14:25 Goodwood

Wednesday 21 September 2022

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Heineken Optional Claiming Handicap

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 1m 38.57s

(11)

Shelir^p²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 102| D

12/1

Career best effort (smart form) when winning 8-runner handicap at Ripon (1m, good to firm, 10/1) 23 days ago. Will require another career best if he's to give the weight away here.

Form: 17-5601

(3)

Vafortino⁷⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-1| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: K P De Foy| OR: 101

15/2

Just second start for new yard when winning Victoria Cup at Ascot in May. Below form in Buckingham Palace back at Ascot and Bunbury Cup at Newmarket since but this is clearly a bit less competitive.

Form: 90-2100

(10)

Percy's Lad³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: T Eaves| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 98| D

12/1

Lannded a pair of 1m handicaps at Yarmouth/Nottingham in the spring and back to form with a bang when making all at Chester (7.5f) a month ago.

Form: 112051

(6)

Red Mirage²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: W Buick| T: A M Balding| OR: 92| BF| D

9/2

Started out for Andrew Balding win wins at Chelmsford and Chester (7.5f in the spring). Respectable fourth of 9 in handicap back at Chester last time. One to consider under Buick.

Form: 7-11324

(5)

The Turpinator^t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Rossa Ryan| T: T Ward| OR: 92| C| D

11/1

Got back on the up in a first-time tongue strap when landing a 7f course handicap in June. Not in the same form back here twice since but merits respect dropping into a claimer.

Form: 160109

(7)

Lunar Space^b⁹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Saffie Osborne⁽³⁾| T: J A Osborne| OR: 90

33/1

Useful performer at up to 1m for Jim Bolger, successful in listed race at the Curragh (7f) in May 2021. Off 8 months, down the field in Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot on yard debut but should find life easier in this company.

Form: 60987-0

(4)

Via Serendipity²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: S Donohoe| T: C Fellowes| OR: 89| CD

14/1

Won this 12 months ago and got his head back in front at Sandown in June. Not at his best since then but no surprise were he to stage a revival now.

Form: 410878

(1)

Alazwar^p¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 89| D

4/1

Bumper winner who didn't take to hurdling but has a 3-5 record since switching to the Flat, making all in 1m Haydock handicap latest. A bit more will be needed on these terms but he could easily improve again.

Form: 13121

(8)

Enigmatic^p⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: Rhys Clutterbuck⁽³⁾| T: J Parr| OR: 83| CD

11/1

C&D winner. 14/1, respectable sixth of 10 in handicap at Yarmouth (9f, good) 7 days ago.

Form: 390336

(12)

Substantial^t1⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 82| BF

9/2

Pair of 7f handicap wins this year. 9/4, below form ninth of 16 in handicap at Thirsk (1m, good to soft) 42 days ago, not ideally placed. Worth another chance.

Form: 32-1219

(9)

Trais Fluors⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-8| J: David Probert| T: M R Channon| OR: 80| D

33/1

One win from 28 Flat runs. Sixteen runs since last win in 2021. Bit below form tenth of 19 in handicap at Newbury (7f, good, 28/1) 4 days ago, met some trouble. Not easy to make a case for.

Form: 348860

(2)

Stately Home¹⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: Josephine Gordon| T: S Lycett| OR: 78| D

12/1

Ex-Irish gelding who gained a first win for his current yard in 1m handicap at Pontefract in April. Narrowly outpointed at Haydock when last seen in June. Each-way claims if prmed after a break.

Form: 733152

Forecasts

Alazwar (4/1), Substantial (9/2), Red Mirage (9/2), Vafortino (15/2), Enigmatic (11/1), The Turpinator (11/1), Stately Home (12/1), Shelir (12/1), Percy's Lad (12/1), Via Serendipity (14/1), Trais Fluors (33/1), Lunar Space (33/1)

A wide-open look to this race. SUBSTANTIAL isn't as battle-hardened as some of these but a few things conspired against him at Thirsk last time and he's given another chance to show he's a low-mileage sort heading in the right direction. Fellow unexposed 4-y-o Alazwar heads the dangers along with Red Mirage and Victoria Cup winner Vafortino.