14:35 Goodwood

Thursday 23 May 2019

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Three Friday Nights Handicap

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 1m 26.21s

(8)

Zhui Feng²⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Jim Crowley| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 105| CWS

16/1

2017 Royal Hunt Cup winner (5lb higher now) won a Windsor Listed race last season before losing his way a little. Gelded and had a wind-op over the winter and now back at a handy mark. Gone well first time out before and could bounce back.

Form: 201807-

(2)

Makzeem^t²⁹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Jason Watson| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 102| D

10/1

Set some harsh tests and mostly struggled in four starts in 2018 although he went well off a 1lb higher mark at Newmarket penultimately. 10 months absence to overcome and may just need this.

Form: 14/6750-

(6)

Raucous^p,t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Cieren Fallon⁽⁷⁾| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 100| C

16/1

6f course winner has remained competitive off higher marks this winter and showed this career high not beyond him latest when second over 7f at Chelmsford. Handicap demands a lot but rarely runs a bad race.

Form: 436222

(3)

Love Dreams^b⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 95| CD

7/4

Really enjoys it here as shown when he won this race last year and also with recent C&D second. Another solid effort at York latest and back here off a 5lb lower mark than 12 months ago he makes plenty of appeal.

Form: 6-09224

(5)

Game Player²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 94| D

9/4

Lightly raced four-year-old up 5lb for Lingfield turf win latest, his third win in his last five races. Runner-up latest won since so form well franked and leading player to continue his upward curve.

Form: 7112-41

(9)

George Of Hearts^b1¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: S De Sousa| T: R Hughes| OR: 88

6/1

Lone win remains a Chelmsford maiden at 4/11. Two starts this season in valuable handicaps left impression even with latest ease his mark is still high enough although first-time blinkers offer some hope.

Form: 9738-00

(1)

Rum Runner¹⁸⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: J Fanning| T: R Hannon| OR: 86| D

20/1

Won at Sandown and Newmarket last season but was far from consistent and the majority of his runs late in the campaign left something to be desired. This mark not impossible now and could be the sort to go well fresh.

Form: 001846-

(7)

Intransigent^b¹³²

Age: 10| Weight: 8-2| J: William Cox⁽³⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 85| D

66/1

Nine-time winning veteran enjoys undulating courses as shown by his two wins at Chester. Well held at Lingfield in January and suspect this mark at his age may be high enough.

Form: 53412-4

(4)

Apex King¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-2| J: Hollie Doyle| T: D Loughnane| OR: 85| D

10/1

No turf win since 2016, competitive here latest when fourth of 11 but still pretty well held and this every bit as strong.

Form: 126374

Forecasts

Love Dreams (7/4), Game Player (9/4), George Of Hearts (6/1), Apex King (10/1), Makzeem (10/1), Zhui Feng (16/1), Raucous (16/1), Rum Runner (20/1), Intransigent (66/1)

A chance is taken on LOVE DREAMS who won this race 12 months ago off a 5lb higher mark. He's run well the last twice including a C&D second and surely will make another bold bid for a trainer with a remarkable course record. Improving Game Player is a big danger with his most recent success already boosted. Class-act Zhui Feng goes well fresh and his mark here is within range for him to do so again.