and Jim Bolger's son of New Approach currently leads 2-0. Given the dominance that the Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes stable have had at the meeting in recent years there is optimism from the stable that Toronado can exact revenge. That being said Dawn Approach has every quality going in a top class racehorse and providing he handles the undulating surface of the course he should seal the hat-trick for Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning thus cementing his already legendary status amongst the greats.


Mark Johnston has a cracking record at the festival with 10% of all winners here since 2004 so it would be folly to ignore his two runners in the 1.55. He runs Broxbourne under a penalty and the filly could be dangerous and she is the preferred mount of Joe Fanning with Franny Norton on the supposed second string Good Morning Star. Gassin Golf is interesting at the top of the weights but would presumably want a bit more cut and as such the most likely winner looks to be Lieutenant Miller for Nicky Henderson and Tom Queally. He chased home Tiger Cliff and Well Sharp in The Ascot Stakes and the form of the race looks very strong. He had Broxbourne in behind when winning at Doncaster and from a 2lb rise for his Royal Ascot exertions, looks sure to go well again.


The Gordon Stakes at 2.30 usually paves the way at a crack at The St Leger at Doncaster and this mile and a half contest has been won by some very smart sorts in recent years including subsequent King George winners Conduit and Harbinger for Sir Michael Stoute. Godolphin are double-handed with Irish Derby fourth Cap O'Rushes, whilst Excess Knowledge and Elkaayed have little between them based on their efforts behind Remote at Royal Ascot. As such it could be worth taking a chance on Havana Beat. He travelled in stylish fashion to finish an unlucky third last time out behind Feel Like Dancing at Newmarket and despite having ground to make up on official ratings he could be well worth a punt with the colt likely to get a strong pace to run at.


Olympic Glory won a bunched finish of the Vintage Stakes (3.40) last year with the form turning out to be rather smart and the Hannon and Hughes tend to aim their smartest juveniles here winning the last three renewals. They look to have something special on their hands with Toormore who beat Ertijaal on debut with the pair pulling seven lengths clear of the field and the second behind held in the highest regard. The fact that he is thrown into a race of such magnitude highlights what regard he is held in at the stable and where he must be in the pecking order of numerous two year olds.


A filly that continues on an upward curve is Ribbons for James Fanshawe and Freddie Tylicki and she runs in the fillies handicap at 4.50. The unbeaten daughter of Manduro made it three from three when winning comfortably at Newmarket and despite a 7lb rise she looks to be in good heart and going the right way. There are a host of well bred fillies in the race with Love Magic and Great Timing looking the most obvious dangers from two in form stables.


The finale will likely see Magic City well supported alongside other recent winners Akaud, Alejandro Nenge Mboko but all are likely to be in single figure prices and a horse that could be taken a chance on is Amanda Perrett's Johnny Castle. He finished third behind My Kingdom last time out in a race where the form is working out rather well and runs from the same mark of 83 despite those in behind coming out and running well. He can run well for a stable that has a 20% Strike Rate here in the last twelve months.

Goodwood 1.55 - Lieutenant Miller
Goodwood 2.30 - Havana Beat
Goodwood 3.05 - Dawn Approach (Nap)
Goodwood 3.40 - Toormore
Goodwood 4.50 - Ribbons
Goodwood 5.25 - Johnny Castle


The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner

Follow me on Twitter - @JJMSports

Glorious Goodwood - Tuesday; Day One

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Monday marks the start of one of the feature weeks in the horse racing calendar on the Sussex Downs, it could only be Glorious Goodwood. A sumptuous selection of quality racing and competitive handicaps throughout the week and Tuesday is no exception with The Lennoz Stakes proving the highlight.


The opening contest looks the most exciting race of the day with the ten furlong handicap at 1.55 bringing a host of potentially group class horses, not least John Gosden's superbly bred colt Nabucco. He carries the burden of a 7lb rise for winning at Newmarket, whilst serial winner Whispering Warrior remains in good heart but is now up 33lb for scoring four times from five starts this season. Labarinto and Viewpoint are respected for powerful stables but it could be worth taking a chance on Amanda Perrett's Blue Surf. He won a similar event over course and distance last year and has run well despite defeat at Ascot and Epsom thus far. The form of his Epsom run has worked out well and he should be now cherry ripe on his third start of the season.


The Molecomb Stakes at 2.30 has a habit of throwing up a surprise and was won last year by Mick Channon's Bungleinthejungle at an unfancied 14/1. The stable run Ambiance this year who is respected after strong runs at Ascot and Sandown but it could be worth taking a chance on Justice Day who could be suited with the undulating track. He travelled well in The Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot before proving to be on the wrong side of the track. Admittedly Anticipated and Supplicant were ahead that day but under different tactics from Paul Hanagan the colt can turn the form around at double figure prices.


