1pt e/way El Bufalo (104) – The selection raced prominently and looked to have every chance when challenging a furlong from home. Unfortunately, he couldn’t get past the winner going down by a half length at the line. It was another decent effort and he should be able to open his account on the turf this season. Result 2nd 7/2, 10/3 adv…5/1 SP.
0.75pt e/way Bomb Squad (103) – Another solid performance from the selection who tracked the leader and kept on all the way to the line to finish third beaten 2.5 lengths. A return to 7f should see him win again soon. Result 3rd 4/1 adv…7/2 SP.
Today’s Advice
INVOLVEMENT (9f 197y Lst) – The (4.17) Goodwood looks an interesting contest with a few involved that like to get on with things. Short price favourite Haatem falls into that category and this looks a nice starting point for last year’s Wolferton Stakes winner considering he hasn’t been seen in 286 days. I’m sure the Richard Hannon team have bigger prizes in mind going forward than today’s and with Boiling Point and Naqeeb in opposition we should get a truly run race. Last season’s Robin Hood Listed Stakes winner over the mile at Nottingham, Ice Max, looks the obvious one to focus on and he stepped forward from his seasonal debut with a solid third place finish over 10f at Chester. He raced keenly in midfield and kept on at the finish behind two higher rated rivals in Epsom Derby winner Lambourn and Bay City Roller. That was his first attempt at the longer trip and we have yet to see if this will be his preferred distance going forward.
The selection looks like he has taken his form up a notch since being gelded and really stepped up on seasonal debut with a stylish handicap win at Meydan back in March. He was held up in rear, and having made decent headway over a furlong from home won going away at the finish. A third place finish at Longchamp in the Prix Jacques Laffitte was another solid performance in a race that was the fastest on the card on the day behind the Andre Fabre trained Casapueblo. He raced in rear once again and went down by a length and a half at the finish having made decent headway on the outside over a furlong from home with UK challenger Liberty Lane back in fifth place. A former 10f winner at Newmarket he should cope with today’s undulations and the faster they go up front the better his chances. The stable have been a bit quiet this month with just 2 winners, but it was a nice boost to see West Wind Blows put it up to Kalpana last weekend at Newbury.
DREAM COMPOSER (5f Hcap) – The Tony Carroll magic was in full display at Ripon last month as this eight-year-old won on stable debut having dropped 21lb in the handicap since last season. The selection pressed the leaders on the outside before leading over a furlong from home and seeing off the loveable veteran Copper Knight by three quarters of a length. Connections will be attempting to replicate their recent success with Justcallmepete who won four races this past winter having been rejuvinated by the Worcestershire based maestro. The handicapper has put the son of Dream Ahead up 5lb for today’s (5.27) Goodwood but considering the (110) timefigure recorded at Ripon last month, and the fact that he has won over course and distance in the past, it would be no surprise if he was to go in again today. Dougie Costello, who was on board for all of Justcallmepete’s wins for the stable, is on board once again and the Peter Clarke Racing Partners team (who own both horses) will be hoping the winning combination can remain a step ahead of the handicapper for a while yet.
0.5pt e/way Involvement (16/1 general) 4.17 Goodwood
1pt e/way Dream Composer (7/2 general) 5.27 Goodwood