13:50 Goodwood

Wednesday 1 August 2018

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:55

Matchbook Betting Podcast Goodwood Handicap

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 4m 28.5s

Kloud Gate¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: R L Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 93

10/1

Didn't shape with much promise over hurdles for this yard and hasn't won since 2015 but he produced two better efforts on the Flat of late, particularly in a valuable contest at Newbury last time. Claims if building on that with Moore on board.

Form: 8342-72

Coeur de Lion^p¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: M Harley| T: A King| OR: 92

11/2

A neck behind Kloud Gate when third at Newbury last time and 1lb better off at the weights here. Well suited to a stamina test but he's been well fancied to defy lower marks on several occasions and failed to deliver. Needs to be delivered late.

Form: 3-12263

Northwest Frontier^b¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 90

8/1

Improving at some rate at present and has won three of his last four starts. 4lb higher for his most recent win at York and there's every chance he will stay this trip given the way he stayed on that day. Each-way claims.

Form: 631121

Dominating³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 89

14/1

Won five races last year but hasn't managed to get his head in front this year. Ran well at Carlisle two starts back on good to firm but there's a suspicion he will want a return to softer conditions to be seen at his best.

Form: 1-80829

Altaayil²⁹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: H Crouch| T: G & J Moore| OR: 89

28/1

Not won since he was trained by Sir Michael Stoute in 2015. Struggling over hurdles for this yard but produced two better efforts on the Flat towards the end of last year. Not ruled out if he stays this far but second string on jockey bookings.

Form: 2221/22-

Denmead³²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: R Winston| T: J Butler| OR: 87

20/1

Has looked more effective on AW and ran a fine race in defeat at Newcastle last time in the consolation race for the Northumberland Plate. Likely to want the ground fast on his return to turf but can't be ruled out despite a career high mark.

Form: 20-7213

Cool Sky^p³²

Age: 9| Weight: 9-2| J: Josephine Gordon| T: Ian Williams| OR: 85| CD

12/1

Surprise winner of this last year when rated 5lb lower. Returned to the Flat after a respectable hurdles campaign with a below par effort at Newcastle but a return to this course could spark a revival and there was no fluke about his win in 2017.

Form: 23/661-0

Great Sound^t³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: S W Kelly| T: R Hughes| OR: 84

50/1

Won twice for John Gosden, both wins coming on soft ground. Unplaced on each of three starts for this yard but his latest effort was more promising on first start since a wind operation. Yet to try further than 1m6½f.

Form: 165-904

Piedita¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 84

13/2

Has won three of her last five starts and well-positioned when winning a six-runner contest at Chester last time out. Will need more from 4lb higher in a deeper race but lightly raced and dam's half-sister stayed this far over hurdles.

Form: 3112-61

Imphal^p⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Hayley Turner| T: M P Tregoning| OR: 84| C

7/1

Rattled off a four-timer last year but handicapper has seemingly caught up with him now. Placed here over 2m on his last couple of starts but loses a useful 7lb apprentice from the saddle and needs more in a competitive heat.

Form: 111-333

Arthur Mc Bride⁵⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-0| J: L P Keniry| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 83| C

25/1

Has only won two of his 16 turf starts but both those wins came here and he's back on his last winning handicap mark. Out of form in two starts this year and would probably want an ease in conditions to be seen at his best.

Form: 2100-07

Lil Rockerfeller^b⁹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: S De Sousa| T: N B King| OR: 82| BF

11/4

Has improved markedly over hurdles since last seen on the Flat and he looks well in on his return to this sphere. Gets the services of De Sousa who won this in 2014 and this gelding's game attitude will stand him in good stead in this sphere.

Form: 844112/

The Secrets Out²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-0| J: N Mackay| T: L A Dace| OR: 66

100/1

Won two of his last four starts but well beaten at Sandown last time when last of six and he's out of the handicap.

Form: 841616

General Allenby³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-0| J: Hollie Doyle| T: H Tett| OR: 51

150/1

Losing run starting to mount up now and near impossible to make a case for from more than a stone out of the handicap here.

Form: 17-4036

Forecasts

Lil Rockerfeller (11/4), Coeur de Lion (11/2), Piedita (13/2), Imphal (7/1), Northwest Frontier (8/1), Kloud Gate (10/1), Cool Sky (12/1), Dominating (14/1), Denmead (20/1), Arthur Mc Bride (25/1), Altaayil (28/1), Great Sound (50/1), The Secrets Out (100/1), General Allenby (150/1)

Cool Sky won this race last year and he may have needed the run on his all-weather return at Newcastle last month; from 5lb higher than 2017, he can't be ruled out for a yard that do well with their stayers. However, preference is for LIL ROCKERFELLER who has vastly improved over hurdles since last seen on the Flat and there's every chance he's on a lenient mark on his return to this sphere. Piedita is entirely unexposed over this far and the sole filly in the line-up may be capable of better for her shrewd trainer.