16:10 Goodwood

Tuesday 4 September 2018

All14:0014:3515:0515:4016:1016:4517:20

Royal Sussex Regiment Handicap

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 3m 24.86s

(8)

Platitude¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 104| C

12/1

Won listed race over 1¾m in 2016 and got his head back in front on debut for current yard here in May. Not disgraced on penultimate outing, and probably best to ignore well beaten run in the Ebor since.

Form: 55-1280

(4)

Cayirli⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: David Egan| T: S Durack| OR: 95| D

33/1

Shock winner of the Queen's Prize at Kempton at odds of 50/1 on his return from an 18-month absence in April, but soundly beaten in Chester Cup and Northumberland Plate since.

Form: 084/100

(2)

Soldier In Action¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 94| C| D

11/4

Ended last year's campaign with a win at Kempton from 12lb higher. Below best this season, but more competitive from reduced mark on recent starts, and looks dangerously well treated at present.

Form: 870045

(10)

Blue Rambler¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: George Downing| T: Ian Williams| OR: 90

100/1

Only seen twice since a spell in Dubai early last year, and well beaten both times, latest after a 14-month absence. Over five years since last Flat win, and easy to oppose on recent evidence.

Form: 36/570-0

(5)

Austrian School²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: R L Moore| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 100| BF

6/4

Has progressed all the while since sent handicapping, winning twice in May, and proved his stamina for 2m when battling second to Timoshenko at Musselburgh last time. The one they all have to beat.

Form: 442232

(1)

Coeur Blimey⁹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Megan Nicholls⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 89| D

8/1

Useful hurdler who won nicely in a novice event at Chepstow in May, relishing testing ground. Disappointed either side of that, however, and would probably prefer more ease.

Form: 010

(3)

Stanley²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: S W Kelly| T: R Hughes| OR: 89

6/1

Improved to win a 1¾m handicap at Salisbury in May, and has run to a similar level in defeat in two subsequent starts, coping fine with softer ground when third at Newmarket last time. Place claims again.

Form: 1-24123

(9)

Imphal^v1¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Hayley Turner| T: M P Tregoning| OR: 85| BF| CD

9/1

Landed a 4-timer in staying handicaps last year. Yet to add to those successes, but ran well when placed over extended 2½m here last month, and found tactical race against him last time. Visor reached for now.

Form: 1-33334

(6)

Jacob Cats^v²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 8-9| J: William Cox⁽⁵⁾| T: W J Knight| OR: 77| C

100/1

Talented but quirky, and over two years since his last win on turf. Tends to start slowly and/or take plenty of cajoling these days, and he's become fairly easy to oppose despite his declining mark.

Form: 606455

Non-Runners

(7)

Garbanzo²¹

Weight: 8-9| Age: 4

T: E Walker J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Austrian School (6/4), Soldier In Action (11/4), Stanley (6/1), Coeur Blimey (8/1), Imphal (9/1), Garbanzo (10/1), Platitude (12/1), Cayirli (33/1), Jacob Cats (100/1), Blue Rambler (100/1)

A few come here with something to prove, but not AUSTRIAN SCHOOL, who keeps progressing in this sphere, and proved his stamina when runner-up in a competitive 3-y-o handicap at Musselburgh last time. He should have too many guns for Stanley and stablemate Soldier In Action, although the latter is potentially thrown in if finding his best form.