|
Preview -
31 July 2007
2.15
Goodwood Bank of Scotland Investment Service Stakes Heritage
Handicap class 2 (4yo+) 10F Good to firm
1 –
Championship Point – Winner last
time when coming from last to first in the home straight at Ascot as
the rain got into the ground and comes here 4lbs higher for this
competitive heat and has to defy top weight against some progressive
rivals in this race. The ground isn’t on the testing side of good
today but the pace should be stronger then when last seen at this
track in a listed race in which he never could quicken on Good
racing ground to get involved against a top rated rival of 110. Has
to give weight away today of a mark of 109 and may find one or two
too good for him today at the weights. Expected to go well again
with one that is certain to see out the trip and may run a big race
under top weight with a race ran to suit and could easily claim a
place.
2 –
Nayyir – Loves this course
having performed to a high standard over a shorter trip and is one
that could go very well today back into Handicap Company. May have
not been suited to the race here last time over a mile but does look
a shade below his best. Certain to get the solid pace through out
the race to run on from the rear and have got some good 10F form in
the book. The ground seems to be drying out just right for him today
with on top of the ground ideal. The claimer is booked to give him
the best chance possible at the weights today on return to handicaps
and he is respected with much in favour today with field size a
bonus as well.
3 –
Snoqualmie Boy – A shock winner
at Royal Ascot last term when landing the Hampton court stakes
against some nice types over 10F on good to firm ground. Should have
conditions to suit today. Is better then he has showed of late as he
had to be considered as a bit of a flop to have never threatened at
Ascot last time behind the useful Cesare and connections will be
hoping the return to handicaps and the step up 10F will see him go
close again after a rest of 90 days which he has gone well fresh in
the past (yet to win though). One defeat here over a mile behind
Prince of Light who has regressed since those early days and handled
the course but didn’t just have the pace of his rivals that day over
a trip short of his best. His best speed figures come over 9F but 10
suits’ better then 8 should he should give a much better show this
time around.
4 –
Emirates Skyline – Kept wide before
sticking on at the one pace and had no answers to the turn of foot
showed by Championship Point at Royal Ascot on good to soft ground.
A stronger gallop from end to end should help as he makes smooth
headway in his races and didn’t get the strong gallop required last
time in the Wolfton Handicap. The better ground isn’t to much of a
concern having shown a liking for the ground on the slightly fast
side at Newbury last year in which he had Snoqualmie boy behind him
comfortably in a race that was ran at a good click. Weights favour
his rival today for lbs to distance and the Visor comes on today to
try and get that little bit extra out of the horse today. Could be
that this horse goes very well fresh as he is still lightly raced
and has returned after a 80+ day break to run on each occasion so
far, so concerns as to the sharpness of the horse after a 39 day
break. Handicapper keeps him of the same weight as last time and
providing it isn’t to firm underfoot he should give a bold show
today with the trainer one of the best at winning races at this
track.
5 –
Lake Poet – No excuses last time at
Ascot as he was beaten fair and square having found a lack of room
when already beaten and may struggle yet again even though his form
on down hill tracks is eye catching with his best runs coming at the
down hill track of Epsom. Potentially an easier race then the listed
handicap last time but this is more or less listed class in terms of
the runners in the field today. Seb rides this horse well and is on
top today and the handicapper has dropped him an lb in the handicap.
Stays the trip well and handles quick ground but his best form comes
with cut in the ground and with his opponents beating him last time
on his favoured surface he isn’t as well suited to the race today as
last time.
6 –
Tabadul – Was fancied to go well
against Lake Poet at Epsom but found that rival just to good at
Epsom and is another who had no excuses last time at Royal Ascot in
finishing behind Championship Point. His form around Ascot isn’t
that fetching having been well beaten twice now under soft
conditions and couldn’t use his weight advantage to reverse the form
with Lake Poet this day. The ground today should see him go better
then last time but he is a bit hit and miss on turf and in
comparison to his all weather form he is a shade below his best and
looks held once again at the weights today as he struggles to
overcome the 8lbs higher handicap mark.
