I gave the last day of not-so-Glorious Goodwood a miss. Rather annoyingly I missed the first winner at Doncaster (Green Monkey at 4/1) because it was 9/4 in the morning betting, which was too short, but the Tyke dunces on Town Moor obviously did not fancy it.
One that will be worth watching for in the future is Godolphin’s Newmarket winner Urban Dance, now unbeaten in three starts and blessed with an impeccable pedigree.
Highlight of the Sunday racing is across the Channel at Deauville: the Prix Maurice de Gheest. British champion sprinter elect Lethal Force is chasing the big Group 1 pot over six-and-a-half furlongs on ground that will not be riding fast. The home defence is led by the horse that has won the race the last two years, Freddie Head’s Moonlight Cloud. Punters should take heed: if you fancy Moonlight Cloud take the price with the British bookies because on the PMU in Normandy she is likely to start short odds. Whoever does the betting forecast in the Racing Post has incorrectly surmised that Lethal Force will be favourite – the French do not back foreign raiders.
Nearer to home, in the six furlong sprint at Chester (3:05), I am interested by Cincinnati Kit, who I opposed last time over five. The step up to six is a bit of a concern on the turn at this track. If it gets beat out of sight today, you will know that I decided to risk it!
The Listed race at Newbury (3:50) appears to largely revolve around favourite Songbird, unbeaten in two starts but not seen out for nearly two months. She holds an entry in the Yorkshire Oaks so she would be expected to win this comfortably if she is going to keep an appointment at the Ebor meeting. Last time she collected a three-runner event at Yarmouth without turning a hair and the extra furlong will be no problem. I am, however, going to oppose her. Luca Cumani’s filly Kikonga easily collected a nine-runner Ascot handicap last time and I see no reason to believe that she is not up to Listed class if Lady Cecil’s filly disappoints.