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13:30 Beverley
The opening race on ITV this Saturday comes from ‘up North’ with action from Beverley.
We kick off with a very competitive handicap over seven furlongs.
Beverley is a unique course so horses with former course success demand plenty of respect. One such horse is the Gemma Tutty trained Tangled. The seven year old has raced at this venue a total of six times before and he produced two victories and two placed efforts all of which came with more weight on his back than today. His draw might be less than advantageous but off such an attractive mark he’s worth an each way punt.
The current market leader Outrun The Storm has been ultra-consistent having not finished outside of the top two in his last three starts and a drop in class should see him go close once more.
Of the remainder the lightly raced Majestic looks to be a horse on the up and to my eyes poses the biggest treat.
TANGLED (E/W)
written by Rory Paddock 13:50 Goodwood
The Group 3 Prestige Stakes for fillies is the opener on a good card at Goodwood today, Fairy Cross is 5lbs clear of those with official ratings. She is another stakes performer for Charlie Appleby and will certainly be towards the head of the market and deserves the plenty respect on what she has shown. Bright Diamond is the interesting and unexposed one in the field she despatched a field of newcomers by 9L earlier in the month, the time wasn’t great but she was very impressive and will be one to watch.
Jason Hart and John Quinn have hit the big time of late with the exploits of Highfield Princess and they look to continue their good run today with Breege. The filly was visually very impressive in May at Wetherby, she then ran slightly below that level on her second start. Royal Ascot was the destination for her third run where she was a staying on third in the 6F Group 3 Keeneland Stakes, today’s step up to 7F looks set to suit and she looks to be good each-way selection.
BREEGE (E/W)
written by Michael Taylor
14:05 Beverley
A decent quality mile and a quarter handicap for three year olds.
Wait To Excel is improving with every run. He won comfortably at Ripon last time, but hasn’t been hammered by the handicapper. This does represent a step up though.
Kitsune Power hasn’t done a lot wrong in his career to date. The way he finished over a furlong shorter trip last time would suggest this stiffer test would suit, however that does conflict with his pedigree, so there has to be a minor doubt about the suitability of today’s distance.
Post Impressionist is the most interesting runner. A couple of his runs suggests there are bigger efforts in him, and that a mark of 88 could still underestimate him. Things haven’t quite gone his way in his last two starts, but this looks a good opportunity to get his career up and running, and any easing of the ground will be in his favour.
POST IMPRESSIONIST (WIN)
written by Matt Polley
14:25 Goodwood
This has the potential to get quite messy as none of the eleven declared to run appear certain to go forwards and the recent rain further adds to the complicated look. Orbaan ended a barren spell going back nearly two years when finally getting his head back in front here three starts back. Sent to Ascot the week after, he duly followed up and his fourth at York last time out can be comfortably upgraded as he got no run before powering home late in the day. Proven on the ground and at the track, he looks a very worthy market leader though for one usually dropped out, stall one and a potential lack of pace look serious negatives.
I'm A Gambler is as tough as teak and he recorded his third victory of the season when proving too strong for a fair bunch here when last seen. Still only three, he could attempt to make all today and respect is afforded.
Tacarib Bay showed a good attitude when just getting up ay Haydock a couple of starts back and he followed that up with fine second at Ascot the time after. Still quite lightly raced, he is two from three on going with soft in the description and though his draw in eleven looks ''iffy'', he may well prove to be the best suited by the conditions.
Rhoscolyn has a little to find with a few of these on his most recent efforts but the ground is a significant positive and the last time he encountered this type of going at this venue, he scored. Rather unpredictable and still nine pounds above his last winning mark, it is impossible to be over-confident but he has the form to play a serious role and his draw looks ideal.
Lyndon B overcame a tardy start when fairly bolting up in an eighteen-runner affair here last time and a repeat of that would entitle him to go close. Ascot Adventure has two ways of running and he has been fairly disappointing in his last two starts. Safe Voyage and Sir Dancealot are others worthy of a mention and either or could take this if bouncing back to their best, however, the two that make most appeal are Obraan and Tacarib Bay and it is the latter who is taken to come out on top.
TACARIB BAY (WIN)
written by Chris Connolly
14:40 Beverley
A strong line up for this years Beverley Bullet sees last years winner, Tis Marvellous, the likely favourite to take home the prize once more. He is bidding to become only the second multiple winner of this event and is quite lightly raced this term with the form of both starts not setting the world on fire although he may do better today. Interestingly with regular rider Adam Kirby down at Newmarket, he is reunited with Paul Hanagan who rode a perfect race on him last year when landing the spoils.
