With Glorious Goodwood upon us, and Galway Races already begun, there is plenty to look forward to this week following what was an exciting Saturday of racing, with Pyledriver taking the main event in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
After a ferocious pace was set by three-year-old Irish Derby-winner Westover as he battled Broome for the lead, Pyledriver took advantage in the final stages and swiftly swept to the front, running away with the prize as Arc-winner Torquator Tasso put in a gallant effort to finish second.
Mishriff, having missed the start, rallied towards the end but may have found the trip slightly too far.
Emily Upjohn ran no sort of race, and appeared extremely keen early on which scuppered her chances.
And so it was Pyledriver, the outsider of the field, who took the plaudits, running a marvellous race that was run to suit the popular horse.
Now, attention turns to the south of England, to Goodwood and one of the most anticipated flat meetings of the year.
Star-stayer Stradivarius, a dominant force in this meeting, returns after a year’s absence, in an attempt to regain a prize he has won on four occasions already, the Goodwood Cup.
He is the main attraction on Tuesday’s card, and faces stiff opposition in what is expected to be a hotly-contested race.
GOODWOOD
1:50 – Chesterfield Cup Handicap (Class 2)
Soto Sizzler 12/1 – David Menuisier, William Buick
The first race of Glorious Goodwood provides punters with an interesting handicap to predict, with eighteen runners set to go to post in what appears to be a competitive field.
There are a number of runners worth mentioning, and many with an excellent chance of making the frame.
However, Soto Sizzler gets the nod as the likeliest winner, despite carrying top-weight off a mark of 106, along with West End Charmer.
David Menuisier’s runner will be ridden by in-form William Buick, and will come from stall 10.
He finished fifth when last seen, in a Listed race at Sandown, and will likely be more suited to this challenge back in handicap company.
At Epsom in April he gained success over Achelois, who has since gone on to win a Listed race at York, and gave the Andrew Balding-trained runner 6lbs.
He was subsequently given a rise of 6lbs in the weights but impressed on reappearance once again, finding only Royal Champion better in another handicap at the same track.
The Mastercraftsman gelding has plenty of experience, and could go well again.
Brilliant Light (second choice) has a low draw from stall 2, which could make things tricky if not able to get the best of starts in this big field.
Moktasaab and Legend Of Dubai are both worth mentioning, despite the latter massively disappointing when favorite in the Royal Hunt Cup at last month’s Royal Meeting.
Cap Francais could be an interesting player each-way, but will need plenty to go in his favour as he’s failed to feature the last twice, following a promising run in second in the Deepbridge Handicap at Chester, behind Baryshnikov.
He has been dropped 2lbs by the handicapper, giving him a mark of 96.
On his day he is capable of a big run, as seen at Newmarket in April when he won at odds of 22/1.
2:25 – Vintage Stakes (Group 2)
Holloway Boy 2/1 – K R Burke, Daniel Tudhope
The Ulysses colt was hugely impressive on debut in the Chesham Stakes, where he came out of the pack to take the win at odds of 40/1.
He beat plenty of promising, well-bred two-year-olds there, and will be expected to back it up with another win in this.
Having not been fancied at all on his debut, it’s difficult to know what to make of the colt overall.
But, if able to reproduce anything near his form on that day he will certainly be tough to beat here.
He appeared extremely professional in his attitude and demeanor at Ascot, on such a big occasion and without having experienced such an event before.
There’s plenty that can go wrong with these young, inexperienced horses, but Holloway Boy has proven he is able to deal with the preliminaries well and that certainly is a big positive.
Dear My Friend (second choice) is an intriguing runner having won both of his two starts to date.
On debut he beat Sanks A Million who has since won and followed that run with a visually impressive win over Sol Cayo at Beverley.
He could well be one to watch.
3:00 – Lennox Stakes (Group 2)
Laneqash 10/1 (EW) – Roger Varian, Jim Crowley
In hoping there is some more improvement to come from the four-year-old gelding, Laneqash is the selection in this competitive Group Two, from an each-way angle.
Roger Varian’s yard has been performing better of late, and Laneqash did win a Listed contest at Chester when last seen.
The runner-up in that race, Misty Grey, has won a lower class race since, whilst third-placed Oscula narrowly missed out on a Group Three success in the Valiant Stakes on Saturday.