Aljamaaheer will go off a worthy favourite in The Lennox Stakes (3.05) and was desperately unlucky when running here last year showed he needs a lot of luck in running and under the burden of a penalty this quirky colt isn't for me. A horse that has been talked up all season is Garswood of the Richard Fahey yard and seven furlongs on the downs look right up his street. His fourth in The Jersey Stakes came despite a poor ride from Pat Smullen and Ryan Moore in the plate is a very significant jockey booking. The 3yo's receive 7lb from the field and that could be the key to such a competitive renewal.


The mile and thee quarter handicap at 3.40 has five 100+ rated horses and it looks one of the best renewals to date. If the heavens were to open then Mark Johnston's Sir Graham Wade would be very interesting trickling down the weights but preference lay with Saptapadi of the in form Brian Ellison yard. He is slowly coming to boil after a unsuccessful stint down under and ran a very creditable seventh in The John Smiths Cup over an inferior trip. The extra half a mile should bring out further improvement still and from an unaltered mark remains of great interest.


The mile handicap at 4.50 is another competitive handicap where the weight for age could hold the key again for the three year old's and their 7lb pull. Mark Johnston's Desert Revolution will be popular on handicap debut but Country Western has held his form well since winning at Ripon earlier in the year despite a 4lb rise. He has raced a further four times and was only beaten two lengths last time out at Ayr, staying on at the finish after being given too much to do. Providing Steve Drowne can make ground from his draw of fourteen, he could prove to be a big player.

Goodwood 1.55 - Blue Surf
Goodwood 2.30 - Justice Day
Goodwood 3.05 - Garswood (Nap)
Goodwood 3.40 - Saptapadi
Goodwood 4.50 - Country Western


The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner

Follow me on Twitter - @JJMSports

Thursday Racing at Hamilton, Leicester and Doncaster

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Leicester sees the return of Ante Post Derby favourite Telescope for Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore at 3.10. The colt returns in a Conditions Race over a mile and a quarter, which will presumably be much bigger and better things with entries in the Great Voltigeur, Juddmonte International and Irish Champion Stakes.


The only runner on the card that could be of punting interest at Leicester would be the handicap debutant Ghasabah for William Haggas and Paul Hanagan in the seven furlong handicap at 3.40. Both jockey and trainer have been in good form and from an opening mark of 76 this well bred filly can readily take advantage. She was behind the smart pair of Ethel and Plover on debut and duly stepped up next time out at Yarmouth winning her maiden by three lengths. She could potentially be contested pattern races come the back end of the season.


Princess Rose is another William Haggas filly who has shaped with promise in maidens and impressed on her handicap debut at Ascot. She runs in Doncaster’s six furlong nursery at 6.20 and this well-bred daughter of Royal Applause remains on a workable mark and is improving with every run. Recent winners Honey Meadow and Musical Molly could prove dangerous and look the main threats lower down in the weights.


Quick Wit was well beaten at odds on in a four runner Conditions Race and I’m expecting lightning to strike twice in Doncaster’s 7.25. Fulbright was one of my favourite horses last year and signed off last season with a game win in The Challenge Stakes at Newmarket. The colt was placed in competitive group races at Meydan and is having his first run of the British flat season. Providing he his fully wound up the colt could take stable bragging rights and indeed the spoils.


Halfsin is something of a quirky customer these days, refusing to race last time at Kempton but he has good form around Doncaster and is a course and distance winner. He runs in the ten furlong handicap at 8.30 and his mark of 85 represents a two year low. Darren Egan takes off a further 3lb and with two runs already under his belt this season should be fit and raring to go and has a first time hood to keep his mind on the job.


Chris Wall likes his handicap plots and Runninglikethewind looks one of his specialities in the lucky last at 9.00. Three runs over inadequate trips in maidens got her a mark of 65 from the handicapper and she stepped up markedly on handicap debut over a mile and a quarter at Yarmouth last month. Jockey Ted Durcan rides Doncaster particularly well with a level stakes profit of £36.25 at Donny over the last twelve months. She looks to have everything in her favour.


There was a lot to like about the debut of Mark Johnston’s Statutory last time out at Pontefract over a mile and half. The son of Authorized took up the running with a furlong to go and was worn down by a Luca Cumani well backed favourite. The drop in trip to a mile and three should suit and he could easily make all under Joe Fanning.


Hamilton’s trappy little nine furlong handicap at 3.30 looks perfect for Linda Perratt’s course and distance specialist High Resolution who is slowly coming back to form. His run at Ayr last time was a respectable fifth despite giving the winner Argaki lumps of weight. He and Corton Lad both turn out for Keith Dalgleish and will be fancied at the bottom of the weights but High Resolution goes for a trip he loves and a stable bang in form.


