Bonanza blog!

Plenty to discuss this week following on from Ascot with the five-day Glorious Goodwood meeting kicking off on Tuesday, and I’ll be giving a brief trends analysis below of the opening handicap which is being shown live on Channel 4.

Looking back at the past week and there was mixed results all over. The negatives being some of the Top Of The Form horses from the list disappointing, too many five out of sixes on the Placepot, and Orpsie Boy finishing fifth when I was on each-way at 33/1 (top four!). The positives centred around a corking weekend at Southend, which included my wife and I twice leaving the casino richer than we entered it, Mastercraftsman landing me a touch, and Orpsie Boy running well at Ascot.

I was impressed with Orpsie Boy’s powerful finish over 5f on Sunday and having backed it for the Stewards’ Cup at 40/1, I was relieved to see it return to form and make number 23 on the five-day entries guaranteeing a run. Hopefully the ground will stay on the firm side of good – showers forecast, but not heavy rain.


Tuesday 2.15 Bank Of Scotland Heritage Handicap, Channel 4

Championship Point – Bypassed with a low draw.

Emirates Skyline – No top-five finish last time out.

Mr Aviator – Chance, but five Royal Hunt Cup winners lost at Glorious Goodwood.

Eradicate – Yard won this twice but may find this 1m2f too sharp.

Illustrious Blue - Bypassed with a low draw.

Pinpoint - Bypassed with a low draw.

Don’t Panic – Hasn’t lived up to expectations and may need softer ground.

Watamu – Seven-year-old and no top-five finish last time out.

Escape Route – No top-five finish last time out.

Monte Alto – Low draw and no top-five finish last time out.

Levera – No top-five finish last time out.

Gulf Express – Bypassed with a low draw.

Proponent – No disgrace in being sixth of 19 last time over trip too far. Chance.

Humungous – Recent winners have a good record, comes from behind so will need breaks but was runner-up in Mile Handicap at last year’s meeting. Chance.

Kinsya – Fifth of 5 on return not good enough and prefers the mud.

Luberon – Will be a danger blasting off in front, handles conditions and on a winning mark. Yard have won this and do well with runners making quick reappearance.

Minkowsi – No recent outing.

Caravel – My ante-post fancy for the John Smith’s Cup at York but non-runner. Shrewd yard won this four years ago, won around here last year. Chance.

SHORT-LIST: Caravel – Luberon – Humungous – Proponent.



Below are the performance ratings for last week’s races from the book.

Performance ratings

INTERNATIONAL STAKES – Laa Rayb 76

KING GEORGE VI STAKES – Duke Of Marmalade 90

PRINCESS MARGARET STAKES – African Skies 62

HONG KONG STAKES – Toms Laughter 63

PHOENIX STAKES – Mastercraftsman 81



There were plenty of winners from the Top 20 Top Of The Form chart last week, although several from this rolling list misfired, including Kyllachy Star, who I mentioned at York on Friday night, but I hope some of you kept faith with Jaconet who I tipped the previous week.
One race not to have made the Top 20 was a Sandown handicap in early-July won by Main Aim. The winner has since run well, while the third and fourth scored subsequently, making the runner-up Firestreak one to watch for at Goodwood on Wednesday.

Here are this week’s entries:

Aggravation (Thursday – best at Windsor)
Bantry Bere
Berry Baby (Wednesday & Friday)
Bulwark (Thursday)
Diriculous (Friday)
Drawn Gold (Wednesday)
Golden Prospect (Thursday & Friday)
Head Down
Honolulu (Friday & Saturday)
Kyrie Eleison
Many Welcomes
Misdaqeya
On Offer
Opera Prince
Pan The Man
Prospect Court
Quinzey’s Best (Wednesday & Thursday)
Sundowner
Total Gallery (Friday)