The end of July traditionally means Glorious Goodwood and the Galway Races, all week. Plenty of coverage on the blog hopefully, starting off with Calum Madell's look at the opening day feature, the Lennox Stakes. Follow him on Twitter, @calummadell or read his blog for more - TheYoungRacegoer, several other races covered on day one.
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3:05 - bet365 Lennox Stakes (Group 2) (CLASS 1) (3yo+)
If good ground and no rain could be promised then the class act Aljamaaheer would not be a bad price at 11/4. He is the best horse in the race by a decent margin and though hasn’t got the best record in terms of getting his head in front (three wins from 10 but never out of the top four), his last run showed he could win when he deserves to. That was a stronger race than this and I was impressed, though a 4lb penalty wouldn’t make things easy, without doubt he’s the one to beat and there could be more to come too.
Richard Hannon has won this with Paco Boy and Strong Suit in the past six years and has three runners this year, all with at least a chance. I’ve gone all season mixing up Producer and PROFESSOR and now they’re in the same bloody race. Hughes has chosen Producer but I can’t imagine it being an easy decision for him, but it’s the progressive 3yo who gets the vote for me. He is well drawn and has improved a good deal this season. I stuck him up as one to follow after an eye-catching run at Newmarket on his return and he’s duly racked up a treble since. He gets a decent allowance against his elders and is experienced enough to make it count plus the return to 7f could see further improvement. He never settled last year over the trip but did when winning impressively at Ascot this season and this is certainly not out of sight for him.
The other runner is Libranno who needs good ground and has finished fourth and second in this the last two years. He hasn’t been in great form of late though and rain is a negative. There could be more to come from Fencing who plenty feel can potentially become a Group 1 horse one day. He impressed on his return at Ascot and ran okay enough when sixth in the Lockinge latest. He may have been kept for this since and though the step back to 7f won’t hurt, it may not particularly suit either.
Casper Netscher is a fascinating runner, back after failing at stud and now with David Simcock. You’d have to think he’d need this though he has gone well fresh in the past, including winning on his return last year and on debut.
The classy but frustrating Krypton Factor has usually been kept to sprint distances but stayed further when trying the trip at Meydan in 2011. Still he flopped last time when favourite and is just too frustrating to back. Similar can be said of Pastoral Player, talented but doesn’t have the record to match it. He was behind Producer at Newmarket when looking unfortunate again (missed break) but was poor last time in the Summer Mile. A strong pace will suit.
Red Jazz was just behind him at Ascot but overturned the form at Newmarket and then was just in front again when also running an average race at Ascot. He has shown he is still got a place in this class of race but will do well to build on his second in this in 2011 (also eighth the year before).
Boom And Bust won the big Totesport Mile Handicap here in 2011 and ran well again last year though this is a lot tougher and the once talented Monsieur Chevalier just isn’t up to this standard anymore.
Advice – Professor 2pts win @9/1 generally
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3:05 - bet365 Lennox Stakes (Group 2) (CLASS 1) (3yo+)
If good ground and no rain could be promised then the class act Aljamaaheer would not be a bad price at 11/4. He is the best horse in the race by a decent margin and though hasn’t got the best record in terms of getting his head in front (three wins from 10 but never out of the top four), his last run showed he could win when he deserves to. That was a stronger race than this and I was impressed, though a 4lb penalty wouldn’t make things easy, without doubt he’s the one to beat and there could be more to come too.
Richard Hannon has won this with Paco Boy and Strong Suit in the past six years and has three runners this year, all with at least a chance. I’ve gone all season mixing up Producer and PROFESSOR and now they’re in the same bloody race. Hughes has chosen Producer but I can’t imagine it being an easy decision for him, but it’s the progressive 3yo who gets the vote for me. He is well drawn and has improved a good deal this season. I stuck him up as one to follow after an eye-catching run at Newmarket on his return and he’s duly racked up a treble since. He gets a decent allowance against his elders and is experienced enough to make it count plus the return to 7f could see further improvement. He never settled last year over the trip but did when winning impressively at Ascot this season and this is certainly not out of sight for him.
The other runner is Libranno who needs good ground and has finished fourth and second in this the last two years. He hasn’t been in great form of late though and rain is a negative. There could be more to come from Fencing who plenty feel can potentially become a Group 1 horse one day. He impressed on his return at Ascot and ran okay enough when sixth in the Lockinge latest. He may have been kept for this since and though the step back to 7f won’t hurt, it may not particularly suit either.
Casper Netscher is a fascinating runner, back after failing at stud and now with David Simcock. You’d have to think he’d need this though he has gone well fresh in the past, including winning on his return last year and on debut.
The classy but frustrating Krypton Factor has usually been kept to sprint distances but stayed further when trying the trip at Meydan in 2011. Still he flopped last time when favourite and is just too frustrating to back. Similar can be said of Pastoral Player, talented but doesn’t have the record to match it. He was behind Producer at Newmarket when looking unfortunate again (missed break) but was poor last time in the Summer Mile. A strong pace will suit.
Red Jazz was just behind him at Ascot but overturned the form at Newmarket and then was just in front again when also running an average race at Ascot. He has shown he is still got a place in this class of race but will do well to build on his second in this in 2011 (also eighth the year before).
Boom And Bust won the big Totesport Mile Handicap here in 2011 and ran well again last year though this is a lot tougher and the once talented Monsieur Chevalier just isn’t up to this standard anymore.
Advice – Professor 2pts win @9/1 generally
Garswood? :) Got lost on the way to post it seems but that one has my vote. Just.
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