Goodwood host today’s feature meeting and there is a terrific two-mile handicap despite the paucity of numbers with just five going to post. There is plenty of pace in the race and Just Hubert is, arguably, in the form of his life having won his last couple since Nicola Currie took over in the saddle.
The handicapper has only seen fit to raise the 5-y-o by 6lbs for those victories, but I hope to see Indigo Times (4.05) follow up his recent Newmarket victory from a 4lbs higher mark. The selection – 3s with MansionBet – is 8lbs better off with Just Hubert for the 11L he was behind that rival at Ascot last month on ground that was softer than ideal. The selection finished last of six in his sole previous start at Goodwood but that was on soft ground and today’s faster conditions will suit.
There are three £25,000 races on the card and in the 6f fillies’ nursery Calm Skies drops back in trip having been tried over an additional furlong in all three starts. The Godolphin juvenile still holds an entry in the Group 1 Moyglare Stakes at the Curragh this weekend so she must show a fair bit at home, but she is not bred for six furlongs, and she looks short enough in the betting.
Top-weight Adaay In Asia (3.30) has won three of her last four starts including her last couple under Tom Marquand and, although she has been raised 12lbs for those two victories. Harry Dunlop’s juvenile might still be ahead of the handicapper and the 7/2 with Boylesports looks about right.
These are indeed changing times with Windsor hosting a seven-race Tuesday card on good to firm ground.
Olympic Eagle (4.45) was 28/1 on debut but finished a good third at Salisbury behind a well backed stablemate and Hugo Palmer’s Hierarchy who finished third in the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes at the weekend. Clive Cox’s juvenile – 2s with William Hill – looks open to considerable improvement and he gets the vote from his excellent draw in stall two. Rossa Ryan takes over in the saddle.
There are mixed messages from the breeding of Flaunt (6.15) but she looked ready for a step up to 12f when staying on over ten furlongs at Newbury when last seen seven weeks ago. Her powerful connections will be keen to get a win next to her name for breeding purposes and they look to have found a gilt-edged opportunity. Rab Havlin was in the saddle on debut, and he returns to the plate this evening on John Gosden’s daughter of Frankel. The selection is 11/8 with 10Bet.