3.00 Hamilton - Statutory
3.30 Hamilton - High Resolution
3.40 Leicester - Ghasabah
6.20 Doncaster - Princess Rose
7.25 Doncaster - Fulbright
8.30 Doncaster - Halfsin
9.00 Doncaster - Runninglikethewind


The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner

Follow me on Twitter - @JJMSports

Tuesday Racing at Bath, Beverely, Kempton and Yarmouth

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Mark Johnston is riding the crest of a wave at the minute with nine winners last week, most notably Universal in The Princess of Wales Stakes and he looks to be Ascot bound for a tilt at The King George. Joe Fanning did the steering there and also takes the leg up on Dame Nellie Melba in Beverley’s mile handicap at 3.30. The filly was a massive eye-catcher last time out at Doncaster in a hot maiden when making striking late progress. Her opening mark of 68 looks lenient and the 3-y-o also receives 8lb against her older rivals. She looks the best bet of the day.


Elsewhere on the card Choc’A’Moca has a good chance of bouncing back to form in the five furlong handicap at 2.30. He was disappointing last time but that run can be attributed to him not liking the trip. Before that he was in good heart running three solid efforts over the minimum trip. He has good course and distance form to his name and will likely attempt to make all under top weight.


Despite finishing out of the frame in all three starts so far this season there are plenty of signs that Nassau Storm is shaping up to have a good second half to the season. He runs in Yarmouth’s six furlong handicap at 7.20 and the race looks absolutely perfect for him. After running in 0-95 and 0-105 company he carries top weight in a 0-90 where his class should prevail on course to much stronger races throughout the season.


On her two starts so far this season Chris Wall’s Blessing Box has been punted like she is far better than a 65 rated filly and will no doubt have the money come for her again in the 7.50. The key to unlocking her potential could be the drop down to five furlongs after showing plenty of early pace at both Yarmouth and Warwick. Seb Sanders takes the ride and looks somewhere near his best again as seen on Sun Central on Saturday.


It may prove to be a puzzling one but I think Jillnextdoor is a very interesting runner down at Bath for their 0-95 six furlong handicap at 4.15. The filly was rated 103 when fifth to Rosdhu Queen in The Cheveley Park Stakes last season and her revised mark of 87 has left her in limbo between handicaps and pattern races. She didn’t handle Chester on Saturday but her run before at Ayr hinted at promise when staying on in a competitive race at Ayr in behind My Propeller and Jwala. There’s a fine line between genius and insane; let’s hope we’re on the right side of it.


Exceeder looks the star attraction at Kempton and looks a good thing in the maiden at 6.00. Marco Botti’s smart looking son of Exceed and Excel was second on debut in a competitive Nottingham maiden before chasing home Brian Meehan’s exciting Ertijaal at Yarmouth. He sets the bar pretty high and there are fewer better jockeys to do the steering around Kempton than Silvestre De Sousa.


Elsewhere on the card Progenitor will be well fancied in the mile handicap at 8.00 but having his first start for 262 days could see him vulnerable against fresher rivals. Ocean Applause won a poor maiden at the track last week and under a penalty would have similar doubts. Magique is extremely quirky but she’s back in trip after showing promise on her return here in May and then at Sandown. Trainer Jeremy Noseda is operating at a 24% strike-rate with his 3-y-o’s in 2013 and Ryan Moore is in the plate.


2.30 Beverley - Choc'a'Moca
3.30 Beverley - Dame Nellie Melba (Nap)
4.15 Bath - Jillnextdoor
6.00 Kempton - Exceeder
7.20 Yarmouth - Nassau Storm
7.50 Yarmouth - Blessing Box
8.00 Kempton - Magique


The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner

Follow me on Twitter - @JJMSports

Friday Racing at Beverley, Haydock and Sandown

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Every piece of form that surrounds Altharoos suggests he should be much better than an 80 rated handicapper, and he should take all the beating in the 7.30 for Sir Michael Stoute and Dane O’Neill. He has form tied in with the likes of Glean, Ashaadd, Intimidate and Disclaimer; and since their races, are all rated 95+. He won his maiden here over course and distance, and given Sir Michael has a 30% Strike Rate.


Rocket Ronnie had the beating of Multilicious last time out, but I have a feeling the form can be turned around in the 8.00, a mile handicap. She finished a length down at Hamilton but with the winner up 4lb, and the Tim Easterby stable in much better form, we can take a chance on the unexposed Multiplex filly.


Over at Haydock, Secret Applause runs in the 7.15 Nursery for Michael Dods, with his star apprentice Connor Beasley taking off a more than useful 7lbf. He was third on debut, before staying on well to win a competitive maiden at Newcastle, despite Paul Mulrennan being 3lb overweight. The stable are in fine form, and the jockey is more than worth his claim.


