Mike Cattermole: Glorious Goodwood day four preview and tips

Mike Cattermole's Glorious Goodwood Day Five Selections

1.50 SIX STRINGS
2.25 FELIX MENDELSSOHN
3.00 KHALIDI
3.35 SIR DANCEALOT, GROWL
4.10 BATHSHEBA BAY
4.45 TAAMOL
5.20 BALMORAL CASTLE

It’s been a tough week and now I am feeling dizzier than ever after going around in circles looking at the Qatar Stewards’ Cup.

The problem is that most of the horses I like are drawn in the 20’s and yet all anybody wanted to do on Friday was head over to the supposed golden highway on the far side! I suggest taking no chances and backing one on each side.

Projection is drawn high, as he was when first home on the stands’ side in the Wokingham. Anything that Roger Charlton saddles in this has to be given the utmost respect with three Stewards’ Cups on his CV already.

A neck behind Projection at Ascot and second home on the near side was Polybius and because Projection’s rider Kieran Shoemark has since lost his claim, David Simcock’s charge now finds himself 4lb better off.

Polybius, again drawn high here, has since put up another fine effort at Ascot when chasing home Danzeno, previously fifth in the Wokingham, over the minimum trip. Simcock has had a fine week but Polybius probably needs the ground to dry out as he was far from convincing on his only start on a soft surface.

Third home on the stands’ side in the Wokingham, and eighth overall, was Raucous and amazingly, he too is drawn high yet again. He was third in this last year off the same mark but is pretty versatile regarding the going.

Ryan Moore has won on Raucous twice but, significantly, switches to Sir Dancealot for the first time now and he and David Elsworth, along the same team of owners, bid to carry off a notable big handicap double after yesterday’s deserved win from Master The World.

Sir Dancealot was a Listed-winning two-year-old and also Group-placed and he returned to that smart level of form with a fine second in the Bunbury Cup last month off a mark of 106. The handicapper had dropped him to 101 before that so he is able to race off that old mark here in this early-closer, rather than his new adjusted rating which is now 110.

So, he has a huge 9lb in hand but the downside is that he has never raced on a soft surface and neither did his sire Sir Prancealot. It is a chance worth taking perhaps as he has a high cruising speed and a good turn of foot so I will rely on Ryan to produce him late.

Another likeable hold-up horse is Edward Lewis – drawn 22 – and he didn’t get much luck in either the Wokingham or the Epsom Dash but remains capable of making an impact off his current mark.

So lots of fancied ones drawn high but of those drawn low, Growl stands out. He was a fast-finishing fourth in this 12 months ago off an 11lb lower mark but has since run well at the very highest level, including last time out when his excellent sixth, beaten under three lengths in the July Cup, showed he is in great form.

With talented 7lb claimer Connor Murtagh booked, he will be hard to keep out of the frame as he doesn’t mind any ground.

His trainer Richard Fahey has four in with a shout in the consolation Stewards’ Sprint which doesn’t look much easier. Fahey’s The Wagon Wheel has been a revelation since fitted with blinkers and his win at Chester last month was emphatic. Under his penalty, he has 2lb in hand of his new mark but is unproven on a soft surface.

Those comments also apply to stablemate Six Strings but he is one of the most unexposed in the line-up and his third at Hamilton in the Scottish Stewards’ Cup has been franked by Jack Dexter in fourth who won at Ascot.

Manshood loves cut and comes here in great form after a convincing win at Hamilton, albeit in a weaker race. This is a step up so I will go with the potential and Six Strings.

The Qatar Summer Handicap is another real toughie with loads of possibilities. Saigon City did the job well on soft ground at Newmarket and is in the form of his life, while the consistent Mainstream and Platitude look dangerous.

The one who may have been given a chance by the handicapper is Felix Mendelssohn whose third at the Curragh in May was a return to form on only his second start for Joseph O’Brien, who is already making quite an impact.

Felix was rated 104 at his best but is off 93 now, will love the trip and ground and can be backed at 14-1.

Crystal Ocean is favourite to beat Khalidi in the Gordon Stakes even though the John Gosden-trained colt finished a place and a length and a quarter ahead of him when they were second and third behind Permian in the King Edward VII Stakes.

Crystal Ocean is likely to have some improvement in him after only four starts – and he has shown form on good to soft – but Khalidi is unbeaten in two starts here at Goodwood and could confirm the form.