Racecards
14:10 Goodwood
Bank Holiday Handicap (Class 3)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 6f
- Going: Soft (Round Course: Good to Soft)
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Winner: £6,476
- 2nd: £1,927
- 3rd: £963
- 4th: £481
- Form 060-180
- Age 4
- Weight 9-11
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer H & R Charlton
- Jockey S J Drowne
made all centre, ridden over 1f out, driven and ran on strongly final furlong, unchallenged
- Form 40-1783
- Age 5
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer J R Jenkins
- Jockey P Robinson
chased leaders, hung right over 2f out, stayed on to challenge for 3rd over 1f out, one pace inside final furlong
- Form 30-0409
- Age 5
- Weight 9-9
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer J R Boyle
- Jockey Dane O'Neill
cheased leaders, ridden over 2f out, went 3rd over 1f out, no impression when outpaced to 3rd post
- Form 005-180
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 87
held up in last pair and off the pace, pushed along halfway, ridden and no response 2f out, soon eased, tailed off
- Form 81-1100
- Age 5
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 79
chased winner until inside final 2f, weakened quickly over 1f out
- Form 001611
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 82
dwelt and went left start, held up and off the pace, smooth headway over 2f out, went 2nd inside final 2, ridden and no impression over 1f out
- Form 0-70047
- Age 8
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 79
held up in last pair and off the pace, pushed along halfway, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 3rd close home
Verdict
Soft ground is no problem for Definightly and he would be a major threat to all if taking to the headgear whilst Aye Aye Digby also has enough form in the book to be feared if cheekpieces reverse his fortunes. Spitfire is worthy of close consideration as the ground has come in his favour and he looked to be on the way back when third to a decent sort at Yarmouth but the percentage call is to side with SLIP SLIDING AWAY as Harlech Castle has to prove that he can reproduce his all-weather form on turf and Palisades Park and Seamus Shindig that they can run up to their best on soft ground. Slip Sliding Away has done nothing but improve since joining Peter Hedger and he won with sufficient authority over course and distance to believe that a 9lb rise in the weights won't scupper his bid although he has yet to encounter soft ground.
Formwatch
Definightly 12-1 (9-6) Dwelt, always behind, 14th of 16, 16l behind Poet's Place (9-3) at Haydock 6f hcp 0-95 (3) gs.
Spitfire 11-1 (9-6) Keen, tracked leaders, ridden and slightly outpaced over 1f out, rallied inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Harry Patch (9-6) at Yarmouth 6f hcp 0-95 (3) gs.
Aye Aye Digby (IRE) 9-1 (9-10) Mid-division, edged left 3f out, effort 2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 10, 11l behind Woodcote Place (9-4) at Epsom Downs 7f hcp 0-90 (3) gs.
Palisades Park 50-1 (8-5) Held up, never a factor, 19th of 20, 16l behind Fireback (8-1) at Newmarket 6f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jul.
Harlech Castle 25-1 (9-13) Outpaced and detached, last of 13, 34l behind The Confessor (8-12) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-90 (3) fbs.
Slip Sliding Away (IRE) 15-8fav (9-5) Held up, headway 2f out, led inside final furlong, ridden and ran on, won at Goodwood 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gd beating Speak The Truth (9-6) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Seamus Shindig 7-1 (9-2) Close up, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 11, 6l behind Tyfos (9-6) at Newmarket 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gd.