15:55 Goodwood

Sunday 27 August 2017

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:40

Goodwood Amateur Riders' Handicap

Off time: 15:56 | Winning time: 1m 57.54s

(7)

Believe It^b¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr H Hunt| T: R Hughes| OR: 77| BF

10/3

In fine form on the all-weather this year and showed he was just as good on turf with a narrow defeat at Brighton last time. Up 2lb but that's still below his mark on the all-weather, and he should run his usual big race.

Form: 114112

(5)

Stanley^p1¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr James King| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 74| BF| D

5/1

Third in this last year and has been running well in his recent races; first time cheek pieces applied now and just 2lb higher than his last win, so has to be considered.

Form: 5-94422

(4)

Biotic^p1¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr Patrick Millman| T: B R Millman| OR: 74

7/2

Unlucky to be on the losing streak that he is having gone close in a few contests, but as a result his mark hasn't relented quite as much as it might have done. First time cheek pieces now should help.

Form: 65-3244

(3)

Ritasun²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr B James⁽⁵⁾| T: H Whittington| OR: 73| D

10/1

Yet to win on turf on either the Flat or over hurdles, but went close over hurdles in June and would have a chance here on the very best of his form.

Form: 275733-

(1)

Mr Red Clubs^p,h⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr Frederick Tett| T: H Tett| OR: 73| D

25/1

Best performances this year have come in sellers/claimers on the all-weather, 0/24 on turf and that has to be a concern.

Form: 213636

(8)

Victor's Bet¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Miss Ella Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: R J Smith| OR: 69| CD

16/1

Winner of this three years ago who has won two all-weather handicaps this year but needs a return to something like his best in order to get involved here.

Form: 215187

(2)

The Gay Cavalier^t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Miss H V Knowles⁽⁵⁾| T: J Ryan| OR: 68

9/1

In better form since his most recent win at Lingfield in June, and looks back down to a workable handicap mark with that winning jockey back on board.

Form: 776244

(9)

Top Diktat¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Miss Becky Butler⁽⁷⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 64| D

16/1

No win since November 2015 and has finished a long way out of the picture on his two most recent starts; fast ground will help but others hold more convincing claims.

Form: 57550-6

(6)

City Ground¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Ms S Brotherton| T: M Appleby| OR: 64| D

8/1

Winner of a race in Jersey in April, but not so good since returning to Britain. 4lb lower than his last victory on the mainland which is encouraging, but a way short of that level of form.

Form: 566-198

(11)

Knight Of The Air^t1⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Mrs Charlotte Pownall⁽⁷⁾| T: J Tuite| OR: 55

40/1

Would be on the premises on his best form but hasn't been showing enough recently to put it up to the best of these and another minor role looks likely.

Form: 8-49460

(12)

Breakheart^v¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Mr Callum McBride⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 53

20/1

Narrow victory over The Gay Cavalier at Sandown in July has been his only solid effort since February; inconsistent and too many doubts to make the shortlist here.

Form: 200016

Non-Runners

(10)

Unison¹⁷

Weight: 11-9| Age: 7

T: J Scott J: Miss Emma Sayer

(13)

Wordismybond²

Weight: 10-11| Age: 8

T: B G Powell J: Mr Jamie Perrett

Forecasts

Believe It (10/3), Biotic (7/2), Stanley (5/1), City Ground (8/1), Unison (8/1), The Gay Cavalier (9/1), Ritasun (10/1), Victor's Bet (16/1), Top Diktat (16/1), Breakheart (20/1), Wordismybond (20/1), Mr Red Clubs (25/1), Knight Of The Air (40/1)

It may pay to look towards the top of the weights here, and BELIEVE IT may be the safest option. Unlike may of these Richard Hughes' charge can always be relied upon to show his best in races, and though his recent good form has been on the all-weather is almost as, if not just as good on the turf and benefits from a lower mark in this sphere. Stanley finished third in this last year and also has a chance in first time cheek pieces, while The Gay Cavalier has been running well since winning at Lingfield in June.