Korker hopes to become the first three-year-old to land this prize since 2010. The son of Dandy Man is not well drawn here however, and with the track favouring horses that are up with the pace, he will need a lot of luck in running to make the frame today.
Existent is one who drops in grade here having contested in group races through the summer and if he gets a good position early on, from a perfect draw, he would have every chance of making the frame. He does have a tendency to miss the break however.
King of Stars steps up to listed company here having been steadily progressive in handicaps. He is very much the pace angle in the race but will have to exert a lot of energy to get over from his draw today. He hasn’t always seen his races out well and he might be vulnerable on the uphill finish at Beverley.
I am very much with Tis Marvellous in this event here today. He is clear on the ratings and he has the ability to follow up his success in this contest last year by landing this years renewal.
TIS MARVELLOUS (WIN) written by Tom Bates
15:00 Goodwood
Just four runners face the starter for the Group 3 Marsh Stakes with the Irish-raider and rank outsider Pink Fire Lilly quickly passed over given that she’s rated just 64. In truth, it’s difficult to look past Derby runner-up Hoo Ya Mal who’s eighteen pounds clear of his closest rival on ratings and ran well on stable debut in a Group 3 contest here. The extra distance should bring further improvement and he should win this with ease.
The lightly-raced Perfect Alibi should be the one to pick up the pieces should the favourite disappoint. The Queen’s charge won a decent handicap against her own sex at Newbury when last seen. Although she was well held in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot so needs to find improvement to beat the favourite. The consistent Animato makes up the field but he’s got twenty-two pounds to find with the favourite, which seems unlikely.
HOO YA MAL (WIN)
written by Peter Keogh
15:15 Newmarket
Great Ambassador is ever consistent and was a creditable sixth when last seen, on the wrong side of the track, in the Steward’s Cup. He has a nice record at Newmarket and he has fine form through his career. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him improve on his last few races, given that’s the trajectory he normally follows throughout the season. Given he may well be starting to get into the swing of things and he’s no trouble with the ground, he’ll run a big race.
Summerghand is a stalwart and battled hard to claim victory at York on his last start. He won this race last year off 3 lbs less and has a better draw than last year. He still retains the class that won him this race a year ago and he has a fine record on soft ground. He has a lot going for him as he bids to defend another crown. He would be a popular winner.
Vadream hasn’t been at her best on her last three starts but has a fantastic record on softer ground. As well as this, she has some impeccable form, finishing fifth in a Group One at the end of last year. She’s won at a higher level than this and cheekpieces for the first time could help rejuvenate her. She could be an alternative at a larger price than the other two, however, I’d expect that to shorten.
SUMMERGHAND (WIN)
VADREAM (E/W)
written by Kieran McHugh
15:35 Goodwood
Group 2 race here only sees 5 go in this small but select field
Mutasaabeq comes into this as quite a heavy favourite if you look at the Market you can see why with his credentials. Was a head in defeat when at Ascot last time out in group 2 level last time out. If you can trust the clerks of the course these days. The ground is currently soft at the time of writing and if it is soft, he will enjoy the softer conditions for sure. Clearly has a favourite chance judged on his form shown.
Finest Sound is out again quickly after not being too far away at York last weekend. Comes slightly back down in trip where maybe his fine effort he was caught out by the extra distance. Chance if in the same level form but perhaps this has come slightly to soon.
Escobar is a horse that usually runs with credit most of the time. Another who ran over the York festival was unlucky in a handicap race last week. However, he is not one to trust having only won once in 3 years. Looks a hard horse to place and win with. Not as if he is lightly raced either.
Stormy Antarctic is the outsider here but I think that is a little unfair given the fact he is a course and distance winner around here. That was in a listed race and if the ground is soft that's what the ground was when he last won at Goodwood. Shouldn't be dismissed here.
I think Jadoomi will give the favourite something to think about and he is my selection. Came back from a long absence to win a listed race in France on what was described as Heavy going. Will have improved a lot for that run and if it is to believed its soft won't mind the softer conditions at Goodwood. Simon & Ed Crisford here have gone double handed in this race and with Buick on board will only improve Jadoomi chances here. Jadoomi hasn't been out the top 3 in any of his races. So, you'd like to think he would be in contention here and for the value in price i think will give favourite Mutasaabeq a run for his money
JADOOMI (WIN)
written by Luke Tucker