The mile and a half handicap at 7.45 sees Continuum put his classy reputation on the line for Lady Cecil, but he looks full of quirks, and despite having the potential to be much better than an 85 rated handicapper, he won’t be any sort of price. Semeen could be one to take him on for Luca Cumani, with Jamie Spencer retaining the ride. The form of his win last time out has worked out really well, with the fourth and sixth winning their next races, and he looks a typically progressive Luca Cumani improver.


I like one running at Doncaster in the 3.35, the seven furlong handicap, Charlie Hills’ Glen Moss, with James McDonald legged up. He ran a creditable fourth over course and distance in a very competitive race, and the form looks strong. Royal Ascot winner Lightning Cloud was in behind, and the winner has come out and won since. Down another 1lb in the weights, he will no doubt be there or thereabouts once more.


On the eve of one of the biggest racing days of the season, Eclipse Day on Saturday, Sandown warms up in fine style with a couple of listed races and a fine mix of maidens and handicaps. The Dragon Stakes was won last year by the classy Morawij, and a horse with a similar profile is Survived, for William Haggas and bred by Cheveley Park Stud. She finished sixth in The Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot, and with Bye Bye Birdie and Fig Roll both acquiring black type since then, the form looks good. The fillies get 5lb from the colts, and that could make all the difference in such a competitive renewal.


2.50 Sandown - Survived
3.35 Doncaster - Glen Moss
7.15 Haydock - Secret Applause
7.30 Beverley - Altharoos
7.45 Haydock - Semeen
8.00 Beverley - Multilicious


The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner

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Thursday Racing at Haydock, Yarmouth and Newbury

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Haydock have a strong flat card Thursday afternoon where former champion jockey Paul Hanagan in particular has a strong selection of rides, spread across multiple trainers, including a couple of interesting ones for Dandy Nicholls. I am very sweet on the combination teaming up for Tango Sky in the 3.50, who attempts seven furlongs for the first time. He made solid progress last time out before being hampered and getting no run whatsoever and eased down. He’s been dropped 1lb for that and with course form to his name, and a stable in form, could be well worth a punt.


Paul Hanagan can make it a double with the very well-bred Dutch Mistress in the 5.20, the mile fillies handicap. A race with plenty of unexposed types with untold potential, but the way she manner that she won last time out showed she was very smart. She remains on the same mark due to the win coming in an apprentice handicap, and could have plenty in hand and plenty more to come.


Another local trainer with their string in good nick is Ruth Carr, and one of my old favourites Head Space has gradually been coming down in the handicap; today could be the time he comes good. The six furlong sprint at 4.20 doesn’t look as competitive as it does on paper, with plenty of hardened veterans but with very few wins between them. He won in similar conditions over six at Newcastle and Ayr, from marks of 77 and 82 last season. Rated 78, and third last time out, he’s giving signs he’s ready to get his head in front again.


I backed Lion Beacon last time out when beating Argent Knight, but with the winner taking a 8lb hike in the weights, I can see the form being turned around in the 4.50. When second to Lion Beacon he stayed on well for pressure, and over an extra quarter mile, I think he can turn the tables. Great Hall could be the danger for Brian Meehan and Kieren Fallon, but an opening mark of 88 looks stiff enough.


There’s also racing at Yarmouth where no doubt that Willow Beck will be all the rage in the 4.40, for John Gosden and William Buick. She has an extremely sexy profile but may not be too battle-hardened however with only two starts to her name and preference is for Hydrant. Richard Guest’s front runner has been a revelation since teaming up with 7lb claimer Connor Beasley, winning his last two starts. He is preferred of the two, with the seven year old still well in under a penalty.


There’s evening at Newbury and 6.50 is race that has a habit of throwing up very classy fillies, last season winner Ollie Olga proving to be very smart. Richard Hannon has a whopping five entered so it’s hard to tell which of his is fancied, if any. Instead, one that takes the eye on paper is Lunar Spirit for Ralph Beckett and Jim Crowley. Pedigree wise, she looks outstanding. Out of Aidan O’Brien’s unbeaten Kitty O’Shea and by Invincible Spirit. She is bred for speed and could smart if streetwise enough on her racecourse debut.


There is a filly running in the last that I have held in high regard since seeing her win her maiden last season. Lady Pimpernel was touted as a filly on the road to black type when bolting up in a Nottingham maiden last season. Henry Candy’s filly has been well punted on her two starts thus far this season before tiring on both occasion and will be much fitter and stronger for those two runs. Trainer Henry Candy will be hoping she can make it third time lucky over the mile and a half trip in the 9.10, the lucky last.


3.50 Haydock - Tango Sky
4.40 Yarmouth - Hydrant
4.50 Haydock - Argent Knight
5.20 Haydock - Dutch Mistress
6.50 Newbury - Lunar Spirit
9.10 Newbury - Lady Pimpernel


The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner

Follow me on Twitter - @JJMSports