16:40 Goodwood

Friday 24 May 2024

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4017:10

Racehorse Shares From 45 At racingclub.com Handicap

Off time: 16:43 | Winning time: 1m 40.71s

(7)

Aragon Castle^t²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 85

7/2

Off the mark at Epsom last summer and acquitted himself well in 3 subsequent starts as a 2-y-o. Bettered low-key reappearance display when a clear second at Haydock (1m, heavy) last time and he's a serious player off the same mark for last year's winning yard.

Form: 1284-52

(5)

Queen's Reign²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Saffie Osborne| T: E Walker| OR: 83

17/2

Confirmed debut promise when landing a 7f Newmarket maiden last June. Struggled in a Group 3 contest at the same course on final 2-y-o start but reappearance/handicap debut third at Yarmouth (7f, good) was encouraging and she remains open to improvement.

Form: 317-4

(9)

Mr Baloo²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Joe Leavy⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 83| D

8/1

Has raised his game this season, bagging 7f/1m handicaps at Kempton either side of a creditable fourth at Epsom. 2 lb nudge for latest success is manageable and he shouldn't be far away.

Form: 113-141

(1)

Boyfriend¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 83

18/1

Improved when making a winning handicap debut on heavy ground at Newbury (7f) last autumn. Slow off the block when nearer last than first on return at Ascot and while he's probably worth another chance, Mr Baloo is presumably the stable first-string.

Form: 26441-7

(3)

Betties Bay²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Joshua Bryan| T: G Nicholls| OR: 82

33/1

Fairly useful filly who was noted doing good late work when third on handicap debut at Kempton (6f) in February. Has failed to build on that in 2 subsequent starts, though, and she's readily passed over.

Form: 159-360

(11)

Mr Monaco²²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 82

11/2

Didn't do much wrong at 2 yrs, his breakthrough success in a 7f Leicester novice last summer sandwiched between creditable efforts in defeat at Salisbury and York (gelded since latest start). Still, improvement will be needed upped to a mile here following 7 months off.

Form: 416-

(8)

Zain Blue¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: L Morris| T: J Butler| OR: 81

6/1

Fairly useful form in maiden/novice events at 2 yrs and placed both starts so far this season, latterly finding just one too good on his handicap debut at Ascot (1m, good). Major player off the same mark.

Form: 224-32

(2)

Spanish Blaze²²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: T E Whelan| T: M P Tregoning| OR: 80

13/2

Not entirely straightforward but possesses plenty of ability, comfortably landing nursery at Sandown (7f, good to soft) in September before finishing a good third at Doncaster. Down the field at York on final start of 2023, though, and likely to find one or two too good. Gelded.

Form: 013130-

(6)

Rukaana¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: W Buick| T: C Hills| OR: 79| D

15/2

Signed 2023 off on a winning note at Wolverhampton and, having shaped with encouragement on return at Doncaster, he got back on the scoresheet at Nottingham (8.3f, good) recently. 7 lb rise asks a question but he merits respect all the same.

Form: 7891-61

(4)

Miguel⁵³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: George Bass⁽³⁾| T: J Channon| OR: 78| D

11/1

Winner of a Brighton maiden and Ripon nursery in September. Didn't shape at all badly when hitting the crossbar on return at Wolverhampton but he wasn't in the same form next time and The Smiling Wolf appears to be the stable No 1.

Form: 1104-27

(10)

The Smiling Wolf¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Charles Bishop| T: J Channon| OR: 75

50/1

Ffos Las handicap winner in the mud last autumn and just touched off in an 11-runner Newmarket nursery on final 2-y-o start. Nowhere near that level in 2 starts so far this season but the handicapper is relenting and he's dangerous to discount.

Form: 1952-49

Forecasts

Aragon Castle (7/2), Mr Monaco (11/2), Zain Blue (6/1), Spanish Blaze (13/2), Rukaana (15/2), Mr Baloo (8/1), Queen's Reign (17/2), Miguel (11/1), Boyfriend (18/1), Betties Bay (33/1), The Smiling Wolf (50/1)

A deserved first taste of success beckons for ZAIN BLUE, who made a very promising start in handicap company at Ascot a fortnight ago. Aragon Castle is feared on the back of his solid Haydock effort and he is second choice ahead of likely improver Queen's Reign and recent Nottingham winner Rukaana.