Luvyourracing

Emit can pour it on in the Ebor

York selections Saturday 22nd August

All too soon we reach the final day of four at York and today should be the best day weather wise of the week. It also looks the most exciting from a punting perspective, highlighted by the big betting race of the week, the Ebor. I have two selections for the big race, but have also looked at two of the other big handicaps on an ultra competitive card. Blue Courvoisier kept up the good week when winning the opener on Friday’s card (advised 8/1), whilst Say What You See was placed for the each-way bet (advised 12/1).

York 2.25: Mythical Bay

It has certainly been Andrew Balding’s week so far on the Knavesmire and he can achieve another big race win through MYTHICAL BAY in the Melrose, a race the stable won last season with Tarriance.

This horse ticks all the right boxes given he is already a winner at this 14f trip, when just touching off Magnetude at Newmarket, despite idling in the closing stages. Prior to that he had won on good-to-soft at Newbury, this time with far more comfort, so there are no stamina or ground issues as far as this gelding is concerned.

He is also improving dramatically, that win over Magnetude avenging an earlier defeat against the same horse at Chester in May. Given the stable form he does seem a sensible each-way angle.

York 3.35: Emit & Klassleader

Another classy Ebor featuring several horses usually too highly rated for handicaps and verging on group class.

That is certainly the case with EMIT who won a listed race at Gowran last season before a pair of Group race seconds in France in the autumn – both on ground with plenty of cut. His third place to Scandinavia at Navan in the spring reads well over this trip and he is definitely a strong stayer at 14f.

His last two runs have been his first two in handicaps. Firstly he was a staying on fourth at the Curragh, probably coming from too far off the pace, and then things happened just a bit too quickly over 12f at Royal Ascot. The short finishing straight did not allow enough time for his stamina to come into play of the quick ground. However 2f extra, slightly slower ground and a longer run-in all look likely to see him in a better light.

KLASSLEADER is completely unexposed and deserves another chance back on some slower ground. Beaten in two fast ground novice events at the beginning of his career, he got off the mark on slower ground at Ffos Las before a promising second at Haydock completed his opening campaign, that run confirming his ability to stay 14f.

He was very well backed for his return here at the Dante meeting and justified that optimism with a classy win over 12f, seeing off the same horse that beat him at Haydock, Sing Us A Song. He blew out in the Old Newton Cup at Newmarket last month, but seemed all at sea on the fast ground. His breeding,by Lope de Vega out of Klassique is all soft ground, so the dig still remaining in the York turf will surely see him back to form today.

York 4.10: Far Above Dream, Flash Harry & Coul Angel

Hot favourite Dance in the Storm looks a ridiculously short price for a horse that has never run over this short and as such I am going to chance my arm with three bigger priced horses.

First choice would be FAR ABOVE DREAM who has caught the eye with the way he travelled in both the Wokingham and Stewards Cup before not quite finding as much as expected off the bridle. However his stamina might just have been ebbing at Ascot, whilst he got a bit isolated on the near side at Goodwood and I thought Kieran Shoemark kicked for home about 100 yards too early.

He won on heavy ground at Goodwood last season, so hopefully he will cope with slightly slower ground today. I also think this flatter track might seem him to better effect and if Shoemark can be a little more patient, Far Above Dream can gain due reward for his summer efforts. I think he might be drawn favourably in the centre.

FLASH HARRY is a huge price, but there definitely were signs of a return to form when ninth in the Stewards Cup last time, despite stumbling at the start. He looked very promising last season, winning twice, including at Goodwood and he looks a pacy sort over 6f which should be good for this fast, flat track.

Indeed his pilot in the Shergar Cup overdid things on him last season when trying to make all over this 6f distance before fading in the final 100 yards. He did not show too much in his first two starts of this campaign, but I was encouraged by his Stewards Cup effort and if he can handle this slightly slower ground, his current price is an insult. Horses have often come near side for the final day at York, so his high draw could prove more advantageous than normal here.

COUL ANGEL has a more obvious chance based on his last run where he ploughed a lone furrow down the near rail, almost to maximum effect when beaten only by Stratusnine in the Sky Bet Dash. He had already run well at both Windsor and Newmarket this season and seems best coming from off a strong gallop.

That should happen here and he happens to be drawn 20 of 20 so another stint along the near rail could be in the offing. That might be more beneficial today as discussed with Flash Harry. He has only raced once on softer going, but was a good second at Windsor on that occasion, so should have no issues with the going, though it will be drying by race time.

