13:45 Goodwood – Pop Dancer @ 13/2
POP DANCER wasn’t a cheap purchase by any stretch of the imagination at 62,000 Guineas for the Richard Fahy team.
He had a perfect prep run at Lingfield last time when just up behind Caspian Queen on the day. That will have put him spot on and drop to the minimum over this slick 5 furlongs looks ideal for him.
14:20 Goodwood – Moyasser
MOYASSER has been particularly well placed by his handler in this Listed contest with an official rating of 104 as he is 7lbs clear on the official figures. He’s had the cruelest cut of all in the gelding operation, but he is blessed with plenty of natural ability. He looks the class act in this particular line-up.
15:25 Goodwood – Bodyline
BODYLINE bumped into a red hot John Gosden performer at Yarmouth just the other day over slightly shorter. The added distance is a massive positive and he raced lazily on his return, so should prove much sharper mentally as well.
He has been put up 3lb for that effort and that surely underestimates the Sir Mark Prescott improver.
15:55 Goodwood – Emissary @ 6/4
Being a half-brother to workforce EMISSARY is always going to have the spotlight on him when he turns up at the racecourse. He had a very pleasing debut at Wolverhampton, hitting the front to pull miles clear of the remainder of the field.
I’m sure connections have one eye on bigger and better further down the line, and he will have to overcome the Gosden runner Celestran here to leapfrog up into tougher company.
14:00 Doncaster – Embour
EMBOUR will need these to go hard now dropping down to the minimum 5 furlongs ,but is ideally positioned up towards the stands side rail.
His reappearance at Wolverhampton was a good effort considering he hung quite badly left in the closing stages but finished off very well. Ryan Moore is in the saddle so expect him to be played fast and late.
14:35 Doncaster – Copper Knight
COPPER KNIGHT has been a real star for connections down the years having been picked up for a mere 5000 Guineas at the sales.
It’s a very tough competitive starting point for a lot of these runners and we have the benefit of a recent outing just eight days ago. Added to that, he relishes good or quicker conditions whereas plenty of the others in the lineup need a slight easing the ground to be at their best. That can swing it in our front runner’s favour.
15:10 Doncaster – Hillwalker
HILLWALKER is another runner that William Easterby has picked up for next to nothing at the Horses in Training sale. He was the more unfancied runner of two stable contenders on his recent start at Newcastle when held up at the back of the pack, but he did stay on in pleasing fashion.
He was the more fancied in a run out of two stable contenders on his recent start at Newcastle when held up at the back of the pack, but he did stay on in pleasing fashion. Given we have the dead eight runners and he has a featherweight on his back at double-digit odds, I can see him getting a slice of the action. He is an each-way player for sure.
15:40 Doncaster – Red Verdon @ 11/4
RED VERDON has been a superstar for trainer Ed Dunlop down the years, running with credit back in his three-year-old campaign up at the highest level.
He is a well-travelled seasoned campaigner, who has been found a perfect starting point down at Listed level. The jockey David Allan gets a good tune out of him and has been let off his retained stables runner to partner this contender, which tells us he’s ready to win on return.
15:00 Leopardstown – Twilight Payment
TWILIGHT PAYMENT has been a cracking performer for another trainer before being switched across to the Joseph O’Brien stable and he has continued that progressive profile at the age of seven.
He was 11th in the Melbourne Cup, but only beaten just over three lengths proving his adaptability for a variety of trips up at the highest level. This is a perfect starting point for what could prove a very productive season.
16:10 Leopardstown – Heliac
HELIAC has been going through the grades nicely and handled with extreme patience by her trainer who has always said she’s going to improve with a winter on her back and could easily make up into a stakes filly.
Although not best treated on official ratings, you would imagine she is nowhere near her ceiling at present. Added to that, the extra distance looks as if it will bring about some more improvement now that she has strengthened again for the absence.
* Prices on our snazzy new bet widget are bang up to date.
Jason Weaver’s tips summary:
13:45 Goodwood – Pop Dancer
14:20 Goodwood – Moyasser
15:25 Goodwood – Bodyline
15:55 Goodwood – Emissary
14:00 Doncaster – Embour
14:35 Doncaster – Copper Knight
15:10 Doncaster – Hillwalker
15:40 Doncaster – Red Verdon
15:00 Leopardstown – Twilight Payment
16:10 Leopardstown – Heliac
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