Glorious Goodwood - Day Five

Let down by a couple of short ones yesterday so we need a couple of winners today.
Strawberrydaiquiri should be suited by the step up in distance for the Nassau Stakes and I fancy the Stoute trained grey filly to take the Group One.
I was a fan of Long Lashes last season and the drop down to Listed class gives the Godolphin filly a chance of making a winning seasonal debut.
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Glorious Goodwood - Day Four

Three doubles and a treble on three fairly short ones looks the way to go at Goodwood this afternoon.
In the first it is hard to get past Duncan; his second to Harbinger in the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot reads pretty damn good bearing in mind the the latters demolition job in the King George at the weekend and the fact that the third and fourth have won since.
Libranno represents the all conquering partnership of Hannon and Hughes in the Tanqueray Richmond Stakes and is fancied despite the 3lb penalty for his July Stakes victory.
And finally in the Oak Tree Stakes I like the look of Jacqueline Quest, first past the post in the 1000 Guineas (subsequently demoted to second) and third in the Coronation Stakes, a repeat of that form would see the Cecil filly taking the honours.
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Non-runner

Kite Wood has been withdrawn from the Goodwood Cup, reducing the field to ten runners, because of the quicker ground. Frankie Dettori will now ride Wajir for Godolphin.

Gloroius Goodwood - Day Three

Unbelievably tricky at Goodwood today to my mind, should be some great racing to watch but not a day to start having big bets.
I am a fan of Kite Wood, and if you forgive him the poor effort at Ascot, the four-year-old colt is worth an each way punt in the two mile Goodwood Cup.
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Wednesday Review

Canford Cliffs was very impressive and supplied us with at least one win down at Goodwood. I thought Oratory was a little unlucky, the gap just not coming, whilst Crown Prosecutor simply did not get the trip.
The big Slovak Libor Charfreitag did us a favour out in Barcelona launching the hammer 80.02 metres to take Gold.

Hammer On

Over at the European Athletics Championship in Barcelona I think there is a good thing in the Men’s Hammer competition.
The big Slovak Libor Charfreitag - four times winner of ‘Slovak athlete of the year’ no less - has a P.B. over 81 metres and has the longest throw of this season at 80.59. He qualified for the final easy as you like with one throw of 77.70 on Tuesday with his nearest rival Krisztián Pars taking three attempts to lodge a best of 76.48. take the 6-4 available at paddy Power.

Canford Cliffs

Another beautifully judged ride by Richard Hughes on my horse of the year Canford Cliffs. The Hannon trained colt was eating up the ground in the closing furlong and got up close home to beat Rip Van Winkle (and the various O’Brien pace setting helpers) to win a shade cosily in the end even if the official distance is only a neck.
Back on the 15th June I went on record as saying ‘best three-year-old miler end of story!’ the Tagula colt has now taken three Group One races at a mile, Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes against the three-year-olds and today's Sussex Stakes against the older generation and surely now has to be considered the best miler out there full stop.

Glorious Goodwood - Day Two

Anyone who knows me or has visited this site before will not need to ask who I will be backing in the Sussex Stakes. Canford Cliffs has more than confirmed himself as the top three-year-old miler this seasson and I hope he will today prove he can mix it with the older generation also.
The handicaps on the card at Goodwood today are devilishly tricky and there are too many possible unraced good things in the two-year-old maiden fillies stakes to get involved.
Crown Prosecutor is unbeaten in two starts and has every chance of winning the Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes at 2.45. In the lucky last Oratory could give the Hannon/Hughes combination another winner with the drop back to seven furlongs hopefully proving in the geldings favour.
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So Far So Good

50% strike rate at Glorious Goodwood – lets hope we can still say that come the weekend.
Having raced prominently and taken it up turning for home in the Lennox Stakes Dalghar is run down in the shadow of the post finishing a close third behind Lord Shanakill and Cat Junior.
In the Molecomb Stakes Zebedee does the exact opposite coming home like a train on the far side to get up in the last hundred yards or so, actually a shade cosily to my eye, with Richard Hughes taking a sneaky look across at his rivals as they crossed the line.

Glorious Goodwood - Day One

The weather is none to glorious for the start of the big meeting at Goodwood today and the racing is fiercely competitive as the betting markets suggest.
Zebedee has a chance in the Group Three Molecomb Stakes. His only defeat in four starts came in the Group 1 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot when finishing fifth behind Approve. Stone of Folca who finished half a length ahead in fourth opposes again today but I think Zebedee can reverse that form and prove too good for these rivals having won nicely in a Listed event at Sandown since.
In the Bet Fair Cup French raider Dalghar has been backed solidly all morning and must have a chance having put up a fair effort behind the great Goldikova and Paco Boy at Royal Ascot.
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Harbinger

