Horrendous day for my selections on Wednesday.
Saddlers Rock would be my clear favourite on another track but with Goodwood being so unique and Saddlers Rock looking so keen, I wonder if he'll be unsettled or tire late on. Therefore I'm prepared to chance LOST IN THE MOMENT 9/1 (3.15) NAP who ought to be absolutely primed for this after two runs over inadequate trips and will have been campaigned to peak towards mid-late season, and now we have reached August we should see an upturn in his form. Opinion Poll is a wonderful horse who is better in soft ground. He was lucky to beat his stablemate last year after he had an unbelievably unlucky trip. Silvestre De Sousa rides him today and I'm concerned because I haven't seen a jockey look so out of depth as much as he has for Godolphin this season. I think his tactical awareness in races where he cannot simply dominate from the front has been poor and I'd like to see him nurse hs horses into a race that bit more and establish a rhythm. However I wonder if he will play to the horses advantage today in the sense that he ought to race more prominently than last year and therefore if he settles well, he won't have any excuses.
He ran an absolute stormer in the Melbourne Cup and looked the winner at 2 out, travelled powerfully and was getting up on the inside. I think had he have held a better position earlier he might have skipped clear and gone very close. He has a big prize in him.
[video=youtube;uoCIKs3PUfE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoCIKs3PUfE[/video]
The Richmond is a seriously poor affair with Ahern being a lot of hype, and I think if you read into Master Of War (NB) a bit more you realise that his 9th at Royal Ascot was a much better run than it sounds and that truthfully he sets the standard here. Strong at the finish and can see him coming late to nab it at the line.
MICA MIKA showed why I hate handicaps today but my interesting handicap runner of the day is undoubtedly 2.15 Pilgrims Rest 16/1 who shaped very well behind Stature last time out and who is beginning to look like living up to a smart pedigree after showing glimpses in maidens last year.