It is here at last, the clash between two of the most impressive milers we have seen in a long time, albeit in a tactical 4-runner affair! Whatever happens, lets enjoy a great moment for our sport, and hopefully we will see them clash again with Goldikova added to the fray! There are some other very difficult betting heats, hopefully I'll have a better day than yesterday. 2.00 Goodwood: FONT 25/1- With two NH types dominating the head of the market in Spirit of Adjisa and Liberate, I was a bit surprised at the odds of Font, who shaped very encouragingly at Ascot before tiring in the mud late on. With better ground here at Goodwood, I think it can make the frame this time round. A little e/w saver looks likely on Souter Point, who will be spot on after two runs back on the flat and shaping well both starts, travelling as if in need of more of a test IMO. 2.35 Goodwood: ELKHART 12/1 (NAP)- This is a race saturated with Hannon juveniles, yet the form lines are all a little muddling. I'm not sure I really rate Red Duke and therefore that means I have to also rule out Chandlery. I feel Rockinante is the strongest of the Hannon team in the race, and having beaten Elkhart it is understandable that he is shorter odds. However, Mark Johnstons bandwagon has got into full swing and he does exceptionally well at Goodwood. I think Elkhart is absolutely on the up and I'm backing this one to reverse the form with Rockinante and also fend off Lethal Force, who might not have the stamina to see this one out. 3.10 Goodwood: Frankel/Canford Dead Heat!- I cannot split these but I feel Frankel has the edge with the weight difference. Having said that, Canford is proven over course and distance and will be able to track Frankels every move in such a small field. I think it will be a real ding dong all the way to the line. 3.45 Goodwood- GREYFRIAR'S DRUMMER 14/1- Been in at the deep end since its maiden win, twice running in races won by Brown Panther. The handicap mark is beginning to slide however, and with De Sousa booked I think a bold effort is on the cards and this might fair the best of the Johnston quartet, with Sadler's Risk setting some stiff enough fractions up top. 4.20 Goodwood- MY QUEENIE 9/2 Stayed on in what I feel will turn out to be a decent enough maiden at Newmarket, shaping nicely in amongst some well fancied horses (My Queenie sent off at 25/1 that day). Improvement should see it go very close. Have a great day all
4.55 Goodwood Lutine Bell 7/1 I really like the look of Mike Murphy’s runner today, who has been ultra consistent of late without quite getting his head in front. He runs for one of my favourite trainers as his horses always seem to progress. After a successful beginning to his career with Sir Mark Prescott, which included 2 victories and 3 placed efforts ranging from 5f to a mile, he moved to his current yard in November last year where he romped to a winning 6L debut over 7f on the AW. Although winless since then, Lutine Bell has performed with a fair deal of consistency since, performing very admirably in 4 of his 6 subsequent starts. After being raised to a mark of 92 after the 6L victory, Lutine Bell’s mark had remained static at either 92 or 91, until his latest effort has seen him raised to a mark of 94, which I still believe is very much within his ability. After producing a below par 2nd effort for the Murphy yard, Lutine Bell produced a decent 1.12L 3rd behind Angels Pursuit and Seek the Fair Land, again on the AW. On his next start, Lutine Bell returned to the turf and ran out an excellent 1.56L 4th over 6f behind the excellent Horseradish, who subsequently ran a very credibly 1L behind Hoof It off a 4lb mark before being sold to Hong Kong. He was staying on strongly towards the finish, showing that a step up to 7f would be ideal. Perhaps more interesting than Horseradish, was Waffle, who finished only 0.75L behind todays selection. Subsequently, Waffle ran an excellent 2nd to Deacon Blues at Royal Ascot, only narrowly failing by a neck as the line came too soon. In correlation with the form of this race alone, Lutine Bell surely has an excellent chance. However, Lutine Bell has run another 3 excellent efforts subsequently. On 21 May, after a disappointing run at Ascot, Lutine Bell ran finished a good race to finish 1L 4th behind Crown Choice. This was another good run, emphasising the normally excellent standard that Lutine Bell runs to. This effort was at Goodwood which is encouraging as a lot of horses find the undulating track a challenge. After this, Lutine Bell was quite luckless from start to finish when finishing 3.31L behind Dungannon, a horse he finished 0.75L in front of on May 21 with only a 1lb swing in the weights. According to the trainer, “the starter hesitated for a split second before opening the stalls which resulted in Martyn taking the hood off the horse a fraction early. The horse hit the gate and bounced back onto his hocks just as the gate opened” and after meeting traffic, he could not get into contention. Murphy futher cited “We were both thrilled with his run but disappointed as with a clear run he would have won.” Two starts back Lutine Bell ran an excellent race to finish 0.75L 2nd to Piazzo San Pietro. Lutine Bell missed the kick a bit that day and still did a very good job to finish 2nd. LTO, Lutine Bell again found one too good. Facing one of his toughest tasks to date, Lutine Bell travelled ominously well throughout and for the most part cut his way through the field from deep off a mark of 92. However, he met a small bit of traffic along the way and had to be switched. He finished an excellent 0.75L behind Noble Citizen, who has subsequently run a great race to finish 0.75L 3rd behind Bronze Prince in a big race at Ascot off a 3lb higher mark. Furthermore, Macs Power, who is currently 2nd favourite for the Stewards Cup (Lutine Bell also holds an entry but may not get in) finished a length behind todays selection. In conclusion, I think Lutine Bell has a fantastic chance. In my opinion , he is more than capable of winning off this career high mark of 94. This consistent running gelding, under the guidance of Hugh Bowman tomorrow for the 2nd time, should give another excellent showing. It is Bowman's only ride at Goodwood and he has 2 rides at Sandown later in the evening - the first 2 hours later. Although with all hold up performers he will need luck in running with 14 other runners, he has navigated through fields larger than this before. The step up to 7f should be absolutely ideal as he has always been running on at the finish over 6f. With his form franked, off a very manageable mark and for a trainer who always seems to get his horses to improve, I think Lutine Bell should definitely be there at the finish if everything goes to plan. I will have a proper look at the cards tomorrow but Font28/1 was one I put up for Royal Ascot and with Toppy putting it up reaffirms my belief! I also put up Raslan 28/1 LTO and he wasn't given an overly hard race and will have as small play on him too. Final horse so far is Red Duke 11/4 in the Group 2 a 2.35. Is out of the Sire Hard Spun who I have been following closely recently and who won a Group 2 earlier this month beating Chandlery into 2nd.
