I’ve decided to put a bit of a rare midweek preview together as there’s a decent card over at Goodwood and this all kicks off at 2.00pm with a pretty hot Class 2 maiden which is contested over a mile and two furlongs. This race has likely got a few potentially decent types in there from the big yards and the one that stands out for me is John Gosden’s HERMAN HESSE who’s the mount of Robert Havlin. He’s a Frankel colt who’s had two outings so far and shown a fair level of ability in both without setting the world alight. As is the case with many of the yards runners he’ll likely progress with each run and if that is the case he could well go close here. The main dangers appear to be Andrew Balding’s Khalifa Sat who teams up with Jamie Spencer and also Qatar Racing’s Merryweather who posted a decent effort when third on debut at Nottingham.
Next up is the 2:30 which is another Class 2 event this time a Claiming Handicap and the one I like the look of here is the Stuart Williams trained ALEMARATALYOUM who’s ridden by Sean Levey. He’s been campaigned generally over shorter trips than this throughout the season but ran well over a mile at Chester a few starts ago and arrives here off what looks a very manageable mark. This is a very competitive handicap and a case could be made for most, Tukhoom and Love Dreams look chief threats and this is confirmed by the market.
Moving onto the feature race of the afternoon which takes place at 3:40 and this is a Listed race over a mile and two furlongs. Air Pilot sets the standard here for Ralph Beckett and Harry Bentley as he’s a horse that has competed in top Group races in his career and could prove tough to beat. I am taking him on though with one at a slightly bigger price and that comes in the form of John Gosden’s ILLUMINED who was last seen winning a decent Fillies’ Handicap at Haydock the last day. Up in grade here and against the opposite sex require a whole new level but she certainly has potential and is with a yard that excels with fillies. Qarasu was just touched off in second on that same Haydock card when well fancied last time and a mention also has to go to Elwazir who ran a solid race in defeat behind the impressive Fox Tal at Doncaster at the St Leger Meeting.
I’m concluding my preview with another Class 2 event this time for fillies which is the 4:10. This particular affair is over a mile and six furlongs and it’s another John Gosden filly I like here which is LITIGOUS who sports the Cheveley Park colours. She’s been beaten the last twice in handicap company when well fancied but it’s expected that she will appreciate this step up in distance here and as she still remains fairly unexposed this longer trip could well unlock further potential. Others to note here look to be Monica Sheriff who arrives here off the back of three straight wins and also Nette Rousse who won on her latest outing at Leicester.
Everything Racing 