14:35 Goodwood

Friday 26 May 2017

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:25

Cala Homes Handicap

Off time: 14:37 | Winning time: 1m 26.1s

(3)

Russian Soul¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-9| J: D C Costello| T: J A Osborne| OR: 87| D

11/2

Winner over 7f at Chester last time and goes up 5lb for that despite just a short-head margin of victory. That seems a little bit harsh and will probably put paid to his chances of winning here, but the ground should be fine for him with the draw to suit.

Form: 5-24641

(6)

Pastoral Player¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 9-7| J: Charlie Bennett⁽³⁾| T: H Morrison| OR: 85| CD

6/1

C&D winner last June who is now back down to that winning mark and ran a nice race to finish second at Lingfield last time out. Certainly more exposed than some other contenders in the field, but he would be far from winning out of turn.

Form: 87506-2

(7)

Majestic Moon⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Adam Beschizza| T: Miss J Feilden| OR: 85| CD

25/1

Last won a race in September 2015 but has struggled to find his feet for his current trainer, and despite a fine record at this course enthusiasm is tempered on that basis.

Form: 780-770

(11)

Philba^p,t²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: S Donohoe| T: D R Lanigan| OR: 85| D

50/1

Has seemed mostly effective at Southwell in recent years (all but one of his wins in total have come at that track), and that course represents a very different challenge to this one. No apparent progress on first start for a new trainer latest and he is best watched once again.

Form: 6072-39

(12)

Fox Trotter¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: J P Spencer| T: B J Meehan| OR: 84

6/1

Ran a fair race in third at Lingfield last time out and though he still hasn't won a race since his debut back in 2014, he is too well handicapped at this stage to ignore, and is a leading contender in this company.

Form: 0568-73

(10)

Medburn Dream⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: David Egan⁽⁷⁾| T: P Henderson| OR: 83

15/2

Not at his best recently but would have to have a say on the pick of his form, though the handicapper isn't doing him many favours at the moment. Is yet to fully convince that 7f is what he wants given the specialist nature of the trip, but has another opportunity here.

Form: 970-365

(13)

War Whisper¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon| OR: 83| C

8/1

Hasn't made a fully convincing start in handicap company and there would be some doubts about him truly staying 7f, but is certainly one of the less exposed options in the field and cannot be totally discounted.

Form: 1/0968-3

(2)

Noble Peace¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Harry Bentley| T: H Candy| OR: 81| D

6/1

Now back to his winning handicap mark over this trip in September, and has had valid excuses on his last three runs. Has proven himself to be slightly inconsistent in the past but should have things his way here for the first time in a long time.

Form: 4018-50

(8)

British Embassy^h¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Ryan While⁽⁵⁾| T: W G M Turner| OR: 79

50/1

Has only put in tame performances on two racecourse starts in 2017 so far, but still remains on the same mark. This is an easier assignment but a return to his best form from last year will be required if he is to hit the frame.

Form: 6218-66

(9)

Lacan^v1²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: J Mitchell| T: B R Johnson| OR: 78

50/1

Won a poor quality claimer in March but has shown little in races at a similar level to this since. Connections now step down in trip and reach for a first time visor, but those changes will have to make all the difference.

Form: 761999

(5)

Handytalk²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: B R Millman| OR: 78| BF

15/2

Just touched off at Lingfield last time, and probably would have won that day if not pulling hard in the early stages. Up 3lb for that but it was an encouraging run and has the services of a top jockey this time round.

Form: 0343-62

(1)

Good Luck Charm⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 8-8| J: Noel Garbutt⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 72| CD

16/1

C&D winner who has won five times over this specialist trip and is back down to workable mark after stepping up to a mile last time out. Goes from the lowest draw of all on ground he'll enjoy, and should be capable of going close.

Form: 27688-0

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 5p in the pound

Non-Runners

(14)

Fiftyshadesofgrey²⁰

Weight: 9-7| Age: 6

T: George Baker J: Non Runner

(4)

Arlecchino's Leap³¹

Weight: 9-0| Age: 5

T: M D I Usher J: Josephine Gordon

Forecasts

Russian Soul (11/2), Noble Peace (6/1), Pastoral Player (6/1), Fox Trotter (6/1), Handytalk (15/2), Medburn Dream (15/2), War Whisper (8/1), Fiftyshadesofgrey (14/1), Good Luck Charm (16/1), Majestic Moon (25/1), Arlecchino's Leap (25/1), British Embassy (50/1), Lacan (50/1), Philba (50/1)

NOBLE PEACE has run slightly disappointingly on his past few outings, but has had excuses on those occasions regarding trip and fitness, and now looks to have things his way again possible for the first time since winning off this mark at Leicester in September. He can capitalise on that over a distance where it pays to already hold good form. With that in mind, C&D winner Good Luck Charm is also of interest, with an appealing draw added to his fine record over 7f, while Fox Trotter looks one of the better handicapped options in the field.