DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
FRIDAY JULY 31
1.50 GOODWOOD
ST MAWES hasn’t had much time to acclimatise to new surroundings and arrives here following an inconclusive set of circumstances in a void race at Wolverhampton last time out but he does harbour a fair amount of ability and a chance is taken on the four-year-old gelding putting some of his useful track experience to good use.
Formerly with Emma Lavelle, who won this race twice with Master Milliner in recent times, presumably this would have been a target for the son of Wootton Bassett had he stayed within the four walls of his previous Wiltshire base but now that job is left in the very capable hands of George Scott, who has been a dab hand with older stayers such as Caballo De Mar and Prydwyn in the last season or so.
Prior to what just turned out to be an exercise canter over just short of a 1m2f at Dunstall Park, he ran well for the second time over today’s track when chasing the useful, Bahadur, home and given that he pulled like a mustang for the thick end of 1m4f, he did remarkably well to keep going in the manner he did all the way to the line.
Clearly, he will need to settle much better than he did here two months ago but providing Ray Dawson can get hold of him early, there is a decent chance he will prove a potent force off what appears still to be a workable mark.
ST MAWES – 1-point each-way@11-1 (five places)
3.00 GOODWOOD
EBT’S GUARD has entered this column probably more times than any horse so far this season, so there is a certain degree of cliff jumping involved, but at the same time, you would be handsomely rewarded backing him each-way each time and it is easy to make a solid case for playing up some of those winnings on him from his favourable inside draw.
Notwithstanding he is nine places better off in the ballot than when he was runner-up in this race last season, the five-year-old has gone on to win at the Shergar Cup meeting, finish runner-up in The Balmoral Handicap, fourth in a Spring Cup, before filling out the same position in the Hunt Cup two starts ago.
His ultra consistent levels of form were rubberstamped with another fine effort at Sandown last time out and if jumps well – which he often does – to get himself handy early doors, he should be in one of the prime positions to strike at the business end.
EBT’S GUARD – 1-point each-way@8-1 (five places)
4.45 GOODWOOD
Dubai Champion catches the eye with Ryan Moore booked and this very pacey juvenile was good on the eye and the clock at Hamilton last time out.
However, he is an exuberant type and has got to travel an extra furlong today and he might be vulnerable to a closer late on and one of the most likely pocket pickers is THE DANCING PIRATE.
Still a maiden, Andrew Balding’s inmate was unlucky to bump into a very useful juvenile in the shape of Stardom Glory at Chester last time out but the speed figure on the Roodee suggested he had run to a very high standard ad it might well be that an opening mark of 84 underestimates his achievements.
Clearly capable of tracking a strong pace over and six furlongs and seeing out the trip well 34 days ago, the son of Blackbeard should have the luxury of tracking today’s likely leader, Dubai Champion over towards the far side, and with the going stick readings favouring those on that part of the track so far this week, he should come storming through to throw down a potent challenge late on.
THE DANCING PIRATE – 1-point each-way@9-2 (five places)
6.00 GALWAY
A popular race with the locals, a slightly watered down version of the Plate if you like, and the suggestion is to have a round of drinks on INTENSE APPROACH and DONNIE DEVITO, two proven horses around the track.
First and third respectively in the beginners chase over the C&D at this meeting last season, the pair look to have been laid out for this race by connections based on their recent runs, yet they appear to have been overlooked by the layers.
The former is easily the classier of the pair, as a previous Grade 2 win over hurdles testifies and he should be primed for this having had a nice little spin on the Flat at Killarney 29 days ago off a long break.
The latter hasn’t raced too frequently since his fine effort here last season, but he has run well on all three occasions, including when a fine third in a beginners chase at Wexford behind the useful Pinot Gris last time out.
Quirky and talented in equal measures, Ross O’Sullivan’s gelding should also be in with a shout with a clear round of jumping.
INTENSE APPROACH – ½ point each-way@18-1 (five places)
DONNIE DEVITO – ½ point each-way@14-1 (five places)