Recommended bets:

1pt each-way – Mythical Bay – 2.25 York – 6/1 general (1/5 odds 1st 5)

1pt each-way – Emit – 3.35 York – 11/2 Unibet (1/5 odds 1st 6)

1pt each-way – Klassleader – 3.35 York – 15/2 Unibet (1/5 odds 1st 6)

1pt each-way – Far Above Dream – 4.10 York – 18/1 William Hill (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 5)

0.5pts each-way – Flash Harry – 4.10 York – 66/1 William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 5)

0.5pts each-way – Coul Angel – 4.10 York – 18/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 5)

Let’s Build on this week’s winnings

York selections Friday 21st August

Friday at York is highlighted by the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes with many of the fastest horses in training taking each other on – but on a slower than ideal surface for some. I have one selection for the big race, but also have focussed on two of the major handicaps on the card. Blue Brother was placed for the each-way bet yesterday (advised 17/2).

York 1.50: Blue Courvoisier & Jeddaal

The opening contest definitely requires two stabs given its open nature.

BLUE COURVOISIER did this column a good turn when winning the Silver Bowl at Carlisle in May and this prominent racer was able to make virtually all that day on a track that lends itself well to front-runners, similar to York. He was not then seen to best effect at Royal Ascot when trying similar tactics in the Britannia, where hold up performers are much more suited.

However he was back to form at Glorious Goodwood last time when third against older horses over 9f. I would expect Rossa Ryan to get this horse up front from an early stage, aided by a low draw into the early bend. One imponderable is the slower ground which he has not encountered before, but at least that will place a greater emphasis on stamina, which is definitely in his favour.

On the other hand JEDDAAL will have no issues with some cut as he won well under similar conditions at Chester in June. He had already run with credit on softer going at Doncaster last season, but he looked a bit immature last season and being gelded over the winter seems to have improved him.

He was only beaten a length on his last start at Thirsk, but did not look as comfortable on the fast ground that day and I am sure he will be more at home on today’s going.

York 3.35: Rayevka

There seems no doubt that the pace from this race will come low with Bacio in the field. However a headwind and the softer going might blunt that speed and there were definite signs yesterday that being drawn low might not be the usual advantage on the straight track.

As such RAYEVKA makes plenty of appeal from stall 12. For one shall is fully proven with cut having won her first race by a wide margin on soft at Chantilly as a juvenile, but more recently she won on soft at Longchamp in a Group 3 in the spring.

That was a rare outing over the minimum trip, but has prompted connections to keep her to that distance and she almost rewarded them when just touched off by Mission Central at Royal Ascot. A strong end to end gallop at 5f seems to be the key to her and she makes plenty of each-way appeal

York 4.10: Master Builder & Say What You See

There are two stand outs in this race and I will be backing both.

MASTER BUILDER looks to be best fresh and confirmed as much when well backed and justifying that support in winning over this course and distance at the Dante meeting. Second on his seasonal debuts in 2024 and 2025, he was simply not the same horse in the second half of last season, finishing down the field on a regular basis.

That did mean him dropping well down the ratings, but it looks like he is being trained differently and presumably this race has been the target for some time, as he has been kept fresh over the summer. He has been upped 7lbs but remains 4lbs below the mark on which he started 2025 with a fine second in the Great Metropolitan at Epsom. Third in the 2024 Melrose here, the long finishing straight and flat track at York is clearly suited to him.

SAY WHAT YOU SEE steps up in class here, but has been very progressive and this horse will have conditions to suit as connections have been at pains to keep him away from fast ground this summer. He was a comfortable winner at the Leger meeting at Doncaster last season (though later disqualified for a banned substance in his system) on similar going to today. He then started this season with a solid third at the same track on good-to-soft again.

When there was some rain around in early June he was able to win back to back over a 4 day period at both Pontefract and here, first time cheekpieces apparently helping on the latter occasion. Given the recent drought, the only run he has managed since was on the All Weather at Southwell when a strong finishing second. However he has found his ground today and he remains on a good racing weight, making him strong each-way value.

Recommended bets:

1pt each-way – Blue Courvoisier – 1.50 York – 8/1 Bet365, William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 5)

1pt each-way – Jeddaal – 1.50 York – 14/1 Betfred, Bet365 (1/5 odds 1st 5)

1pt each-way – Rayevka – 3.35 York – 13/2 William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 4)

1pt each-way – Master Builder – 4.10 York – 6/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 5)

1pt each-way – Say What You See – 4.10 York – 12/1 Bet365 (1/5 odds 1st 5)

Blue is the colour

York selections Thursday 20th August

Onto Day 2 at York and in truth, this looks very much the weakest card of the week for punting purposes. The big stand out though is the mile handicap featuring several old favourites and quite a few unexposed types. I have two selections for this one. We got off to a perfect start to the week with a 1-2 in the opening sprint, Air Force One (advised 8/1) leading home Corolla Point (advised 11/2) for the each-way bets. The other selection Small Fry then won the staying handicap (advised 5/2).

