A mixed bag of racing on Saturday with some decent conditions races and a few tough handicaps thrown in.
The Goodwood Revival Stakes 3.20pm is a really tough puzzle with lots of familiar names in the mix, the draw can be crucial as you don’t want to be giving lots of ground away by going round the outside.
In a big field though it’s a tough ask trying ride for luck with the gaps.
Previous course form is a plus here so I’m going to go for a middle-draw runner in REX IMPERATOR who has run consistently this season and won the Stewards Cup here in 2013. The contest could be run to suit him.
Shady McCoy is not drawn well but could be among the places.
Gallop over to all the latest betting on PP.com
The 1m 5f handicap at Newmarket sees the three-year-olds receive a massive 11lb weight-for-age allowance from the older horses and that puts Real Dominion in with a great shout. He made up too much ground too quickly at Ascot in the Shergar Cup and can be forgiven that run.
I am keen on his chances as he looks a stayer in the making. With only 8st 4lb on his back – he has to go well.
I can’t help it but I feel drawn to Mr Singh at Goodwood in the 3.55pm. It’s a wide-open contest but he won the Bahrain Trophy for John Gosden & Frankie Dettori last year and connections felt he was a real St Leger type.
Has been very tame this year but they are persisting with him and Frankie is on board again.
There’s a small but select field for the 4.10pm at Newmarket and Eastern Impact has been keeping pretty good company of late and I can’t forget his great run behind champion sprinter Muharaar over course & distance in the July Cup.
He gets a confident nod in the hands of regular pilot Jack Garrity.
Franked the Form
I have been really impressed with both Clive Cox’s Zonderland and Thikryiaat this season and their clash at Goodwood (4.30pm) in the Group 2 Celebration Mile looks a match on paper at least.
I just favour Sir Michael Stoute’s runner with Paul Hanagan aboard as his second-place finish in the Jersey Stakes reads so well now as Ribchester franked the form with a subsequent Group 1 win in France.