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Preview
31 May 2008
2.30 Goodwood.co.uk stakes
handicap 6F Sprint Soft
A fiddly looking handicap to start a day of top quality handicaps
and group races and this is a super Saturday racing if there was
ever one and in this hard 8 runner handicap, there is a touch of
class as well as proven edge to the race.
The ground is likely to be testing with rain around the London
area and it could take some getting this quirky six-furlong sprint
today. The pace angle in this race is hard to fathom as there isn't
a natural trailblazer in the race and that may well suit Swift
Princess who shows plenty of natural pace on ground such as this,
she could well run a big race from low in the weights, however she
has a few classy rivals to overcome in Conquest and Hurricane Spirit
and if returning to form the lord could spring a surprise even
though that horse has looked lost so far.
The pace could come from the 3yo come on you irons who has a low
weight with the age allowance and could well make all here if given
a easy time on the front end, however a more proven horse over this
kind of trip could well land this race and expect HURRICANE SPIRIT
to take closer order today under George Baker and come through to
lead in the final 3rd. Still quite lightly raced he is unproven on
this type of ground, but on breeding and looking back at his other
runs he should handle this ground just as well and looks the type to
try pattern races this summer.
Viking Spirit and Pawan come of a strong pace and the latter wont
be suited to this type of race and Viking Spirit who loves soft
ground is likely to be the major danger to Hurricane Spirit I feel
with Conquest better on a sounder surface and Ebraam needing a
furlong less in conditions such as this.
Advised bet - Hurricane
Spirit 2 pts @ 20-1 (BF22's)
3.55 York National express
Scottish Sprint cup (Heritage handicap) 5F Good to firm
The big race handicap for Saturday stages at York this season and
this sprint handicap is a prize that is keenly contested and should
be quick and hard with How's She Cuttin, Elharmi, Fantasy Explorer
and Sirens Gift across the track. This flat track is fair to all
types of sprinters and it may be down to who is drawn best with the
pace and high numbers look to hold the key here.
One horse catches the eye right up against the stand side rail
and that is TABARET who ran well here the other week and was
unfortunate not to pick up a easier race last time at Ayr with the
abandonment of that meeting due to unsafe ground. The horse is very
well handicapped for this run and with luck in running and Jim
Crowley in to do the steering he could well be one to strike at a
big price for a yard whose horses seem to becoming to hand and have
a good strike rate in handicaps here. Bertoliver on the far side in
draw 1 may well be too good for those drawn around him on the low
numbers and has bags of pace as well and no surprise to see him
short in the market at around 9-1.
The Barry Hills trained SPECIAL DAY has had a race like this in
his locker this season and the fact he has reverted back to five
furlongs after two fitness sharpeners over further this season and
the eye catching run last time at York has him down as potentially
the winner of this race and the inform jockey booking of Alan Munro
isn't a negative for this horse and up the middle of the track he
could latch on to the pace of either group and has been knocking on
the door in this race.
Advised bet - Special
Day 1 pt @ 12-1 (BF16's) & Tabaret
1 pt @ 25-1 (BF27's)
Well Chief
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