14:25 Goodwood

Tuesday 31 July 2018

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:15

Qatar Vintage Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 1m 28.23s

(11)

Van Beethoven¹⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-4| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 104

12/1

Second career win came in a Curragh Group 2 in June. Not on his A-game at Newmarket since and yard who have won two of the last four renewals have been below par by their standards of late. Step up to 7f a positive but has to concede weight to all.

Form: 312417

(3)

Blonde Warrior³²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: W Buick| T: H Palmer| OR: 94| D

8/1

Built on promising Newbury debut when a winner next time at Yarmouth. Didn't need to improve to win a four-runner race when stepped up to 7f at Doncaster at odds-on on latest start and runner-up has run okay since. Needs more but improvement likely.

Form: 211

(8)

Burj²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: Edward Greatrex| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 94| D

33/1

Impressive when winning at odds-on second time out on AW having still looked green early. Well beaten in the Coventry and too keen at Brighton last time when only narrowly getting the better of a horse rated 74 when long odds-on. Others preferred.

Form: 3101

(10)

Confiding⁴⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: Callum Shepherd| T: M Meade| D

8/1

Iffraaj colt, €47,000 yearling. Half-brother to 1m winner and dam's sister a 1m4f Listed winner. Impressive winner on Newbury debut and there's been a host of next time out winners from the race. Step up to 7f a positive and should go well.

Form: 1

(1)

Cosmic Law⁴²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: P J McDonald| T: R A Fahey| OR: 100

6/1

Improved from debut to win his next two starts, particularly impressive at Epsom on third outing. Ran with plenty of credit when probably doing too much too soon in the Coventry and has a useful draw if planning to replicate those tactics.

Form: 5119

(7)

Dark Vision¹⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 96

10/3

Won going away on Yarmouth debut and improved on that with an impressive success at York. Missed the kick slightly but travelled through the rest of the race with ease and he was giving weight away to most of his rivals. More to come up in trip.

Form: 11

(5)

Drogon²⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| D

9/1

Outran odds of 25/1 when third on Haydock debut and confirmed the promise of that with a facile all the way success back there next time. A literal reading of the form makes him a leading player here and likely he will make this a real stamina test.

Form: 31

(6)

Dunkerron¹⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: M Harley| T: A King| OR: 103

9/1

Two wins from four starts and has already achieved a useful level of form with a good fourth in the July Stakes at Newmarket last time. Signs on the dam's side he will stay this extra furlong but might not want any rain to arrive. Yard in good form.

Form: 4114

(9)

Federal Law¹⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A Watson| D

14/1

Well positioned when runner-up on debut, prominent in a race with little pace but improved on that with a firm ground win at Salisbury. Speedily bred so not guaranteed to stay this trip and looked all out in his win last time. Yard in top form.

Form: 21

(4)

Getchagetchagetcha⁴²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox

16/1

Form of his debut win at Ascot has taken a few knocks. Ran with credit in the Coventry when 11th of 23 and two places behind Cosmic Law and proven with cut in the ground from his win on debut. Not ruled out with the step up in trip likely to suit.

Form: 10

(2)

Junius Brutus³⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett

13/2

Won twice in France and cost connections £300,000 before a good sixth of 28 in the Windsor Castle (drawn on the wrong side), finishing behind Van Beethoven. Form looks solid and not ruled out on debut for new yard with step up to 7f likely to suit.

Form: 116

(12)

Mordred¹⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: Jim Crowley| T: R Hannon

33/1

Smart effort on debut when not beaten far in a bid to make all at Newmarket. Stepped up on that when only 2½L behind Federal Law at Salisbury but he needs another sizable step forward and no horse has ever lost their maiden tag in this race.

Form: 23

Forecasts

Dark Vision (10/3), Cosmic Law (6/1), Junius Brutus (13/2), Confiding (8/1), Blonde Warrior (8/1), Dunkerron (9/1), Drogon (9/1), Van Beethoven (12/1), Federal Law (14/1), Getchagetchagetcha (16/1), Mordred (33/1), Burj (33/1)

Mark Johnston has a fine record at this meeting and DARK VISION was impressive when travelling through his latest win at York in eye-catching fashion; with more progress likely up in trip, he rates as the one to beat. Confiding was impressive on debut and the form of that contest looks rock solid. Drogon may be able to get an easy time of it on the front end and there was plenty to like about his latest effort at Haydock.