14:25 Goodwood

Saturday 5 August 2017

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Qatar Summer Handicap

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 3m 10.25s

(2)

Soldier In Action²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 106| C

11/1

Tough as nails handicapper who loves to go from the front and is already a winner at Epsom this year as well as finishing a good second in a top-class handicap at Haydock Park. Not quite in the same form last time out at Musselburgh but given who trains him and his overall record he's hard to write off here.

Form: 061023

(7)

Platitude²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 105| CD

8/1

Won a Listed race over C&D last August although that was a rather weak event for the grade but has always looked to have potential as a stayer. Shaped well on his seasonal reappearance under some tender handling but didn't appear up to the task last time out. Has some good handicap form to his name previously and might just relish this test and return to handicaps.

Form: 2813-54

(1)

Mainstream^h²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 100

6/1

Has kept progressing up the handicap despite not winning but he does look a rather tricky customer whose attitude could get the better of him at some stage. His temperament was on display last time out at York when he was outbattled at the finish and he's one to treat with caution.

Form: 222-362

(14)

Carntop²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 100

20/1

Finished third behind Soldier In Action at Epsom in June to record his best run of the year and followed that up with a decent run at Haydock Park without threatening to win. Can race a little freely and it wouldn't be totally in his favour to try a longer trip here.

Form: 256-930

(5)

Sir Chauvelin²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: D Tudhope| T: J S Goldie| OR: 99

14/1

Had shaped well on all his starts prior to winning at Hamilton in May over 1m4f when he got up late on to win (typical of his run style). Run well in two starts since but essentially looking to be held off this mark now and 5lb above his last (and highest) winning mark.

Form: 627162

(9)

Saigon City⁷⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: P Cosgrave| T: D Carroll| OR: 98| D

6/1

Continued on an upward curve this year and probably turned in a career best last time out at Newmarket over today's trip when beating the subsequent Queen Alexandra winner. This is a bit tougher but he's hard to rule out even coming back after an absence.

Form: 8153-21

(4)

Cleonte^p1⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: L P Keniry| T: A M Balding| OR: 97

25/1

Was quite useful when trained in France by Andre Fabre (won a Listed race). He's been well beaten on both his two GB starts for a yard that has had a very good meeting but this does look a bit easier although he'll still be one of the bigger priced runners.

Form: 4313-50

(6)

Jaameh¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Jim Crowley| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 97| D

11/1

Hard to leave out anything from this yard at the meeting and this one looked to be a progressive young stayer when winning twice at the start of the year. Below form twice since in deep handicaps but he did run well at this meeting last year and wouldn't be the first horse from this yard to bounce back to form from a couple of poor runs.

Form: 8-21105

(11)

Blakeney Point²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: K Shoemark| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 95

12/1

Four handicaps have come his way in about the past year and ran an excellent fourth over C&D in May although his effort promised a little more than it delivered. Looked a little unlucky when fourth at Haydock Park last time out keeping on well over a trip that looked too short and he'll be suited by a return to a longer distance.

Form: 16-1044

(10)

My Reward³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 94

16/1

Already has a decision over Sir Chauvelin this year when making all to win at Ripon over 2m taking advantage of a drop in the weights. Ran a sound enough race on his only other start this year in the Northumberland Plate without looking ahead of his mark.

Form: 709-015

(12)

Felix Mendelssohn^t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Fran Berry| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 93

10/1

A very lightly-raced sort who only has a maiden win to his name when with Aidan O'Brien. Ran with credit returned to the Flat after a hurdles run with a first-time tongue-tie on and should be suited by this trip but hard to see him as a leading contender here.

Form: 7034-3V

(13)

Shraaoh^p1²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: L Dettori| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 93| BF

8/1

Looked a really progressive sort last year with his Royal Ascot run the only black mark on his CV. One of his excellent runs was in this race where he came second (still looked green and inexperienced) and for all he's not won in handicap company as yet there still looks improvement in him and he's well up to running in tough handicaps such as this.

Form: 1025-43

(8)

Getback In Paris²²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: S W Kelly| T: R Hughes| OR: 92| CD

11/2

The increased trip looked to be medium for his improved form winning over this C&D albeit in a lower grade. Equalled that form last time out despite getting beaten by an improver and this consistent sort remains of interest here.

Form: 524212

Non-Runners

(3)

Arch Villain³⁶⁴

Weight: 9-8| Age: 8

T: Mrs A J Perrett J: Oisin Murphy

Forecasts

Getback In Paris (11/2), Saigon City (6/1), Mainstream (6/1), Platitude (8/1), Shraaoh (8/1), Felix Mendelssohn (10/1), Soldier In Action (11/1), Jaameh (11/1), Blakeney Point (12/1), Sir Chauvelin (14/1), My Reward (16/1), Arch Villain (16/1), Carntop (20/1), Cleonte (25/1)

A tough and competitive handicap with plenty that will fancy their chances of grabbing this valuable prize and Mark Johnston has a couple of chances with Soldier In Action and Jaameh and he’s a trainer to always respect in these Goodwood handicaps. Blakeney Point will be suited by a return to a longer trip and along with Getback In Paris looks sure to run a sound race. Mainstream is one to be wary of despite his seemingly consistent form and it’s his stablemate SHRAAOH who gets the vote here after taking the runner-up slot in this last year and running well in these sorts of contests since. Platitude is another one from the Sir Michael Stoute stable that is in with a chance here and will appreciate the drop in grade with Saigon City another capable of a bold show.