Laneqash has form which puts him around the same level as Pogo and Kinross, both of whom are shorter-priced for this contest.
He has a length to find with Sacred on the Hungerford Stakes form, but it will be a tough task to reverse form with William Haggas’ filly.
This appears the optimum trip for the favourite, Sacred, and she will surely be tough to beat.
But, Laneqash may represent some value and could go well enough to earn a placed finish.
3:35 – Goodwood Cup (Group 1)
Stradivarius 10/3 – John & Thady Gosden, Andrea Atzeni
The eight-year-old star stayer has been luckless at Royal Ascot in recent years, and was declared a late non-runner in this contest last year following a deluge which made the ground unsuitable for the four-time Goodwood Cup winner.
This year he is set to return in an attempt to regain the crown in a contest in which he has been so dominant.
He is set to be rivaled by Gold Cup victor Kyprios, in a mouthwatering rematch between the two.
At Ascot, the younger contender was sent for home by Ryan Moore when Stradivarius was still attempting to to find a gap in-between runners.
Taking nothing away from the Aidan O’Brien-trained colt’s success, it is unknown whether or not Stradivarius could have won if the gap had opened up for him during those final furlongs.
Many believe the son of Sea The Stars would have won a history-equalling four Gold Cups if he had received a bit more luck, or indeed a better ride from his jockey.
However, there are others who believe Kyprios was gathering momentum and would have pulled away, despite his jockey stating the run of the race didn’t suit his mount.
The truth of the matter is, Stradivarius lost a number of lengths by circling the field to find daylight, rather than staying on the rail, and eventually only lost by three-quarters-of-a-length.
From a mathematical perspective, this would indicate the elder horse would have got the win, but it’s impossible to say for certain.
Most neutrals and general racing fans will hope for a fair race this time around, in which all runners get an equal chance in the closing stages and the best horse prevails.
At the grand age of eight, the entire Strad is still going strongly, but will need to be placed closer to the pace in the early stages and given every opportunity by his rider to show his famous turn of foot.
Perhaps as a youngster he was able to give away many lengths and make them up without much time to spare, but he is older now and his opponents are better.
Coming back against the likes of Subjectist, and rivals he’ll face here in Trueshan and Kyprios, is a much tougher task, and a task he should not be given.
The hope is that by reuniting with Andrea Atzeni the same mistakes will not be made, and he will not be stuck on the rail with his fate in the hands of his ruthless rivals.
If the old boy is no longer the force he once was, then such is life.
But, he still possesses that exceptional talent he has always had, that special something that has captured so many racing hearts, that has made him one of the most popular horses of all-time.
Stradivarius faces one of his toughest assignments yet, but he should never be underestimated.
“There’s many a good tune played on an old fiddle.”
4:10 – Class 2 Handicap
Lihou 16/1 (EW) – David Evans, Hollie Doyle
A fairly consistent horse, the six-year-old often gives a good account of himself.
He gained success at Salisbury in June, in a lower class contest, before finishing seventh in a handicap won by Celcius more recently.
Despite finishing down in the field in that race, he was only two-and-a-half lengths behind the winner and did slightly slow towards the line.
He has been dropped 1lbs for that run, and although he didn’t have many excuses, he is able to perform better and this race could suit.
Dusky Lord and Night On Earth also featured at Newmarket, finishing just ahead of Lihou.
Night On Earth (second choice) is certainly one to consider, as he ran a solo race on the rail and perhaps could have fared better with some cover.
Celsius has been given a 5lbs rise in ratings, which makes his task slightly tougher, but on form he will be the one to beat as he bids for a hat-trick of wins.
GALWAY
6:40 – Mile Handicap
Fastnet Crown 15/2 (EW) – M D O’Callaghan, Leigh Roche
The stable has been quiet of late, with only two runners in the past two weeks, including one winner.
Fastnet Crown often runs well in big fields which puts him in contention here.
He has been given a rise of 5lbs in ratings for his recent narrow win at the Curragh, but could still run a good race off that mark.
Prior to his win last time out, he appeared at the Royal Meeting in the Buckingham Palace Stakes, where he could only manage tenth in a competitive field.
But, if he is at his best on this occasion he will likely make the frame and is one of the main contenders.
He wears first-time cheekpieces which could help.
By Katie Midwinter (25/07/22)
THE CONDITIONAL 