Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Glorious Goodwood and Hamilton Park on Saturday. View selections below.
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GROWL (3.35) drops into a handicap for the first time this season and is well worth an each-way investment in the Qatar Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood.
Richard Fahey’s gelding finished fourth to Dancing Star 12 months ago, despite racing on the wrong side of the track, and with a fresh strip of ground on the far side, low numbers may again hold sway.
Growl hasn’t been able to match strides with Group 1 sprinters this year but wasn’t far behind Harry Angel (sixth) in the July Cup at Newmarket. He blotted his copybook at Royal Ascot when rearing as the stalls opened but that was a rare aberration.
Growl’s last handicap ventures produced a second to Brando in the Ayr Gold Cup and fifth to Librisa Breeze over 7f at Ascot, when he led over a furlong out before fading. Growl is rated 10lb higher than 12 months ago but Connor Murtagh takes off 7lb.
My original fancies, last year’s fourth Raucous, Sir Dancelot and Projection are all drawn very high, which may prove to be a distinct disadvantage.
Of the others drawn low, Hoof It, last year’s winner of the consolation Qatar Stewards’ Sprint Handicap, will be sharper for his belated return in the Scottish Stewards’ Cup at Hamilton behind Classic Seniority.
A clue to the effect of the draw may be gleaned from the aforementioned Qatar Stewards’ Sprint Handicap, in which Fahey saddles four runners.
Ryan Moore is a significant booking for GIN IN THE INN (1.50) and stall four could be another bonus.
The four-year-old opened the season with victories at Ripon and Pontefract, and bounced back to form six days ago at Pontefract (soft) when runner-up to Bossipop.
There are any number of dangers, with stablemates The Wagon Wheel and George Bowen near the top of the pecking order.
Jim Goldie made a successful recent southern raid with Jack Dexter scoring at Ascot and SIR CHAUVELIN (2.25) can take some prize-money back to Scotland with a bold show in the Qatar Summer Handicap.
His gelding has interlinking form with several of today’s rivals and holds Soldier In Action on their placed effort behind classy Chemical Charge at Musselburgh. Little separates Sir Chauvelin and My Reward on their running at Ripon and in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle, and both represent a bit of value against their more fancied southern-based rivals.
The Queen’s Mainstream has hit the bar a few times in big handicaps and will be backed accordingly, while Shraaoh wears first-time cheek-pieces after his third in the Old Newton Cup at Haydock.
KHALIDI (3.00) and Crystal Ocean dominate the market in the Gordon Stakes, with only five runners declared.
John Gosden’s Khalidi made no show in the Investec Derby but fared much better at Royal Ascot when chasing home Permian in the King Edward VII Stakes. Crystal Ocean was back in third, a position he also occupied at York behind Permian in the Dante Stakes.
Khalidi is a previous course and distance winner and that earns him a narrow vote.
There is an interesting Conditions sprint at Hamilton this evening, with locally-trained GLENROWAN ROSE (7.30) bidding for a hat-trick. She scored over course and distance in July before following up on deep ground at Catterick.
Keith Dalgleish’s four-year-old has a bit to find with clear top-rated Alpha Delphini but it often pays to stick with a fast-improving filly.
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Tally Ho
Alan
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