15:00 Goodwood

Friday 4 August 2017

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4017:15

Betfred Mile Handicap

Off time: 15:02 | Winning time: 1m 41.34s

(4)

Zhui Feng^p⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: M Dwyer| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 106| C| D

14/1

Effective front-runner on his day and showed a liking for this track when winning over 1m2f (good to firm) last summer. Better than ever when making all in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot (1m, good to firm), so hard to rule out despite 6lb raise.

Form: 0-48031

(8)

Mustashry³²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Jim Crowley| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 105| D

14/1

Lightly-raced but managed to win twice last season over 1m on good ground or quicker and signed off with a close fourth in a 1m Listed event at Sandown (good). Open to improvement this year and feasibly-treated if fit enough for his belated reappearance.

Form: 210124-

(1)

Gm Hopkins²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 104| D

13/2

Well-versed in these big field handicap events, having won the 2015 Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot. Not easy to win with since but advertised current well-being by finishing a close second over 1m at Sandown (good to firm) latest. Has won on an easy surface.

Form: 400-072

(3)

Master The World^p¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: R L Moore| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 103| D

6/1

Hard to win with but was a close second in this race 12 months ago from the same mark. Consistent in defeat since then, finishing second on soft ground at Newmarket last time out. Well-drawn and looks a major player getting the best possible assistance from the saddle.

Form: 2-74582

(6)

Tony Curtis²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 102| D

14/1

Listed winner back in 2015 but out of form last year and showed very little on reappearance on this track. Much-improved, however, when fourth of 18 over 7f at Newmarket (good to firm) last time and could be on his way back.

Form: 5444-74

(2)

Birchwood⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: J P Spencer| T: R A Fahey| OR: 102

16/1

Group 2 winner back in 2015 and won a Listed race over 7f at Chester last year but has largely struggled since then. The blinkers he wore at Ascot last time have been dispensed with and he has never won over a trip this far. Others much more persuasive.

Form: 756-860

(9)

Blair House^b⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 102| D

5/1

Progressive profile, having finished a runner-up in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot (1m, good to firm) on his reappearance. Raised 5lb for that but likely to remain on the upgrade and did win on easy ground at Pontefract last season. Strong claims from a decent draw.

Form: 20212-2

(20)

Mythical Madness^v²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 101| D

50/1

Better than ever when winning a handicap at Haydock (1m, good) three starts back but has struggled since he was upped in class, beating only a couple home at Sandown last time. Hard to build a case for, particularly from a wide draw.

Form: 702100

(11)

Greenside²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: M Harley| T: H Candy| OR: 99| BF| D

9/1

Made it four wins from his first eight starts when winning at Sandown (1m, good to firm) in June but was just found wanting over the same C&D next time after a 5lb rise. Likely there is still more to come and has won a race on soft ground.

Form: 8/41-216

(14)

G K Chesterton^b1⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 99| D

17/2

Progressive sort on the evidence of successive 1m wins at Newmarket (soft) and Epsom (good) earlier this season but a shade disappointing in the Royal Hunt Cup. Change of headgear here and will relish the ground more than most, so looks of some interest.

Form: 57-2110

(13)

First Selection^e/s²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: G Lee| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 98

28/1

Smart, four-time winning juvenile but largely disappointing since finishing a runner-up in last year's French 2000 Guineas. Signs of a revival when fifth at York (1m, good) last time but still opposable from this mark on balance.

Form: 0-55005

(15)

Boomshackerlacker^p²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: F Sweeney| T: George Baker| OR: 98| D

33/1

Useful on his day but those days are becoming less frequent in recent times. Has struggled in hot handicaps this season but did finish fifth in this race last year from a 3lb higher mark and tends to go well on easy ground.

Form: 157-000

(7)

Withernsea⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 97| D

12/1

Not the most consistent but one of the few genuine mud-lovers in this contest, as he underlined when winning at Newbury (1m, soft) in May. Only 4lb higher now and finished a fine third of 27 over 7f at Ascot last week. Could offer some value.

Form: 901003

(22)

Gossiping^v1⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: S W Kelly| T: G & J Moore| OR: 96| C| D

28/1

Has proved a revelation this season, winning for the fifth time when scoring over 7f here (good) in May. Handicapper does seem to have caught up with him since, however, and a visor is introduced in the search for further improvement.

Form: 131170

(10)

One Word More^h²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 93| D

25/1

Without a win since 2015 and not easy to catch right but feasibly-treated on his very best form. Found trouble in running when seventh in this race last year from a higher mark but below par at York latest. Needs everything to drop right.

Form: 466-740

(17)

Sir Roderic^p,t1⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: W Carson| T: B R Millman| OR: 93| D

33/1

Won five times last year and getting back down to a more reasonable mark now after some below par efforts, including over 7f at Ascot (good to soft) last time. Different headgear combination employed here.

Form: 030580

(18)

Masham Star⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 97| D

12/1

Very game front-runner who has been running well this year without managing to get his head in front. Just faded late on over 1m at Ascot (good to soft) latest and again likely to bump into a few better-handicapped rivals.

Form: 502255

Non-Runners

(16)

Here Comes When²

Weight: 10-3| Age: 7

T: A M Balding J: Non Runner

(21)

Arcanada²⁰

Weight: 9-9| Age: 4

T: Tom Dascombe J: Non Runner

(5)

Hors De Combat²⁷

Weight: 9-6| Age: 6

T: D J Coakley J: Oisin Murphy

(19)

Belgian Bill⁴⁴

Weight: 9-3| Age: 9

T: George Baker J: Non Runner

(12)

El Vip⁴⁴

Weight: 9-3| Age: 4

T: L M Cumani J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Blair House (5/1), Master The World (6/1), Gm Hopkins (13/2), El Vip (8/1), G K Chesterton (17/2), Greenside (9/1), Arcanada (10/1), Withernsea (12/1), Masham Star (12/1), Tony Curtis (14/1), Zhui Feng (14/1), Mustashry (14/1), Birchwood (16/1), Here Comes When (16/1), One Word More (25/1), Hors De Combat (25/1), Gossiping (28/1), First Selection (28/1), Boomshackerlacker (33/1), Sir Roderic (33/1), Belgian Bill (33/1), Mythical Madness (50/1)

Hugely competitive stuff with Blair House, Greenside and Mustashry particularly respected. The one to beat, however, may be last year's runner-up MASTER OF THE WORLD with Ryan Moore a significant booking. David Elsworth's charge advertised his present well-being by finishing second of 13 on soft ground at Newmarket last month and should relish the conditions more than most from a potentially favourable draw. Each-way value seekers could do worse than side with the mud-loving Withernsea following an excellent third at Ascot six days ago.