14:45 Goodwood

Friday 31 July 2020

All13:1013:4514:1514:4515:1515:4516:2016:55

Unibet Golden Mile Handicap

Off time: 14:48 | Winning time: 1m 36.91s

(9)

Urban Icon²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 109

12/1

Been running respectably in Listed/Group company for most of his career, and this will actually be his first handicap. Comes here after a solid effort in Summer Mile, and if handling this track, isn't out of this despite the big weight.

Form: 43-1725

(3)

Vale Of Kent⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 108| C| D

9/2

Regualr in these big handicaps, and being kept busy this season (this is his seventh run since racing resumed). Likes to lead/race prominently, recent efforts have been a bit below par but maybe a step back up to a mile might help.

Form: 347280

(7)

Sir Busker²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Oisin Murphy| T: W J Knight| OR: 107| C| D

5/1

Comes here at the top of his game, twice a winner over 1m this season and then an excellent staying-on second dropped back to 7f in the Bunbury Cup. Drying ground a plus, as is the step back up to a mile, and he looks a player.

Form: 416-112

(14)

Blown By Wind²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 106

40/1

Useful handicapper when on song, as he showed when beating the useful Pogo at Newmarket last month, but all best form at 7f to date, and this speedy sort might not appreciate another furlong.

Form: 1-81020

(6)

Bless Him^h²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Tom Marquand| T: D M Simcock| OR: 105| D

22/1

Bit out of his depth in the G2 Summer Mile last time but wasn't disgraced, and his defeat of the now top-class Lord North last October looks a very solid bit of form. Drop back in to handicap class could easily spark a revival.

Form: 2011-78

(11)

Afaak^b1¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Dane O'Neill| T: C Hills| OR: 103| D

25/1

Another regular in these big-field handicaps, yet to really hit top form this season and still a questioin mark over whether Goodwood really suits him, but is falling back to a winning mark and first-time blinkers might perk him up.

Form: 5004-70

(5)

Cardsharp⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 101

12/1

Like many from the yard, is being kept busy (sixth run back in a short space of time) but comes here after a good effort on Saturday at Ascot, third to Blue Mist. Possibly favoured by the draw there, but conditions fine and isn't discounted.

Form: 480603

(8)

Willie John⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 100

9/1

Plenty of promise at the start of his career has pretty much ebbed away, although his second in the Listed Festival Stakes over 10f here last year shows he may still have something to offer. Profile less convioncing than a few, though.

Form: 7/4205-0

(12)

Zwayyan^v²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: S De Sousa| T: A M Balding| OR: 98| D

50/1

Back down to a winning mark and should strip fitter for his first start this season at Sandown, when an solid, staying-on fourth. This track still something of a question, having run moderately here two seasons ago, but that aside, is worth a look.

Form: 70344-4

(10)

Fox Premier^t1⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Rob Hornby| T: A M Balding| OR: 97

66/1

Looked a useful and improving handicapper last year but was most disappointing on his reappearance at Royal Ascot, beating just one home in the Hunt Cup. He's better than that, but others come into this in much better form.

Form: 6/1192-0

(4)

Cliffs Of Capri^b⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: D C Costello| T: J A Osborne| OR: 97| D

10/1

Consistently runs well in these big handicaps, placed in them on last three starts (all at 7f) and was a winner at Meydan in the spring. Seems to be improving at the age of six, and he's already shown he acts on the track, so has to be considered.

Form: 791242

(13)

Baltic Baron^b1,t¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 94| D

33/1

Looking very well handicapped at present and his close fifth in the Hunt Cup would give him every chance if he could repeat it here, but he doesn't win many and was readily held at York last time out. Blinkers now given a try.

Form: 030-750

(1)

Almufti^t²²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: David Egan| T: H Palmer| OR: 91| D

16/1

Won a couple at Lingfield over the winter and nothing wrong with his close fourth in the Hunt Cup either, but noth hard to think the handicapper has him about right at present and others make a little more appeal. Drying ground a big plus, however.

Form: 1-51444

(2)

Prompting⁶^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: Harry Bentley| T: D O'Meara| OR: 84

3/1

Improving and the way he won at York (7f) last Saturday suggests he has plenty left in the tank, so a 3lb penalty isn't going to stop him. Yet to win at 1m but stays this far and with the quickening ground in his favour, has to be considered.

Form: 2-13211

Non-Runners

(15)

Montatham²⁶

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: W J Haggas J: Jim Crowley

Forecasts

Prompting (3/1), Vale Of Kent (9/2), Montatham (9/2), Sir Busker (5/1), Willie John (9/1), Cliffs Of Capri (10/1), Urban Icon (12/1), Cardsharp (12/1), Almufti (16/1), Bless Him (22/1), Afaak (25/1), Baltic Baron (33/1), Blown By Wind (40/1), Zwayyan (50/1), Fox Premier (66/1)

Prompting won with plenty left in the tank at York last weekend and has to be on anyone's shortlist for this, but his style of hold-up style of running means he's going to need a bit of luck in the run from stall 2, and there are alternatives. Montatham might have been the pick, as he's improving at the right time and will like the ground, but he's pulled stall 15 and that's going to make life hard for him too. Sir Busker is another that has a great chance on form but he too will be coming from the back, so maybe VALE OF KENT, second in this last year and with a very good overall record at the track, can make most from stall 2. He gets the vote in an open race.