15:20 Goodwood

Tuesday 5 September 2023

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Royal Sussex Regiment Handicap

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 3m 31.27s

(2)

Earlofthecotswolds^p⁸⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Liam Keniry| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 100| D

28/1

Useful hurdler who notched fourth success on the Flat at Wolverhampton in March. Good second to Aggagio in this race last year off a 2 lb higher mark but needs to bounce back following a couple of poor efforts (the latest over hurdles).

Form: 27-3418

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(9)

Novel Legend⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 95| D

11/4

Improving 4-y-o who followed up his AW reappearance success when forging clear to land a 16.5f Newbury handicap in April. Solid efforts in defeat since, most recently chasing home subsequent Ebor second Sweet William back at Newbury, and he's a major player.

Form: 2-11272

(6)

Vino Victrix³²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Billy Loughnane⁽³⁾| T: H Morrison| OR: 90| CD

11/2

Enjoyed a productive 2022 campaign, most notably finshing second in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket. Has yet to hit top form this season, though, finishing well adrift of Temporize at the big meeting here last month, and now has a bit to prove.

Form: 24-8090

(5)

Rhythmic Intent¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S C Williams| OR: 89

10/1

Useful handicapper who doesn't look quite the force of old but his mark reflects that and he arrives here on the back of creditable efforts in defeat in 1¾m handicaps at Yarmouth and Sandown. Shapes as though this step up in trip will be no bad thing and he's one to consider.

Form: 646433

(3)

Merveillo^p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: K Shoemark| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 89

80/1

Useful performer for Christophe Ferland in France, including a Toulouse listed win in 2021. Respectable efforts both starts for this yard on the Flat last spring but more miss than hit over hurdles since and others look safer.

Form: 3153/46-

(1)

Aggagio¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Rhys Clutterbuck| T: G & J Moore| OR: 86| CD

9/2

Recorded fourth win here when seeing off Earlofthecotswolds in this race 12 months ago. Has won twice over hurdles since and runner-up twice from 4 visits here this season, including off this mark over C&D (good) last time, and shouldn't be far away.

Form: 15-2562

(4)

Pons Aelius¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: W Buick| T: C Johnston| OR: 81| CD

8/1

Successful 4 times during a busy 2022 and resumed winning ways over C&D (good to firm) in June. Shaped better than the bare result dropped to 1¾m at Sandown recently and he's high on the shortlist now back up in trip with William Buick aboard.

Form: 522145

(7)

Grand Providence¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: Hayley Turner| T: A M Balding| OR: 83| D

9/4

Nathaniel filly who is going the right way, winning 11f Kempton novice and 2m Doncaster handicap this summer (narrowly beat Temporize in the latter) and nothing wrong with subsequent efforts over 1¾m at Sandown and Newmarket. Likely to give another good account.

Form: 331132

Non-Runners

(8)

Temporize³²

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: S Hosie J: L Morris

Forecasts

Grand Providence (9/4), Novel Legend (11/4), Temporize (4/1), Aggagio (9/2), Vino Victrix (11/2), Pons Aelius (8/1), Rhythmic Intent (10/1), Earlofthecotswolds (28/1), Merveillo (80/1)

The Johnston's have saddled the winner of this handicap 3 times since 2018 and PONS AELIUS is taken to enhance that record. The drop back to 1¾m counted against him at Sandown last time and he is appealing back at the scene/over the trip of his latest success in June off just a 2 lb lower mark. The form of Novel Legend's latest effort at Newbury has been well and truly boosted since, and he is a much-respected main danger. Temporize is third choice ahead of Grand Providence and Rhythmic Intent.