15:35 Goodwood

Sunday 25 August 2024

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

William Hill Most Top Price Runners Handicap

Off time: 15:37 | Winning time: 1m 28.67s

(6)

Rebel Territory⁴⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Jim Crowley| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 103| C| D

9/1

Winner of both appearances of what turned out to be a truncated 2023 campaign, latterly taking the 22-runner Victoria Cup at Ascot (7f, soft) with a good deal of authority. 15-month absence to overcome but any further rain arriving will aid his cause from this 8 lb higher mark.

Form: 6465/11-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(10)

Ouzo²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: Saffie Osborne| T: J A Osborne| OR: 103| D

28/1

Ended 2023 with a win at Ascot (1m) and returned to land a pair of 9f Meydan handicaps in January/February. Finished midfield on British return at Royal Ascot in June and never dangerous when thirteenth of 17 in handicap at this course (9.9f) 26 days ago. Little margin for error from this mark.

Form: 31-1170

(14)

Witness Stand^p²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: D Tudhope| T: Tom Clover| OR: 105| CD

8/1

Useful 7f scorer at 2yrs and he left a disappointing run at Chester well behind in first-time cheekpieces when winning 11-runner handicap at this C&D (good to firm, 40/1) 22 days ago, well drawn. Up 8 lb but effective on ground slower than good.

Form: 22-5201

(11)

Rhoscolyn^t²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Cieren Fallon| T: D O'Meara| OR: 99| CD

16/1

Fine record over 7f/1m in the mud (3-time C&D winner) and proved at least as good as ever when striking at Epsom in May. Hasn't fired in trio of starts since but any further easing in the ground will help and the handicapper has eased his grip.

Form: 061000

(1)

Metal Merchant²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: David Probert| T: J Channon| OR: 98| D

7/1

Returned with an improved performance to win Newbury Spring Cup (1m). Mostly good efforts in defeat since, particularly when fourth of 18 in the strong International at Ascot last time. Respected.

Form: 0-12774

(9)

King's Lynn²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 94| D

17/2

Not the force of old but found some consistency at a lower level of late, creditable third of 12 in handicap (9/1) at Wolverhampton (6.1f) 24 days ago, headed final 100 yds and no extra. This his first try at 7f.

Form: 234253

(5)

Telemark^t²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J Mitchell| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 96| D

16/1

Improved for fitting of a tongue tie when successful at Thirsk (7f) in June. Finished nearer last than first in handicaps at York/Chester since though. Bounce back called for.

Form: 15-8100

(12)

Inishfallen⁹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Rob Hornby| T: B J Meehan| OR: 95

40/1

Fairly useful juvenile. Form plateaued towards the end of the campaign, and he again came up well short in Group/listed contests earlier this season. Gelded/off 3 months and betting may prove useful back in handicaps.

Form: 3264-00

(3)

Darkness^v⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: D O'Meara| OR: 90| D

14/1

Bounced back to his best when landing a 10-runner Newmarket (7f) in June. Run with credit in trio of starts since, fourth of 6 in handicap (9/2) at Newmarket (8f, good) 9 days ago. Versatile as regards ground and likely to give another good account of himself.

Form: 031544

(2)

Embrace¹¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: J P Spencer| T: G Boughey| OR: 88| D

25/1

Useful performer for Owen Burrows last year who changed hands for 100,000 gns but she ran poorly after 6 months off when eighth in French listed race in April. Absent since but she could yet revive for good stable. Betting may prove informative. Hood discarded.

Form: 00388-8

(8)

Way To Dubai^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Harry Davies| T: C Fellowes| OR: 88

25/1

Unlucky not to win with cheekpieces fitted when second at Chester (7f, soft) in May. Has struggled to replicate that back at that venue in 2 runs more recently, however.

Form: 058268

(7)

Blue Prince²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Rossa Ryan| T: P D Evans| OR: 93| CD

15/2

Enjoyed a productive spell on the AW over the winter and having been holding his form well all year, proved better than ever as he scored for the first time this turf season in 18-runner C&D handicap just over 3 weeks ago, crucially getting first run. In the mix.

Form: 833361

(4)

Qirat⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 92| BF| CD

9/4

C&D winner in May and has run to a similar level in defeat both starts in handicaps at Royal Ascot/Newmarket subsequently upped to 1m. Versatile as regards ground and he's worth considering from a handy draw/returned to 7f.

Form: 312-165

(13)

Billy Mill³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-5| J: Morgan Cole⁽⁵⁾| T: B R Millman| OR: 82| D

40/1

Enjoyed a productive all-weather campaign, winning 3 times. Kept busy and held form well in recent months, producing another fine effort as he resumed winning ways at Ascot (7f) 4 weeks ago. Well positioned then but rider's claim off-sets latest weight rise.

Form: 334341

Forecasts

Qirat (9/4), Metal Merchant (7/1), Blue Prince (15/2), Witness Stand (8/1), King's Lynn (17/2), Rebel Territory (9/1), Darkness (14/1), Telemark (16/1), Rhoscolyn (16/1), Embrace (25/1), Way To Dubai (25/1), Ouzo (28/1), Billy Mill (40/1), Inishfallen (40/1)

QIRAT hasn't quite kicked on as expected following his C&D success in the spring but he remains low-mileage and, returned to this track/trip from a handy draw, he's given the narrow vote to get back on track. Metal Merchant is another high on the shortlist following his good fourth in the International at Ascot. Witness Stand and Rhoscolyn are others to consider.