The Goodwood 2:25 ticks quite a few boxes. It looks easy to cut it down to just a few possible and the field is not too small (probable lack of pace) or too large (probable traffic trouble for hold-up horses). The Ian Williams yard is hardly banging in the winners of late (4 winners in the last 40 runners, 2 the same horse) so expensive import
Sheradann needs to show more before it can be considered in a valuable handicap. Old by
Euchen Glen has won once since 2021 but continues to run consistently and is no forlorn hope for a place. I think that the handicapper may have
Tides Of War in his grasp as he won over course and distance off 85, his highest winning British mark, but he was third in this last year off 95.
Forza Orta has been running mostly over 2 miles and not troubling the judge so he may have his work cut out today.
Ayyab won here on her penultimate start and was a respectable sixth in a Listed race when last seen but would need a career best to supplement her two wins to date. Always be wary of a Prescott runner but
True Legend has not won for a year and was beaten over course and distance by
Tides Of War two starts back.
Intinso is an interesting runner as an argument can be made for him if one is prepared to ignore his last place finish in the Copper Horse in a tongue tie that is now discarded.
Dancing In Paris certainly has plenty going for him on recent form, including an Ascot win under today’s pilot, but the yard’s form has dipped and would he prefer easier ground? Hurdler
Mr Freedom has plenty going for him having won both his flat starts in 2024, one at this track, so he should go well at generous odds. There are still big question marks against the form of the Charlie Johnston yard, with only one winner and one runner up this week from a huge number of runners at Goodwood.
Knightswood is a long time without a win (two wins at Ripon last June) and was well beaten on his only previous trip here.
Align The Stars certainly has the form in the book to compete here, coming in on a hat-trick and could well be the pace angle here as he won at this trip last time having been in the first two the whole race. Lightly raced
Great Bedwyn has won three of his nine career starts, including last time, and looks quite adaptable tactically so definitely makes the short list. However, I like
FAIRBANKS, winner of five of his eleven starts, who stepped up to this trip last time under today’s jockey in a race where
Knightswood and
Tides Of War finished behind. The handicapper has raised him 6lb but I am not sure that will anchor him.
The non runners have made the Lillie Langtry (3:00) a little easier to sort out. Of the eight remaining at the time of writing, there do look to be a few that are optimistically chasing black type.
Night Sparkle has contested a couple of Group 3 races since stepping up from handicaps but was behind
Terms Of Endearment at York with
River Of Stars behind them both. The Irish mare has not been seen since York but the quick ground would be a concern with her whilst
River Of Stars followed that race with a Pontefract Listed win.
Dancing Tango followed up a second in a Group 3 race with a well beaten fifth in the Curragh Cup. Although she is 3lb better off with
Grateful for that half length second, one might expect the three year old to be the more likely to improve and both would need to career bests today. The first issue with the French raider
Melo Melo is the quick ground, which she has never encountered. The obvious career best performance was second in the 2023 Prix Vermeille, previous to which she had won a Group 2. So she is up to the required level if the going does not prevent her giving her best. The mare
Caius Chorister has worked her way up from handicaps and won a St Cloud Group 3 last year. She just failed to catch Coltrane in the Sagaro and just gave second best to Sweet William in the Henry II, who both finished in front of her in the Gold Cup. So on the evidence of those two runner-up spots, she may not be seen early and her backers will be more intersted in the final furlong.
FREE WIND was odds on favourite for this last year and came unstuck in the heavy ground (
River Of Stars was second) but was subsequently second in the Yorkshire Oaks with Bluestocking behind. When last seen, she was well beaten by the improved Bluestocking but given her hold-up style of running, I do not expect to see her until the business end of the race. So the question here becomes who is going to make the running and at what pace? At the moment I am thinking it will be Night Sparkle, so Oisin Murphy might be trying to steal this from the front.
I am hoping that it is going to be a good day for American owner/breeder George Strawbridge.
You can scratch
Dream Composer in the Stewards’ Cup as I have drawn it in the ITV7 sweepstake.