7 –
Zero Tolerance – Has twice had the
run of the race at Newcastle this season and both time his effort
has been short lived suggesting that the track doesn’t play to his
front running strengths. Ran well behind blytheknight on soft ground
at York a couple of runs back and steps back up to 10F in which he
has some solid form in the book if you look far enough back.
Dropping further down the handicap he is getting handicapped for the
autumn where he should have the conditions to suit when Jamie
Spencer is likely to booked. The ground today is a big concern and
he looks held in this today.
8 –
Dansili Dancer – Showed some
life last time behind King of Argos, in what looked prep race, with
this race in mind. He came there to challenge, before finding that
he didn’t have enough gears over 8F on good to firm ground. Today’s
conditions should very much suit over 10F, where he put up a
cracking effort when winning at Sandown last season. However, the
piece of form that really stands out, is the 4th to the
talented Pinpoint at Newbury in a big handicap. Dropped again in the
handicap, he is well weighted to go well at this level and with some
of the pick of form over this trip, and on good to firm ground, he
is entitled to lots of respect. Ran over 9F and 8F, the run at
Newmarket better was expected of him and was disappointing. Might
not be in the same form as last season, he often goes better at this
time of year, as he dislikes the spring on all known form.
9 –
Plum Pudding – Another like lake
poet who applies to the horses for courses part as his form on the
straight course of Newmarket is much better then his bare form at
other tracks and may be well handicapped for some upcoming mile
handicaps at that track later in the month so one to always to keep
on the side of at head quarters if entered in the correct race. No
chance with Snoqualmie boy and Emirates Skyline off level weights
last season in a decent 9F conditions stakes at Newbury and finds
himself well weighted with the pair of those today but he was beaten
fairly easy and may find both two strong again. All 3 wins have come
at Newmarket and he was never going when tackling 10F on the sharp
turning track at Lingfield and should be held again with concerns
with this track and opponents.
10 –
Bandama – Ground went totally
against him last time at Royal Ascot as both times when encountering
soft ground now he has shown that he really dislikes the conditions.
The first of two runners for Amanda Perrett, hard to know what to
make of the jockey bookings as Steve Drowne goes well for the yard
and Joe Fanning has previous form on his mount so both should be
respected in this handicap. The drop back to 10F isn’t to much of a
concern having ran well at Kempton the time before last in which he
stuck on and could never quicken as well as the winner despite
having first run. Something with more gears is likely to beat him
today but with course form from 3yo days and the ground more
favoured he should run much better then last time and is the proven
stayer of the two from a yard that have fair form at this track.
11 –
Foramax – Stall one isn’t ideal but
has been reported as being held up for the run. Hard to know what to
make of his French form as Marcus Tregonning takes over the training
of this horse and today could be a fact finding mission and the
market should be the best guide to this horse.
12 –
Night Crescendo – Very lightly
raced and the 2nd runner for Amanda Perrett in this race
and one that really caught the eye last time finishing quickly over
9F at Newmarket and with form of last season suggesting that this
course does suit with a well balanced effort over 9F on Soft ground
behind Layazaal in a 3yo race. Very lightly campaigned and with a
Mark Johnston Jockey up top (top riders round here) who has ridden
the horse well over a trip to short this step up to 10F could see
this horse progress further in the handicap. The ground will ideally
suit him today with a low weight and will be judged as disappointing
if he doesn’t stamp his mark over this further trip with breeding
suiting.
13 –
Speedy Sam – Always given tough
tasks throughout his career and has ran well recently staying on
over 9F in desperate conditions for the john smith cup at York and
then running at sandown against a very progressive rival in which he
wasn’t disgraced over today’s trip. Didn’t quite get home under the
conditions and suited better to the ground today as he bids to get
his head in front for the first time since November. A winner over
9F here he is suited to the course but yard does better with
youngsters here. Potentially in the grip of handicapper at this
level and needs more today but has more in favour and could surprise
with a low weight.
