BURKE'S BICKERSTAFFE LOOKING FOR CONSOLATION

13:55 Goodwood

Bickerstaffe impressed when beating a fairly useful sort at Ascot and appeared to relish the good to soft conditions that day. Officially one pound well in today, he hails from a yard who have been amongst the winners at this meeting and a big run looks on the cards if his high draw allows.

First Folio showed a fair level of ability when trained in France and duly won on his UK debut for James Ferguson when fairly bolting up at Yarmouth. Despite rather fluffing his lines when beaten at Newmarket the time after, he got right back on track with a strong looking win at York last month and arrives here looking as progressive as any.

Music Society deserves to get his head back in front after a string of near misses at Ayr, Hamilton and York, frustratingly, his mark has now crept back up to 90 although he warrants serious consideration and respect and looks sure to run his race.

Embour has run well over this C&D before and represents a trainer/owner combination who have won this before (Poyle Vinnie 2019) without suggesting he will win, there is every chance he could outrun his rather outlandish odds and he has won off higher marks before. Staxton is a regular in these events and has it in him to go well if in the mood, his current mark makes life tricky although his effort at Hamilton last time was encouraging.

George Bowen finally took advantage of his sliding mark when winning in good style at Hamilton, since then he has performed with a fair amount of credit and he could be running on strongly at the end. Mr Wagyu has held his form terrifically well and he could be hard to peg back, however, Bickerstaffe and First Folio look the one's to concentrate on and it is the first mentioned who is taken to come out on top.

BICKERSTAFFE (E/W)

written by Chris Connolly