I'll leave Private Secretary at a shade of odds-on today. He was left in the Derby but connections have said it's unlikely he will run there, adding that only something really special today would give him a chance of running at Epsom. He was 200/1 for the Derby and then cut to 66/1 when he was left in the race. As the news spread, he was cut again to 33/1 and it looks like anyone who took the fancy odds has a dead ticket now. Obviously improvement is possible and the betting suggests it is guaranteed. If he wins well the best of luck to him but he's not for me at the price.
As JH says, Fifth Position beat Space Blues last time and that form got an uplift when the Godolphin horse won a handicap despite having to come right across the track to get a clear run. On the downside though, Space Blues was conceding 7 lbs to Fifth Position and probably didn't stay on the softer ground at Nottingham, whilst enjoying the faster ground and drop to 7F the next time when raising his official mark from 93 to 103.
Persian Moon has some decent form in the book with the pick of his efforts at 2YO probably his 3rd to Phoenix Of Spain in the Group 3 Acomb stakes. He has two thirds to his name this season, one behind Bangkok in the Classic Trial at Sandown and the other in UAE Jewel's Listed win at Newmarket. Both of the colts who won those races have their supporters and Bangkok is headed for the Derby. Technician let down the Classic Trial form when disappointing next time and Walkinthesand didn't do a lot for UAE Jewel when down the field at Sandown last night, so both colts need a decent run from Persian Moon to bolster their form. Top rated in the race Persian Moon is a big price at 9/1 but he's drifted out from as low as 9/2 and that looks a worry.
Alfaatik also ran behind Bangkok and he has less miles on the clock than Persian Moon. His rating is similar to the favourite but is he here to put the pace to the race for his stablemate? 7/1 does not appeal to me.
I decided to stick a farthing on rank outsider Spanish Mission at 33/1. He has won a race and has some potential to improve a little. 5th in a Kempton race over a mile that formed part of the "Road To The Kentucky Derby" series that, for me anyway, has as much relevance as a half-set jelly dildo on a hot summer's day, he didn't run that badly. This will be his first time on turf and the extra distance should help. Goodwood can be a quirky track so I'll hope for an upset. He's priced as if he has a hopeless task today but on the form so far there is not a lot between him and most of these so for the sake of a small bet "Go on the rag!"
3.30 Goodwood Spanish Mission 33/1
Probably Mission Impossible but hey ho.