A few more for tomorrow and I will get write ups done if I can 3.35 Gal Askthemaster 16/1 5.25 Gal Dr Whizz 12/1
2.00 Bowdler's Magic - 14/1 EW Mark Johnston does very well with his Goodwood raiders and I think Bowdler's Magic is the classiest horse in this race. He stays two miles and this is a bit of a step into the unknown but I think they will go at a steady enough pace to allow him to stay this trip. 2.35 Rockinante - 5/1 This horse won the Newmarket maiden that normally works out very well and I think they have put Hughes on the wrong one. If the horse isn't too inexperienced I expect it to win, I just hope he doesn't get into a battle in the final half furlong. I think he will be the best of these in the future, and hopefully he will be today as well. 3.10 Rasjaman - 33/1 I just have a funny feeling about this race, I think they might revert back to Guineas running style on Frankel and I think he might get found out today. Canford Cliffs would be the obvious one to benefit but I don't think we have seen him trying to make up the sort of ground he will have to here. I wonder if Rasjaman's stamina could prove invaluable and they don't send them over for fun. 3.45 Halifax - 11/2 This horse was so eyecatching at Royal Ascot, he travelled like the best horse in the Queens Vase but failed to see out the trip. He steps back down to 1m 4f and I think he looks the one to be with here. I think the mark he has been given should prove fair and I expect him to improve now he is back at a shorter trip. 4.20 Diamond Finesse I backed this one last night, and I see the price has gone on it now. I thought its debut effort was very taking and it will take one that is well above average to come and win this on debut. The Hannon horses look to need to show some improvement to get past the selection too. If Diamond Finesse improves for its debut then its going to be very hard to beat.
Oh and for what its worth, why is everyone calling it the Duel On The Downs? This really infuriates me, its the Sussex Stakes and we have four runners.
Goodwood 1510. Two horses set to clash to set the racing fraternity's pulses into overdrive. Will it live up the hype? My money's on Canford Cliffs, whilst I have great affection for Frankel I can see a mini upset on the cards. The last time I had a feeling like this was in the lead up the 2008 Gold Cup when I really, really fancied Denman to upset the apple cart. I don't think the gun has been put to Frankel's head yet, but it will be today. Will he have an answer when the gauntlet is thrown down or will he buckle??? I can see Canford Cliffs on his quarters till 2f out, Queally on Frankel will kick on, but he'll not surge clear like he has done against his inferior fellow 3yos. No, Canford will go with him, and eat into the lead and overcome him with a final burst 50 yards from the line. Canford Cliffs will slay the beast, the king is dead long live the king! NAP Canford Cliffs 6/4 Bet365
OddDog: Erm, well, the "sticky" solution for not606 is supplied by Filon D'or Adhesives GmbH, a blatant form of nepotism I would agree. The "sticky" is applied by any elder of the not606 family, I would think?
Morning all. I'll be in a meeting during the sussex stakes which is rather frustrating but hey ho. There's a few i fancy today with the main ones being Seaside Sizzler in the first and I agree with Nassau Board on Diamon finesse. Think it looks a lovely filly and have high hopes for her. In the last race i see Fanny may making a handicap debut and again really quite like the look of that one. Good luck all.
Todays NAP is 2.20 Perth Atlanta Falcon go with rest of win lucky 31 2.45 Redcar White Deer 4.55 Goodwood Shamandar 6.40 Leicester Paper Dreams 8.35 Sandown Memory Lane
6.55 Sandown Black Minstrel 11/2 Very interesting runner for Amanda Perrett today making its debut tonight. Very nicely bred by Dylan Thomas and perhaps most interesting of all is Hugh Boman is dashing from one single ride at Goodwood to get here for this race. According to Google Maps it will take 1.15 minutes to drive from Goodwood to Sandown and considering there is only a 2 hour gap between his races he will be absolutely rushing to get there in time - and it must be for a good reason. A fair bit of money around already too so my theory will hopefully pay off.
Its not out of Dylan Thomas, its by Dylan Thomas. Other than that it looks interesting. Good luck with it ROTO
