I was up in Scotland this week near Perth and it was pretty wet, so ground is definitely going to be slow on Sunday. Goodwood as we have seen over the past two days, is already testing ground too.
But, I am going to pick ones where there is no guesswork required on the ground.
13:50 Goodwood – Urban Artist
This is a handicap for fillies and Ice Sprite is a short price for William Haggas and Tom Marquand after a comfy win at Windsor in soft ground. This will be really hard work and she should cope with it fine.
URBAN ARTIST won nicely when grinding it out at Windsor also, she has won a bumper at Cheltenham on soft ground in November – which will always be tougher ground than Goodwood in August.
I just believe she will outstay Ice Sprite in these conditions.
14:25 Goodwood – Louie de Palma
The stalls are on the stand side at Goodwood for this 6f contest meaning Chairmanoftheboard is going to be stuck in the middle of the track coming from stall 1. On the other side is LOUIE DE PALMA drawn in 10, who will be right on the rail.
He horse ran a great race last season at York on bad ground behind Gulliver. There were definitely signs of a revival behind a few of today’s rivals last time and in the conditions, is a very good each-way option with his draw.
It was real fast ground when Chairmanoftheboard ran such a good race at this track in the Stewards’ Cup, but this is very different. Atalanta’s Boy blew the start in the Stewards’ Cup but did win at the track on this ground last year, he is a fair bit higher in the weights though now.
Alaadel is trained by a shrew man in Stuart Williams, keep an eye on the market for a move for him as his pedigree and his form suggests he can revel in conditions.
15:35 Goodwood – Escobar
D’bai was sixth in the Lennox Stakes last time, but prior to that had beaten a few of these at Haydock on slow ground. Happy Power is another who won last time in a weaker race, but was behind D’bai at Haydock as was Snazzy Jazzy.
Snazzy Jazzy has a course win to his name and handles the soft well. Cloak of Spirits ran well at Deauville, but the one that catches my eye is ESCOBAR.
I am putting a line through his last run as it was a muddling race. I was more taken with his run in the Lennox Stakes when hampered and his win at Ascot beating Lord North on heavy ground last year. I reckon he could pull off a surprise in here.
14:05 Perth – Guardia Top
I can’t help but think this could be a bit of a burn up. GUARDIA TOP has blitzed the field a few times and it’s interesting to see how she get on as she is wearing the tongue tie for the first time in this. She faded late on at Market Rasen, but is in receipt of 16lbs here because of her age and that is a massive positive.
Throw in the fact she is back to two miles and that makes her an attractive each-way prospect. Scardura jumped beautifully at Stratford and comes in on back of a comfy win at Taunton over hurdles last season.
Global Tour is up 6lb for a cosy success at Bangor and this horse got on a real roll last season. The thought is he could improve from his first run of the season, so could be more to come.
Lucky Flight won twice at Kelso last year in novices and ran well in a Handicap at Musselburgh, but it’s Guardia Top.
15:15 Perth – As You Like
This is a great race to commemorate Sam Morshead, who did so much for the track when he was clerk of the course. I was at Bangor when Imada won and he bolted up, but he has taken a massive hike in the weights and is up 14lbs!
AS YOU LIKE on the other hand, is only up 4lbs for his success at Southwell. I worry the ground may be too soft for the Young Master, he has had a wind operation and if the ground is not too bad, he really does have to be respected as he is the class act in here.
Amalfi Doug beat Soupy Soups at the track last year when favourite, but had been active before running in the race. This is his first start of the season and it will be tough to make all against race fit rivals.
As You Like could just edge Imada out of it.
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Mick Fitzgerald tips summary:
13:50 Goodwood – Urban Artist
14:25 Goodwood – Louie de Palma
15:35 Goodwood – Escobar
14:05 Perth – Guardia Top
15:15 Perth – As You Like
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