17:00 Goodwood

Friday 23 August 2019

All17:0017:3518:0518:3519:0519:35

Ladbrokes Bet 5 Get 20 Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 1m 11.21s

(7)

Grey Galleon^p⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Amelia Glass⁽⁵⁾| T: C G Cox| OR: 70| CD

6/1

Comfortable winner of this last year. Not tasted success since, but his mark has been steadily sliding ad he is now running off a 2lb lower mark. Not running badly this season, and could be about to come to the boil at the perfect time.

Form: 482345

(4)

Lethal Angel^p⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Marco Ghiani⁽⁵⁾| T: S C Williams| OR: 70| D

7/4

Despite only winning once from 22 starts, she is easily the most consistent sort in this line-up. Hasn't finished out of the placings in any of her seven starts this season. Major claims on the strength of her fourth at Newmarket last weekend.

Form: 222324

(5)

Seprani¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Stefano Cherchi⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 70| D

11/2

Running well this season apart from the one blip. Produced another good effort last time to finish runner-up to the progressive Magical Ride at Lingfield (6f; good). Doesn't look to be anything as well-treated as that rival in this race.

Form: 302422

(3)

Lilbourne Star²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin⁽³⁾| T: C G Cox| OR: 68| BF

6/1

0-6 but still unexposed in handicaps. Unable to follow up neck-second at Leicester (6f; good to firm) two starts ago when he was a well-fancied (6-4f) favourite at Yarmouth (6f; good to firm) most recently but could only manage seventh.

Form: 24-6027

(8)

The Lamplighter^p,t⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Cieren Fallon| T: George Baker| OR: 64

7/1

Does have something to find. Best effort of his season so far came when he was runner-up at Leicester (6f; good to soft) in June. However, that came in a seller, and his efforts in Class 5 handicaps this season have not been good enough.

Form: 402605

(2)

Wiff Waff⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Dylan Hogan| T: C Gordon| OR: 63

12/1

Seemed to be holding his form quite well, but his consistency has taken a bit of a nosedive of late. Never looked like threatening in his last four starts, and recent Newbury (6f; good to firm) effort was most disappointing. Plenty to prove.

Form: 228687

(1)

Englishman^p¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-2| J: Sean Kirrane⁽³⁾| T: J M Bradley| OR: 60| CD

10/1

Likes it here but inconsistent at present. Not beaten far when fifth at Windsor (6f; good to firm) recently, which was more encouraging than his effort at Ffos Las (6f; good to firm) two starts ago. Difficult to know what version of him to expect.

Form: 550365

(6)

Aegean Mist^v1⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Poppy Bridgwater| T: J J Bridger| OR: 56| D

14/1

Won a handicap/median auction stakes last season. Desperately out of form in seven starts since making seasonal reappearance in April though, and quiet effort at Windsor (6f; good) on Monday suggests her turn is not forthcoming.

Form: 878967

Forecasts

Lethal Angel (7/4), Seprani (11/2), Lilbourne Star (6/1), Grey Galleon (6/1), The Lamplighter (7/1), Englishman (10/1), Wiff Waff (12/1), Aegean Mist (14/1)

This opening contest can be quickly narrowed down to three genuine contenders. Seprani was unlucky to bump into the in-form Magical Ride when a distant second at Lingfield 13 days ago. She is unlikely to bump into anything as obviously well-treated in this contest, but is vulnerable for win purposes. Last year's winner of this race, Grey Galleon, lines up again. His mark has been sliding ever since that success, and he is subsequently 2lb below the mark he won this off last year. We'll go for LETHAL ANGEL though, who has been in incredibly consistent form in 2019 and the strength of her fourth in a Class 4 a Newmarket last weekend would entitle her to go very close.