16:20 Goodwood

Saturday 26 May 2018

All13:5514:3015:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Netbet Boost Classic Handicap

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 3m 5.66s

(5)

Top Tug¹⁹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: A King| OR: 105| CD

7/2

Landed this 12 months ago under the same rider. Stripped race fit that day and conditions would have been much quicker. Task is not impossible as he is a classy individual, but hard not to imagine he has bigger targets in mind.

Form: 214020-

(4)

Platitude²⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: K Shoemark| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 102| CD

20/1

Pattern class at his peak for Sir Michael Stoute but sold into new yard for just 12,000 gns. Would not want conditions to turn too soft.

Form: 3/54655-

(1)

Dannyday⁷⁰⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: P J Dobbs| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 95| D

7/1

Developed into a potentially useful stayer when last seen two years ago. Off the track since and will need to be at his best to defy a career high mark. Handles soft ground.

Form: 312011/

(7)

Soghan^t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: S W Kelly| T: R Hughes| OR: 90| BF

4/1

Developing into a smart stayer and produced another career best two weeks ago. Needs to prove he can step up again on ground that is softer than ideal.

Form: 431-212

(3)

Koeman¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: David Egan⁽³⁾| T: M R Channon| OR: 88

4/1

Game winner of four races who produced a career best in defeat last time. Weighted to go close and promises to stay this new trip, but needs the ground to dry up.

Form: 188-312

(9)

Melinoe¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 86| BF| D

9/2

Unsuited by the steady gallop last time but Faithful Mount should ensure a truly run race. Progressive in 2017, stays and handles soft ground so plenty to like.

Form: 31223-2

(8)

Arab Moon²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: M Dwyer| T: W J Knight| OR: 85

20/1

Significantly better on AW tracks than turf and that is not reflected by the 5lb differential between the two marks. Well below his best when last encountering soft ground so plenty to prove.

Form: 3120-04

(2)

Faithful Mount¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 8-2| J: Raul Da Silva| T: Ian Williams| OR: 84| D

17/2

Useful front-runner who appeared to be approaching his 2016 form at Chester two weeks ago. His most recent winning form has come in cheekpieces (now removed) and he is 2lb out of the weights.

Form: 5117/06

Non-Runners

(6)

Seafarer²⁸

Weight: 8-7| Age: 4

T: M P Tregoning J: Hollie Doyle

Forecasts

Top Tug (7/2), Soghan (4/1), Koeman (4/1), Melinoe (9/2), Dannyday (7/1), Seafarer (8/1), Faithful Mount (17/2), Platitude (20/1), Arab Moon (20/1)

The forecast of the ground being on the soft is detrimental to many in this. There is every likelihood of this being a true test with Faithful Mount in to set the pace, so the vote has to go to MELINOE. Sir Mark Prescott's daughter of Sea The Stars has her optimum trip and ground plus her comeback looks all the better given the race developed against her. Seafarer is another who will not mind the conditions and a sensible pace will help him settle. Last year's winner Top Tug, the consistent Koeman and Soghan will be hoping the ground dries out, whilst Arab Moon would be dangerous if finally reproducing his AW form on turf.