14:25 Goodwood

Thursday 3 August 2023

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:2017:55

Markel Richmond Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 1m 13.45s

(1)

Ballymount Boy¹³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Jason Hart| T: A Keatley| D

25/1

Has made a promising start, building on his AW debut second when going one better in maiden company at Hamilton (6f, good) 3 weeks later. Should be more to come but it's fair to say this is a steep rise in class.

Form: 21

(12)

Bobsleigh¹²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 102| D

7/1

Won first 2 starts, latterly the Woodcote at Epsom (6f, good to firm). Improved again when sixth of 20 in the Coventry at Royal Ascot and better than he could show in the Super Sprint at Newbury recently. Will still need to raise his game to go close here.

Form: 1169

(7)

Hala Emaraaty²⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Tom Marquand| T: Alice Haynes| OR: 89

22/1

Won first 2 outings but his limitations have been exposed at listed level since. First outing beyond 5f this afternoon. Likely outsider.

Form: 1174

(11)

Nazalan²⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: L Dettori| T: S Woods| OR: 87

16/1

Made all in 5f Sandown novice on second start but beaten 6¼ lengths by Kylian in a listed race back there since. Was a bit better than the result on that occasion but still rates an outsider now stepping up to 6f for the first time.

Form: 313

(9)

Sketch¹²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: M Meade| D

2/1

Looked very useful when scoring by 5 lengths on his recent 6f Newbury debut. Fast tracked to pattern level on the back of that. Should have more to offer.

Form: 1

(6)

Toca Madera²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: S M Levey| T: B J Meehan| OR: 102| D

15/2

Down the field in the Norfolk at Royal Ascot but showed he can be competitive in Group company when 2 lengths third to the reopposing Jasour in July Stakes at Newmarket (6f, good to firm) 3 weeks ago. His trainer is no stranger to success in this race.

Form: 3103

(3)

Vandeek¹³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: S & E Crisford| D

11/8

625,000 gns breeze-up who did very well to justify cramped odds on his 6f Nottingham debut (soft ground) as he very slowly away and showed obvious inexperience before finishing well. Has the potential for significant improvement.

Form: 1

Non-Runners

(10)

Jasour²¹

Weight: 9-5| Age: 2

T: C G Cox J: Non Runner

(8)

Asadna¹³

Weight: 9-2| Age: 2

T: Alice Haynes J: James Doyle

(5)

Emperor's Son⁴⁴

Weight: 9-2| Age: 2

T: R A Fahey J: Non Runner

(2)

Unquestionable³²

Weight: 9-2| Age: 2

T: A P O'Brien J: Non Runner

(4)

Watch My Tracer¹⁷

Weight: 9-2| Age: 2

T: George Scott J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Vandeek (11/8), Sketch (2/1), Unquestionable (9/4), Jasour (9/4), Asadna (6/1), Bobsleigh (7/1), Watch My Tracer (7/1), Toca Madera (15/2), Nazalan (16/1), Emperor's Son (20/1), Hala Emaraaty (22/1), Ballymount Boy (25/1)

With the 2 market leaders dropping out, VANDEEK could be the answer. He has a bit of ground to make up on form, but is open to considerable improvement following a very promising debut success at Nottingham. Sketch was also impressive on his Newbury debut, Watch My Tracker still has potential after getting off the mark at the third attempt last month.