What can I add to the numerous editorials produced down the years concerning the career of Sir Michael Stoute? Probably not a lot but yet again this weekend the Barbados born master of Freemason Lodge stables has stolen the headlines.
The man has trained horses to win all but one of the big races in the flat calendar with over 20 English and Irish Classics to his name as well as many of the most prestigious races around the globe such as the Breeders' Cup Turf and the Dubai World Cup. The missing race is the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe and with Harbinger, following his emphatic King George win, he has a real chance this year to right that wrong.
What can you say about Harbinger, the colt was tackling Group One company for the first time in the King George and barely came off the bridle in scoring by 11 lengths and breaking the course record. You had to be impressed with the four-year-old bay colt at the weekend and all being well he will surely line up at Longchamp as favourite for the Arc, even if the best priced 2-1 that is available at the time of writing seems a little ‘skinny’ over two months before the race.
I understand from reports that Workforce is undergoing examinations to try and ascertain what, if anything was wrong with the colt on Saturday; lets hope he doesn’t turn out to be a one race wonder.
One of my favourite meetings of the year Glorious Goodowood starts on Tuesday, here's hoping we can find a winner or two.

King George Day

After the last few Saturdays here's hoping the weekend curse leaves us alone today.
Can't get away from Workforce in the big one though he will be a shade odds on, if he is as good as he looked in the Derby he will win this.
Haatheq has a Chane to gain revenge on Side Glance in the 3.15 and I think the extra furlong will help the Dunlop colt.
Up at York I like the look of Bushman in the 3.05 although the going might not be ideal, Hawkeyethenoo has a chance in the Sky Bet Dash.
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Tattersalls Millions

Interesting to see the entrants still left in the Tattersalls Millions races after the latest scratchings stage, with connections looking to collect their share of the £1.75 million on offer. Some of the big guns still entered for the races include Memory (current 1000 guineas favourite), Norfolk Stakes winner Approve, Railway Stakes winner Formosina and the only George Washington foal Date With Destiny.
The first of the races is the £100,000 Tattersalls Millions Auction Stakes at Newmarket 28th August with the most valuable of the eight races being the Tattersalls Millions 2YO Trophy to be run at Newmarket on the Rowley Mile course October 2nd worth a massive £500,000.

Silly Season

And so the silly season begins in the run-up to the new football season
Read earlier today at london24.com: 'Harry Redknapp believes Tottenham could win the Barclays Premier League this season.'
When I was little I used to believe in Father Christmas!

Stewards!

I understand that stewards’ inquiries are to be broadcast live on television from the King George meeting at Ascot this weekend and at Glorious Goodwood next week.
Part of Racing for Change's exercise to broaden the appeal of the sport it is one of the few ideas I actually agree with. The idea fell flat somewhat when first trialled at Epsom as no inquiries actually took place. I am not sure whether the occasional racegoer/armchair punter will learn much form the experiment but I do think it will prove of interest to more devoted followers being able to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the processes and considerations undertaken by the stewards in the until now secretive world on the inquiry room - especially if you have just lost a couple quid in a close finish!

King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes - Update

Epsom Derby winner Workforce will face a maximum of just seven rivals in Saturday's King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, eleven horses being taken out at Monday's declaration stage. Sir Michael Stoute also has Harbinger and Confront in the race. Aidan O'Brien has cut his runners to just two with Irish Derby hero Cape Blanco and Derby second At First Sight his representatives. John Gosden has left Dar Re Mi in the field with Youmzain and Daryakana also due to line up.

Irish Oaks

The Saturday curse strikes again with two seconds yesterday!
Over in the emerald isle today we have the Irish 1000 Guineas. It is a tough race with a number of good fillies lining up several of whom are very closely matched on form. Winner of the Ribblesdale Stakes at Ascot Hibaayeb would be my fancy to just prevail over Epsom 1-2 Snow Fairy and Meeznah.
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Super Sprint Day

I am actually going to swerve the Super Sprint and instead go for High Standing in the Shadwell Stakes, 2.15 at Newbury. I also like the look of another sprinter in the shape of ultra consistent Rocket Rob at Newmarket in the 5.15.
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Newmarket Nights

Newmarket Nights are in full swing with Simply Red performing tonight. Unfortunately I can't attend but my old mate Jackie and her man are going along so I thought I would take at look at the racing.
Now if you don’t know me by now, something got me started and even if money’s too tight to mention I will be shooting for the stars - you want a tip? You’ve got it.
The 7.25 looks a decent opportunity for Elnawin to get back to winning ways. Richard Hannon's colt hasn't visited the winners enclosure since winning a Group 3 race at Kempton on the all-weather back in 2008 but has been running well enough in Group and Listed company since and should prove too good in this grade.
The 9.00 is quite a tricky little handicap but King Columbo having finished a close third in his last three outings, including over course and distance last month, appears in good heart. Assisted by one of the better jockeys in the race the chestnut gelding should be thereabouts again and an each way punt would be advised.
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I wouldn’t usually get too involved with midweek evening meetings, let alone two-year-old maidens, but in the Brothers Strawberry Cider E.B.F. Maiden Stakes at Epsom tonight we have one of interest.
Book Keeper has plenty of black type in his breeding and is well worth a small investment to open his account on his debut at a best priced 9-1.