Matt Brocklebank is back in the hot-seat with his tips from around the tracks this Friday.
Friday selections
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VEBLEN GOOD – 16:00 Thirsk (NAP)
David O’Meara has had to campaign VEBLEN GOOD at a decent level since his comeback win at Pontefract back in April but the four-year-old has definitely held his own, improving his own off higher marks including when a one-length fourth behind Stratusnine in the Sky Bet Dash at York two starts ago. He probably wasn’t on the ideal part of the track when forced to mount his challenge widest of all at Pontefract last time but still came home well to finish fourth again and he’s worth backing off 1lb lower – only a pound higher than for his spring success – in this contest which should be run to suit with plenty of early pace on.
WITHTEARSINMYEYES – 15:10 Ffso Las
WITHTEARSINMYEYES is not only Timeform top-rated here but she could in for a tactical advantage too as the sole likely pace-setter in a small field of five. Jack Channon’s filly has some decent maiden form from the spring time, not least a Wolverhampton second to Seet who is now rated 96. Her comeback effort (after 93 days away) over seven furlongs at Kempton was encouraging and she should be more comfortable going back up to a mile here.
HAUTELUCE – 17:10 Goodwood
Quite a large field but this looks a good opportunity for HAUTELUCE who has won two of her four starts already and, after travelling nicely, appeared to score with a bit up her sleeve in a fillies’ handicap over a mile at Southwell earlier in the month. The assessor has bumped her up 5lb for that handicap debut win but it might not be enough as she steps back up in trip at Goodwood (did land her maiden over the extended nine furlongs at Wolves in June).
DELPOTRO – 17:32 Sedgefield
DELPOTRO could be able to serve it up to them back at Sedgefield, surely his favourite track given his form figures of 3112 at this venue. He’s not had his head in front since landing a C&D handicap chase here last September but looked back in good nick when runner-up at Stratford when last seen in June and he’s won when fresh in the past so I won’t let the subsequent break put me off. He’s rated just 1lb higher than for that September win here and takes a dip in class so all the lights are green as far as I’m concerned.
PERSON OF INTEREST – 19:00 Fontwell
A Little Something clearly has the ability and might be a dangerous one to ignore out in front but she’s certainly prone to a mistake and could be worth taking on. PERSON OF INTEREST is not without flaws either and a late mistake cost her at Stratford last month, having been sent off the odds-on favourite on the back of her Uttoxeter triumph. She’s gone up another 5lb for that latest eyecatching effort but looks progressive enough to defy the rise, with Harry Cobden keeping the ride no bad thing.
Saturday selections
CROWN OF OAKS – 14:15 Sandown (NAP)
I fancied CROWN OF OAKS on his return upped into pattern company at the Curragh in June, but for whatever reason he ran no sort of race, keen enough early and then in trouble a long way out.
That clearly wasn’t his true running and, if you look at his form from last season, it has a solid look to it. He won back-to-back handicaps at around this trip at Ayr and Ascot (both races worked out well) before going on to win the Balmoral Handicap at the latter venue on his final start of 2025.
The form of that race is also really solid and it is hard to think that Crown of Oaks is at his limit from a mark of 104. Likely softer ground will be no issue, it could in fact help him, and he’s well worth the chance to put his reappearance run behind him.
TOO SOON – 14:35 Goodwood
TOO SOON hadn’t won for nearly two years, but he proved better than ever when getting his head back in front at Epsom in June fitted with first-time cheekpieces, taking advantage of a career-low mark in style.
He beat the consistent and useful Night Breeze easily on that occasion, the return to soft ground seemingly a catalyst, and it isn’t much of a surprise we haven’t seen him since given the dry spell we’ve had.
However, Goodwood is forecast to get quite a bit of rain before racing which should be enough to get into the ground and that will make the world of difference to him. He’s 6lb higher now, but he likes idiosyncratic tracks, and this may not be the strongest race for the grade.
OBELIX – 16:10 Beverley
OBELIX was shorter in the betting back down into this grade of handicap and he was arguably unlucky not to finish a lot closer when fourth to Glenfinnan over course and distance 17 days ago.
It likely he would have gone close to winning, still going well when having to sit and wait for an opening over a furlong out before being hampered badly soon after and losing his position. He rallied well in the closing stages, leaving the impression he’s ready to strike, and he also won from 1lb higher last summer.
PASSING DIAMOND – 16:25 Cartmel
PASSING DIAMOND has found his feet since joining Ben Haslam, landing a gamble over hurdles on his third start for the yard at Hexham in May, and having no problem following up at the same course later that month.
He produced a clear career best when making a winning start over fences over this course and distance last month, too, looking a natural having won a couple of points prior to starting out under Rules and making light of sitting 4 lb out of the weights.
That may not have been the strongest race, but the runner-up has come out and won since, and he can make light of a 6lb rise in the weights.
STONEY WOOD – 18:00 Windsor
STONEY WOOD appealed as a likely improver on his nursery debut at Lingfield earlier this month having shown promise in his qualifying runs, but he was patently unsuited by the drop to five furlongs.
He did catch the eye by the end, though, pushed along from an unpromising position turning into the straight, but making good headway and finishing with running left at the line. This step back up in trip will be in his favour and the booking of Billy Loughnane catches the eye.
DASH OF CLASS – 19:15 Chepstow
DASH OF CLASS has largely proved consistent since entering handicaps this season, hitting the frame four times out of six, her best effort coming when beaten only by another three-year-old who has won since at this course in May.
She again ran well at Brighton next time, and she is best not judged too harshly on her latest effort over course and distance given she was left poorly placed following a slow start. She remains relatively unexposed for a race of this nature and is well worth another try at this trip.
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