WE move on to day 3 of Glorious Goodwood, and even if the weather is not quite as lovely as many punters were hoping for the show must go on regardless of a bit of rain. And we kick off the card with a three year old handicap where I am keen on the chances of Roger Charlton's High Shields. A winner here 2 starts ago in taking manner, value for more than the winning margin, High Shields was then stepped up in trip at Ascot the last day and perhaps found that trip a touch too far. However, he still ran well to take 4th, only losing third late on when stamina ran out, and back down to 10 furlongs, with Dettori booked for the ride, I am hoping High Shields can continue his progression.
A mention must also go to Dwight D in the opener race. Very few horses managed to overcome a slow start to win during the July Festival and Dwight D wasn't one of them. In fact he had an awful start and every worse luck in running but still managed to get placed in the race which is a decent effort. If things had worked out a little better he could have perhaps even won, although that might be stretching things, but anyhow he could still be on a very workable mark if things go a bit better at the start and in running here. Connections had deemed him worthy of a race in a classic trial earlier in the season so think a bit of him and as I say there could be room for manoeuvre off his current rating.
We then move on to the Richmond stakes, a two year old race that looks pretty hot to me, despite the small field size. And the one I'm keen on here receives 3 lbs from Mehmas, the horse with the most experience to date, and we saw on Tuesday with War Decree how useful receiving weight can be as he won the 2 year old race that day very impressively. Blue Point is my fancy here. He made a winning debut at Nottingham and that form has since been advertised with winners coming out of it . Then next time up he routed the field at Doncaster in a novice stakes, literally winning as he liked by half the track. The youngster could not be in better hands as he is ridden out most days by Derby-winning jockey Willie Ryan and this race looks like it has been the target all along given that progressive race planning. I think he could be a very special horse and fancy him to take this race.
The big race of the day is off at 3.10 and it's the Goodwood Cup, a staying race over 2 miles, and I'm going for the older generation here in the shape of Sheikhzayedroad as an e/w betA lot of the field have a great deal of soft and heavy ground form to their names and I'm unsure if this firmer surface will suit them, where as Sheikhzayedroad has run well at Goodwood and on good and firmer going in the past. It's unlikely he has a great deal of improvement to come off his mark, hence I think there is every chance he will find one too good, but at the prices I really quite like him as an each way bet in the race. He stays, won't mind the ground, acts on the course and ticking those boxed whereas you couldn't say the same for certain with a lot of the other runners, makes Sheikhzayedroad an each way bet for me.
In the 4.20 I'm keen to side with Amabilis, a once raced horse from the Ralph Beckett yard who seems to have his string in fine order recently. Fran Berry takes the ride here and reading his column on Sportinglife he mentions that this race has been the long term plan for this filly. Her debut run at Newmarket was very encouraging, she was a touch keen early but was running on really well in the latter stages of the race and can be expected to come on a bundle for that experience. This trip looks ideal and I think she can make use of a decent enough draw in 6 to shed her maiden tag.
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