York 3.00: Cerulean Bay & Blue Brother

Two improving 5yo’s are fancied for this wide open handicap. It is no surprise to see Centigrade put up at a short price given his high class form in novice contests. However this is his first handicap and he will find things happening much quicker today. As such I think he is worth opposing.

Main choice is definitely BLUE BROTHER. This keen sort was made too much use of in the Golden Mile at Goodwood last time, but ridden with a little more patience today can pay dividends. After exactly a year off the track, he made a tremendous reappearance when fourth in the Buckingham Palace at the Royal meeting over 7f. However this sharp mile looks an ideal trip for him.

Formerly trained in France, he has plenty of form on soft ground, including a win in a handicap on Arc weekend at Longchamp in 2024. That bodes well for his claims here given the track is sure to be racing on the slow side by race time.

CERULEAN BAY is more exposed but continues to threaten and defy the handicapper and win a big handicap. You can forget his run under an unfamiliar rider in the Shergar Cup, where the smaller field and slower gallop were also against him. Prior to that though he had finished a superb second in the Golden Mile at Goodwood off the same mark of 105 as today.

Whilst he has yet to win a race at York, he has run some cracking races here, notably when second to Bullet Point in this race on last year’s card, and again when second over this trip at the Dante meeting. He is also fully proven on a soft surface – his form on softer than good reading 482113, so conditions won’t be an issue.

Recommended bets:

1pt each-way – Blue Brother – 3.0 York – 17/2 Bet365, Unibet, BetVictor (1/5 odds 1st 5)

1pt each-way – Cerulean Bay – 3.0 York – 18/1 William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 5)

Point the way for a successful start to Ebor week

York selections Wednesday 19th August

The North stages arguably its biggest fixture of the season this week with the Ebor fixture at York. After two months of non stop heat and sun, this week looks somewhat different and the card could even kick off on the soft side of good with morning rain predicted. I am starting the week looking at the two big open handicaps on day 1.

York 1.50: Corolla Point & Air Force One

I have narrowed down my shortlist to two by picking the two horses most adaptable to ground conditions.

COROLLA POINT has been the model of consistency throughout his relatively short career and in six starts since joining Ed Bethell has yet to finish out of the first three. He narrowly but bravely defied top weight in the Soba Handicap at Hamilton on his last start, that photo finish win ensuring he only went up a further 3lbs in the handicap.

The extra half-furlong today could be crucial as he shapes as if he does want a bit further than 5f now. He already has a cracking run at this track to his name when third at the Dante meeting over 5f and was then only just touched off on the All Weather in the Gosforth Park Cup.

However he showed his prowess on soft ground when winning on his last start of 2025 at Hamilton on soft ground, before beginning this campaign with a solid staying on third at Beverley when there was some dig.

The horse who beat him at Beverley that day is my other selection AIR FORCE ONE. Despite a solid season since, he is actually 3lbs better off with Corolla Point to confirm form. He is certainly in the form to take advantage of that.

His last run saw him place third here over 6f at the last meeting, despite pulling too hard off an unusually slow pace for a sprint. Whilst 6f probably stretches his stamina, this intermediate distance will suit ideally, as it did when he was second in this race at last year’s meeting. That run came after winning over 5f here the previous month, so he is well suited by the Knavesmire.

York 4.10: Small Fry

After an incredibly unlucky defeat at Glorious Goodwood, SMALL FRY can make amends around this far more conventional track where luck in running should be in better supply.

This horse was very progressive for Gary Moore in early 2025, winning a handicap at the big Chester meeting before justifying favouritism for a 12f handicap on Derby Day at Epsom. Prior to that he had shown excellent form with cut in the ground in late 2024, winning at the same two tracks.

He was then purchased to join Joseph O’Brien for the end of last season. He was only ninth in the Irish Cesarewitch, but has come back better than ever this year. Second over hurdles at Listowel in May, that was essentially just a warm up for Royal Ascot where 2m4f might just have stretched him when only sixth in the Ascot Stakes.

