Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up four tips at Glorious Goodwood Day 5 and Newmarket. View selections below.
JOHN Gosden and William Buick have enjoyed a sparkling summer and the dream team are poised to scoop another big prize, this time at Glorious Goodwood, courtesy of IZZI TOP (3.15) in the Group 2 Nassau Stakes.
Gosden slightly clouds the issue by also saddling smart three-year-old The Fugue, but the year-older Izzie Top can extend her unbeaten run to four this season. She bagged a priceless (for breeding purposes) Group 1 event at the Curragh five weeks ago, always travelling strongly in the deep ground before being pushed out to beat Dermot Weld’s Sapphire.
Any rain on the Sussex Downs won’t inconvenience Izzie Top, but it may not suit stablemate The Fugue quite so well. She was thumped six lengths on rain-softened ground in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot following a most unfortunate run in the Oaks, when she was almost brought to her knees in a barging match at the top of the hill, but still ran on strongly into third.
Having followed the unlucky-in-running Hawkeyethenoo over the proverbial cliff this season, it is with some trepidation that he is passed over in the Blue Square Stewards’ Cup in favour of VICTOIRE DE LYPHAR (3.55), who sneaks in at the foot of the handicap. Dandy Nicholls traditionally strikes form when Glorious Goodwood comes around and Victoire De Lyphar showed some of his old dash at Hamilton 16 days ago when chasing home Colonel Mak. My selection was beaten just over seven lengths when finishing in the ruck behind winner Hoof It in last year’s Stewards’ Cup but has since dropped 9lb in the ratings.
In a tricky little Conditions event at Newmarket, DANCE AND DANCE (4.05) can confirm form with Bridgefield, who he trounced at Doncaster last month, despite an 11lb turnaround in the weights. Tazahum may be the chief threat.
Local trainer William Haggas has snapped up Frankie Dettori to ride top weight CAPE CLASSIC (5.15) in the concluding six-furlong handicap. The four-year-old hasn’t been spotted since whipping a big field at Windsor in late May but is a model of consistency (only once out of the first four places in 10 starts). There may be even better to come.
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Tally Ho
Alan
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