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Bet 365 Lennox Stakes preview

Bet365 Lennox Stakes
Group 2, 7f
Glorious Goodwood

by Sam Preen, @sampreen, originally published here

Amarillo
Form; 28-191. Jockey; Adrie de Vries. Trainer; Peter Schiergen.

I tried so hard not to make an “Is This The Way To Amarillo” pun… Making his fourth trip to the UK to tackle a Group race, he heads here with a stylish Group 3 win under his belt (6f, good). The step back up to 7f will go in his favour, as with the current ground conditions, but if the rain should fall, he’s best left alone, as he last won with soft in the going back in 2012.

Boom And Bust
Form; 225-96. Jockey; Martin Dwyer. Trainer; Marcus Tregoning.

Not the force of old, Boom and Bust heads here after running in a Listed event at Chester, which saw him finishing a staying on sixth, two lengths behind Glory Awaits. A Betfred Mile winner in his prime, he’s been winless for nearly two years, and has been running over a variety of distances as of late. Fairly interesting that connections have opted to reach for cheekpieces so late in his career.

Es Que Love
Form; 23903. Jockey; Adam Kirby. Trainer; Clive Cox.

Started life for Mark Johnston until March of this year, but since his Kempton win over a year ago, he’s racked up a handful of places, but no win. He showed a hint of his old self when third int he Hackwood Stakes, a short head third behind Heeraat (6f), but usually finds a few too good over this trip of 7 furlongs. Certainly warrants some respect on the back of that run, but must show it’s not a fluke now stepping back up into Group 2 company.

Garswood
Form; 63-542. Jockey; Ryan Moore. Trainer; Richard Fahey.

Last year’s winner, Garswood, teams up with last year’s winning jockey, Ryan Moore. After winning this last year, the pair ran some creditable races, including when third to Moonlight Cloud (looked set for second, but we all know how stunning Moonlight Cloud was in last year’s Prix de la Foret). Most likely needed the run on his comeback at Sandown, but ran much better when dropped in trip at Haydock, and again when second to Gregorian in the Group 3 Criterion Stakes on his ideal soft ground. Connections have opted for a visor to replace the blinkers seen last time, and still warrants much respect on his attempt at making it back to back wins.

Glory Awaits
Form; 46-071. Jockey; Jamie Spencer. Trainer; Kevin Ryan.

Glory Awaits once came second in a Classic, once upon a time, you know? Unfortunately, that was just a one off, and he was last seen winning a more realistic target of a Listed event at Chester over two weeks ago. This is a race that isn’t completely out of his reach, and looks capable of running into a place, especially if his last run is anything to go by.

Gregorian
Form; 86-153. Jockey; William Buick. Trainer; John Gosden.

Surprisingly, Gregorian drops down back into Group 2 company, after finishing a creditable length and a half behind Slade Power in the July Cup. Last seen over this trip when coming out on top in a battle between himself and Garswood in the Criterion Stakes, but has yet to win on two visits to Goodwood. Certainly does look capable of changing that, particularly if some significant rain should fall between now and then.

Here Comes When
Form; 40-150. Jockey; Jim Crowley. Trainer; Andrew Balding.

Made a promising return to action, when smashing Abseil by five lengths at Chester, but has twice been put in his place since then, by Penitent in a Group 3, and was terribly disappointing under Oisin Murphy in the Royal Hunt Cup. He’s never fared well in Group races, and definitely looks up against it here.

Professor
Form; 432201. Jockey; Sean Levey. Trainer; Richard Hannon.

Yet again, Hannon saddles three, and Professor looks an interesting runner, despite jockey bookings. Useful rider Sean Levey gets the leg up, and the pair ended up in the winners enclosure last time out, landing a fair Class 3 at Haydock. A dual Listed winner in his prime, his standout race is second in the Wokingham, when a length and half behind Baccarat, but first in his group of nine. Warrants respect on the back of that run, and looks capable of sneaking into a place if he’s capable of repeating that under Sean.

Anjaal
Form; 114-50. Jockey; Paul Hanagan. Trainer; Richard Hannon.

Won his maiden at Beverley last June, before following up with a stunning effort in the July Stakes, before capping off his season with a fair fourth in the Dewhurst, over this trip. No match for stablemate Toormore in the Craven, and was soon beaten in the Jersey Stakes when last seen. Faces a terribly stiff task now upped to a Group 2, and very hard to fancy.

Toormore
Form; 11-176. Jockey; Richard Hughes. Trainer; Richard Hannon.

Followed up last seasons hat trick with a comfortable win in the Craven, beating future Group 1 winner The Grey Gatsby by two lengths, but twice flopped at the highest level, in the 2000 Guineas, and the St James’s Palace Stakes. Drops down to a more realistic level, and having won over course and distance last year, it’d be very disappointing to see him out of the placings.

Conclusion; Toormore should take some beating dropping down to a more realistic level, but it’s hard to look away from last year’s winner Garswood. There’s plenty to pick from for each way punters, and I’ll be siding with PROFESSOR over last year’s 2000 Guineas runner up Glory Awaits. The former has a good record with jockey Sean Levey (two wins and a third in three starts), and is fairly versatile when it comes to ground. He comes here off of the back of a win, and wasn’t far away in last year’s race when rallying close home after being blocked off close home. That and his run in the Wokingham should see a bold effort at a potentially nice price.

Professor @ 10/1

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