2.35 Goodwood
Swift Bounty 5/1
I am very sweet on the chances of Alan Jarvis's Swift Bounty who has shown an awful lot of promise in his 4 runs to date and this 3 year old is very unlucky not to have won at least one of them. After making a highly encouraging debut at Haydock back in September when staying on to good effect over 6f he was definitely unlucky not to win on his 2nd start at Kempton a month later when going down by a nose in a race that has worked out really. Upped to 7f, Swift Bounty sat in behind the leaders before being switched very sharply by Mick Murphy with about 2f to go where he collided with another runner before pressing the winner Birdoliver all the way to the line where he was denied by the narrowest of margins. Given the deficit of defeat, had he not bumped his opponent I think he would have probably gotten up to win but it was a superb run in a defeat and an effort which strongly suggested that he would be better over further. The form of that race looks very strong with the winner subsequently beaten by narrow margins in Group 3s having been sold to the US whilst the 3rd Jodies Jem won his next 2 starts including in a handicap off a mark of 75 and he was last seen going down by a neck off a mark of 80 in January. Swift Bounty's final start as 2 year old came a month later over that same C+D when filling the runner up spot once again with another really good run. A reluctant leader and pulling quite hard for the first couple of furlongs, Swift Bounty sat in 3rd when the eventual winner took up the running and he was caught a little flat footed a couple of furlongs from home when Lilac Tree injected pace off a steadily run race in what proved a race winning move. It took Swift Bounty a while to get going but he was staying on really strongly late on as he eventually finished a 0.75L beaten 2nd. The form of that race isn't overly strong but Swift Bounty made an extremely eye catching handicap debut earlier this month off his current mark of 79 where he was definitely quite unlucky.
Sent off an unfancied 33/1 shot over a mile at Ascot under today's jockey Mick Murphy, Swift Bounty was held up at the rear of the main body of the field and was quite keen early on as the race wasn't run at that quick a pace. He made some pretty smooth progress before finding a wall of horses in front of him at the 2f pole and when he looked set to make his challenge he was again blocked off at a crucial stage which ended his chance. However, he looked full of running at the finish as he picked up 4th spot with a fair amount of ease late on as he finished 3L behind the winner. That winner King Of The Danes reopposes today but he was unchallenged and allowed to dictate things off the front end and was given an excellent ride Franny Norton and with a 6lb pull today I strongly believe Swift Bounty can turn around that form. Additionally, that rival doesn't look like he'll get his own way up front today which should ensure a decent gallop which Swift Bounty should appreciate a lot more than how the race panned out 13 days ago and he should relish the step up to 9f. I think the handicapper has been lenient to have left his mark of 79 unchanged and given that he was sent off such a big price that day I expect him to come on an awful lot for what was his first start in nearly 6 months. Trainer Alan Jarvis's stable is really starting to get going lately and I think Swift Bounty will come here in really good form. The excellent Mick Murphy takes the ride and an invaluable 5lb off and he really seems to ride Goodwood well with 6 wins from just 13 rides and Swift Bounty has a lovely draw in stall 2. If getting a decent pace to aim at, I think Swift Bounty is going to take a huge amount of beating in this contest and I think trainer Alan Jarvis could have a really good day tomorrow and I wouldn't put anyone off having a bet on any of his other runners.