13:50 Goodwood

Wednesday 2 August 2017

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:50

Matchbook Betting Exchange Goodwood Handicap

Off time: 13:51 | Winning time: 4m 48.04s

(10)

Suegioo^p³²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 99

14/1

Not won for over three years now and arrives here on a 27-race losing run. Only narrowly beaten at Haydock earlier in the season but may want faster ground than this to be seen at his best.

Form: 8-99250

(2)

Star Rider^p⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: A Kirby| T: H Morrison| OR: 94| CD

15/2

Ran well at Royal Ascot last time when sixth of 18 in a handicap and still feasibly treated off 4lb higher than her last winning mark on the Flat when running out a convincing winner at Newmarket. Won this last year off a 9lb lower mark and expected to go well again.

Form: 1081-66

(5)

Sunblazer^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: Joshua Bryan⁽⁵⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 90

50/1

Not won since rattling off a hat-trick in the early part of 2016 on the AW but still looks feasibly treated on his runner-up effort at Salisbury earlier in the season. Has never given the impression he wants softer ground though and needs a strong pace to be seen at his best.

Form: 206-284

(17)

Guard Of Honour^b³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: P Cosgrave| T: George Baker| OR: 89

20/1

Not disgraced at odds of 80/1 last time out when finishing sixth of 16 at Royal Ascot last time. Probably a little better over shorter than this though and may also need some relief from the assessor before he's of interest again.

Form: 2/46-546

(3)

Frederic³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: G Lee| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 88| BF

14/1

Thorough stayer who won his first two starts for this yard over 2m1f at Carlisle and Pontefract in May and June. Went up 9lb for the latter and was below par back at Pontefract over 2m2f last time, so now has a bit to prove having been just dropped 1lb for that and unproven in softer conditions.

Form: 134-114

(12)

Arthur Mc Bride^t³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-5| J: Harry Bentley| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 83| C

9/1

Course winner here towards the end of last year and while he stays plenty further of this over jumps, he weakened out of things at Royal Ascot in disappointing fashion last time out. Likely to front run but has very little room for error off this mark.

Form: 14-7439

(13)

Taws^p¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-5| J: J F Egan| T: B R Millman| OR: 83

9/1

Winner over hurdles last time out but not won on the Flat for over two years. Fine effort in this race within that time to finish runner-up in the 2015 renewal of this contest and 7lb lower than that mark now. Can't be ruled out having proven his well-being in the NH sphere and proven on soft ground.

Form: 27270/7

(6)

Aurora Gray¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: S De Sousa| T: H Morrison| OR: 82

13/2

Rattled off a hat-trick earlier in the year with wins on the AW and has proven as effective on subsequent turf efforts, placing on each of her last three outings. Only just touched off at Newbury last week in similar conditions and more scope for improvement than several of these. Ought to go well with top jockey booked.

Form: 1-11332

(14)

Red Rannagh^h³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: F Norton| T: D M Simcock| OR: 80

16/1

Habitual slow starter who hasn't managed to win since landing his Dundalk maiden in 2015. Not managed to place on any of his last six starts and never tried over anywhere near this far. Trainer does well with his stayers so any market support would be interesting.

Form: 40-7334

(18)

Cool Sky⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 8-2| J: Josephine Gordon| T: Ian Williams| OR: 80

25/1

Enjoys some cut in the ground and should appreciate the return to softer conditions here. Has won off a higher mark than this in the past and in good form over jumps in recent times. Looks like an interesting contender despite the wide draw.

Form: 1023/66

(8)

Denmead⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-1| J: David Egan⁽⁵⁾| T: J Butler| OR: 79

16/1

Won at Bath on soft ground and largely been campaigned on the AW since. Ran well here in faster conditions two starts back and went on to make all at Kempton in impressive fashion last time out. Clearly progressing currently and gets the services of a very promising 5lb claimer. Interesting runner from just 4lb higher.

Form: 3-24131

(1)

Golden Doyen^p³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-1| J: L Morris| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 79| BF

9/1

Running to a consistent level over both hurdles and fences of late and looks potentially well-handicapped returned to this sphere. Has run well over a variety of ground and can't be dismissed.

Form: 7219/33-

(4)

Hawkerland²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-0| J: George Wood⁽³⁾| T: M P Tregoning| OR: 78

11/2

Didn't need to improve to land a maiden at Yarmouth and ran out an impressive winner at Chepstow subsequently. Still very low mileage and a 5lb rise for his latest win looks lenient. Very interesting runner with an excellent 3lb claimer booked.

Form: 0/6411

(16)

Akavit³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-0| J: Jane Elliott⁽⁵⁾| T: E De Giles| OR: 76

16/1

Lost his way last year but has returned to form in recent times and arrives here in search of a hat-trick. Still looks well-handicapped on some of his form but forced to operate from 2lb out of the handicap here. Not dismissed in current form.

Form: 214211

(11)

October Storm³²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-0| J: Nathan Evans| T: M R Channon| OR: 76| C

10/1

Won here on return this season but well held off this mark in recent starts. Handles the track well and should get a decent pace to aim at but task is made difficult from out of the weights.

Form: 43-1387

Non-Runners

(7)

Cosmelli⁵

Weight: 9-7| Age: 4

T: Miss Gay Kelleway J: Non Runner

(15)

Paris Protocol³⁹

Weight: 8-8| Age: 4

T: R Hannon J: Hollie Doyle

(9)

Percy Veer¹⁶⁸

Weight: 8-3| Age: 5

T: S Kirk J: M Dwyer

Forecasts

Hawkerland (11/2), Aurora Gray (13/2), Star Rider (15/2), Arthur Mc Bride (9/1), Taws (9/1), Golden Doyen (9/1), October Storm (10/1), Frederic (14/1), Suegioo (14/1), Denmead (16/1), Akavit (16/1), Red Rannagh (16/1), Percy Veer (16/1), Paris Protocol (16/1), Guard Of Honour (20/1), Cool Sky (25/1), Cosmelli (25/1), Sunblazer (50/1)

AURORA GREY wasn't beaten far last time out and is proven in all sorts of conditions; with De Sousa set to ride for the first time she looks the one to beat. Golden Doyen looks well-handicapped returned to the Flat while Hawkerland and Denmead could be the main dangers with the advantage of having two excellent claimers on their backs.