14 –
Fort Churchill – Kept for this
handicap after running so well at the track in a lower handicap he
was expected to go well in and was backed like defeat was out of the
question. The handicapper has taken no chance of the back of that
run as he finds himself 9lbs higher for that win here and was well
held by Emirates skyline at York back in May. Best when kept on the
go the break to be trained for this may see him go better then
expected on history of form but he needs to improve to land this
competitive heat today.
15 –
Collateral Damage – Stuck on at the
one pace after looking like he may pick up the leaders over 9f in
the John Smith Cup and is well suited to give in the ground but has
gone well on top of the ground to give him some claims. Not the
easiest to win with he may find a couple once again to tough for
him. Suited to10F and went well on good to firm ground when hampered
and unlucky in the Zetland Gold cup, he is suited to the size of
field as big handicaps look to be ideal for him. Softer conditions
at this level may have him winning a handicap at this level and even
though not totally useless on the count of ground he may find a
couple more specialist on top of the ground performers to good for
him today.
16 –
Greek Well – Another who has to
prove that on top of the ground will suit him after running well in
the John Smith Cup. Handles good racing ground on what he showed at
Sandown with back to back wins and the handicapper has risen him a
total of 10lbs for those wins and he was staying on at the one pace
with maybe the ground more testing then ideal. The handicapper may
have caught up with him but he does have a progressive profile but
this is the toughest task he has had to date and even though lightly
weighted may find others to strong at the weights today with his 10F
needing to improve on today.
17 –
Peruvian Prince – Northern trainer
Richard Fahey has a good form for this southern track and can go
well with his handicapper here at a big price after showing that his
liking for good to firm ground with making amends for the York run
over further that he was very badly hampered when getting into
contention and the win next time at Haydock was impressive. 8lbs
higher today for that win, he didn’t stay the trip on soft ground
last time and with conditions turning right and the stamina proven
this drop back to 10F with a strong gallop could prove ideal and he
is one that could surprise if overcoming the high mark.
18 –
Resonate – Best with cut in but
does handle the downhill tracks well with a good 3rd to
Lake Poet to his name already this season. Weighted to reverse that
form with give in the ground and may still do so on top of the
ground with Luke Morris taking him down to a low weight after having
experienced jockeys on board for the last few runs. Didn’t shape to
badly over 9F last time and will be better suited to today’s trip he
is another that could go really well today with recent performances
on good to firm not being totally disgraced but others are preferred
for today’s race.
Tissue
Prices- Night Crescendo 6/1, Emirates Skyline 8/1, Dansil
Dancer, Championship Point 9/1, Bandama, Greek Well 10/1, Resonate
12/1, Peruvian Prince, Speedy Sam, Snoqualmie boy 16/1, Collateral
Damage, Nayyir 18/1, Fort Churchill, Plum Pudding 20/1, Lake Poet,
Tabadul 25/1, Formax 33/1, Zero Tolerance 40/1
Verdict –
A decent handicap to get the
racing at Goodwood on the way and several have chances in this
handicap today. Emirates Skyline could be a class apart from these,
if the Visor brings out the hidden talents of the horse, but he is
quite a small horse and may not have too much progression left in
him, and the Visor may just sharpen him up at best. The Amanda
Perrett pair are both respected, with maybe Night Crescendo the most
interesting runner in the race. While Dansili Dancer should be in
with a chance this time of year. Championship Point should have a
race to suit, but may have been flattered by the race falling into
his lap last time, as his stamina got him home. Resonate, at the
foot of the weights, along with Peruvian Prince, are interesting,
while Speedy Sam has been knocking on the door.
Selection –
Dansili
Dancer 2pts win @ 16-1 (BF18.0)
Well Chief
|