Saturday York 14:30 – Fifth Position
Whats The Story has a habit of running well in these big field handicaps and more importantly acts well at the Knavesmire which for some reason doesn’t suit all horses. A mark of 108 doesn’t leave him with anything in hand though, so one of the more progressive and younger entries has to be the port of call.
Caradoc and Solid Stone have both been well backed in the past week and are respected, but I reckon that the handicapper may well have underestimated FIFTH POSITION.
The son of Dark Angel wasn’t suited to the stop-start pace at Doncaster last time out and yet still won with any amount in hand off a rating of 99.
A 5lbs penalty seems very fair despite this being a race with plenty more strength in depth, but the likelihood of a stronger pace here should be perfect for the selection and I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts close to market leader here.
Saturday Newbury 16:00 – Summerghand
The Group Three Hackwood Stakes offers a mix of former Group One and Two performers against some progressive and in form handicappers.
On his old championship form The Tin Man would be a popular selection dropping in class, but he really needs to get his toe in. I would prefer to back the talented, but fragile Tabdeed with a more than three weeks between races looked a shade unlucky at Newcastle, so the each-way call has to be SUMMERGHAND.
It is hard to get a hand on David O’Meara’s classy handicapper as he normally just does enough from off the pace to put his head in front on the line. That trend continued when he nutted the well treated George Bowen at Pontefract last time out.
With several blaze away speedsters in opposition here, he is sure to get the pace he needs up top to tow him into the contest and he can secure his first Group success with his serious turn of foot.
Saturday Curragh 19:15 – Snow
So what will Aidan O’Brien do? Will he once again use Passion as a tearaway pacemaker or will she be allowed to run on her merits? I believe she should go close here based on her Ribblesdale run if she is given a lead, but that is far from guaranteed.
Stable mate Ennitsymon holds the whip hand over her stablemate and backed that run up with a cracking second in the Epsom Oaks. But, like the impressive winner Love, she had the run of the race that day.
Jockey bookings wouldn’t suggest SNOW is the first or even second choice, but I was hugely impressed by her winning performance on her first attempt at a mile-and-a-half when she glided to victory in the Munster Oaks.
The daughter of Galileo obviously has to take another big step forward here, but there is a bundle more to come from her and she looks the one piece of value left in this famous Classic behind the likely market leader Cayenne Pepper.
Sunday Newbury 16:00 – Themaxwecan @ 6/1
This is the time of the year to follow the Mark Johnston middle distance and staying horses through to the other side of Glorious Goodwood, and despite the claims of the inform Rajinsky and progressive Australis, I believe THEMAXWECAN can defy his mark of 103.
Last a winner off 98 last season, he has continued to improve this year and recorded a career best effort in defeat at Royal Ascot when a strong finishing fourth of 16 to Fujaira Prince in the Copper Horse Handicap over 14 furlongs.
This quicker ground will almost certainly be a plus, as will the extra quarter mile and just below that Ascot run, his two previous best career performances have come on top of the ground over two miles- so, his chance is clear to see in a competitive event.
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Paul Jacobs’ tips summary:
Saturday York 14:30 – Fifth Position
Saturday Newbury 16:00 – Summerghand
Saturday Curragh 19:15 – Snow
Sunday Newbury 16:00 – Themaxwecan
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