16:45 Goodwood

Wednesday 25 September 2019

All14:0014:3015:0515:4016:1016:4517:20

Orchard Thieves Handicap

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 2m 5.88s

(10)

Family Fortunes¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Scott McCullagh⁽⁵⁾| T: M Madgwick| OR: 84

8/1

Won at Kempton in February, but not really firing on all cylinders since the spring, and genuinely testing ground would be a definite worry, even if back to his best.

Form: 938585

(6)

Keswick^t²⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Angus Villiers⁽⁷⁾| T: H Main| OR: 82| DWS

12/1

Won twice on AW last season, but does handle soft ground. Not seen since late-December, and has reportedly had another wind operation prior to this belated return. Entitled to need the run.

Form: 101397-

(2)

Plait²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Cameron Noble⁽³⁾| T: M L W Bell| OR: 82

17/2

Won her first two, at Ffos Las (soft) on sole start for Ralph Beckett and by 12L on stable debut at Chelmsford. Highly tried subsequently, and disappointing of late, but drops in class, and easy ground will suit her better than most.

Form: 106555

(7)

Simoon^p1²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Jason Watson| T: A M Balding| OR: 82

5/4

Won his first two starts for this yard, and back to form after a short break when ½L second of 6 to Dubai Instinct at Sandown last time. Cheekpieces on now, and must show he can build on that better effort.

Form: 115642

(3)

Touchthesoul¹²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: George Wood| T: G & J Moore| OR: 82

8/1

Ran well over hurdles for David Cottin at Auteuil in May, and a winner on the Flat for Simone Brogi last October. Could make a mark for shrewd new yard, although may be rusty after four months off. Market useful.

Form: 6412-07

(8)

Los Camachos⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: H Crouch| T: J Gallagher| OR: 77| D

9/1

Won two AW claimers in early weeks of the year, but yet to win on turf, and well held on both outings on softer than good. Latest of those came after a 5-month break at Newbury in August, though, and that was probably needed.

Form: 4-71127

(5)

Beat The Judge¹⁵⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Louis Garoghan⁽⁷⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 68

4/1

Flat maiden who turned into a useful hurdler in the winter, winning at Kempton and runner-up in Grade 2 Adonis Hurdle there in February. One of two for the yard here, and the market will help separate them.

Form: 89365-

Non-Runners

(1)

De Vegas Kid⁴⁹

Weight: 9-7| Age: 5

T: A W Carroll J: Darragh Keenan

(9)

Grey Spirit¹¹

Weight: 9-4| Age: 4

T: Sir Mark Prescott J: Non Runner

(4)

Directory¹⁸

Weight: 9-0| Age: 4

T: J M P Eustace J: Ryan Tate

Forecasts

Simoon (5/4), De Vegas Kid (5/2), Beat The Judge (4/1), Grey Spirit (4/1), Family Fortunes (8/1), Touchthesoul (8/1), Plait (17/2), Los Camachos (9/1), Keswick (12/1), Directory (12/1)

The Gary Moore pair are both returning from a break having improved over hurdles, so need a market check, and BEAT THE JUDGE in particular could be interesting from his mark given his exploits at the winter game. He gets the vote in the absence of market clues, with Plait perhaps the one to give him most to do down in grade and back on soft ground for the first time since making a winning debut. De Vegas Kid would be a major player on faster ground, and it's possible he will still have a big role to play despite the recent downpours.