Dropped back to 14f at Goodwood last time, he would surely have won but for getting badly shuffled back 2f out. That he recovered to finish second was hugely to his credit and he should really have no problem staying the extra 2f today. A 4lbs rise should not stop him.

Recommended bets:

1pt each-way – Corolla Point – 1.50 York – 11/2 Bet365 (1/5 odds 1st 6)

1pt each-way – Air Force One – 1.50 York – 8/1 William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 5)

1pt win – Small Fry – 4.10 York – 5/2 general

Harry Fast enough for Great St Wilfrid

Newbury & Ripon selections Saturday 15th August

As we build up to York there are no massive feature races today, but nevertheless there is plenty to enjoy with Ripon staging their feature race of the year, the Great St Wilfrid Handicap. I have two selections for the big race, plus a best bet from the card at Newbury

Newbury 2.35: Humam

A very useful horse when allowed his own way in front, HUMAM jumped back to form when nearly making all at Newmarket last week. With plenty of hold up horses in opposition, he has another chance here to dominate.

He kept going well up the hill at Newmarket, though not as well as Arctic Dawn who came through to win in the closing stages. This gelding was a very impressive 7f handicap winner on fast ground at York last season and I think a flatter track like Newbury will allow Humam to hold off challengers.

The one likely battle for the lead will be with favourite Scoville, but that rival looks better off over a mile and a current mark of 88 does look very workable for Humam.

Ripon 3.25: Fast Track Harry & Fortification

An open looking Great St Wilfrid, despite a slightly smaller field than usual. First choice for the race is FAST TRACK HARRY who bounced back to form in first time cheekpieces at Ascot last time.

A horse who until now has been best fresh, winning first time out in 2024, 2025 and now 2026, he actually won his first two starts of this campaign on the All Weather. The second was an excellent win at Newcastle over the highly progressive Stratusnine, only narrowly defeated in the Stewards Cup recently.

His form tailed off after that although he was a perfectly respectable eleventh in the Wokingham beaten only 5l. However he travelled really well, perhaps too well in the headgear at Ascot last month, cruising to the front over 1f out before tiring late on. He was ridden with more restraint that day and I suspect he will be raced more handily here which is more his natural running style.

Three year olds have won a fair few versions of this race over the years and FORTIFICATION has solid claims back up to 6f. He put in a remarkable performance to win at the Dante meeting at York over 5f, given he was out the back for much of the race.

Fourth there in a valuable handicap just as week later, he showed he stays 6f just as well when a fast finishing third in the very valuable 3yo handicap at the June meeting again at York. His last run can be ignored as he was bumped coming out of the stalls, but surely he will be better off at this trip and he is being claimed off today meaning he is effectively only 3lbs higher than for his spring win.

Recommended bets:

1pt each-way – Humam – 2.35 Newbury – 17/2 general (1/5 odds 1st 3)

1pt each-way – Fast Track Harry – 3.25 Ripon – 13/2 Unibet, Betfred (1/5 odds 1st 4)

1pt each-way – Fortification – 3.25 Ripon – 17/2 general (1/5 odds 1st 4)

Consistent Guard an each-way must

Ascot selections Saturday 8th August

The Shergar Cup is the centrepiece of today’s racing action. Not a meeting that I am greatly enthused about in truth given unfamiliar jockeys riding horses they don’t usually ride. However that said 10 runner handicaps are definitely of interest to me, so I will have a stab at the four races open to older horses. Far Above Dream was placed for the each-way bet in the Stewards Cup last week (advised 7/1).

Ascot 1.35: All Ways Glamorous

We start with the fastest race of the day over 5f and the fastest horse in the race is likely to be ALL WAYS GLAMOROUS.

In a race where several of the entrants are definitely better at 6f, here is a 5f specialist at the top of his game. He has been progressive all season apart from one run when fitted with cheekpieces that he appeared to resent. Two of those runs have been here, looking likely to win on his comeback before the lack of a recent run took its toll and he was caught close home.

He made no mistake in a small race at Ffos Las next time, but back here last time, he beat a competitive field, making all and running right through the line. Yes he is up 5lbs and this is probably a stronger contest, but given his natural pace against 6f rivals, he could prove difficult to peg back.

Ascot 2.10: Hermetic

Ian Williams targets this meeting and runs three this year in the Stayers. HERMETIC looks the likeliest.

Already a winner in his native France last season, he started his new career with Williams running over just 12f at York in May. His run there was full of promise, staying on into a solid fourth following a six month absence from the track.

It looked like he was all at sea on soft ground at Goodwood next time, but he ran a cracker to be fourth on the All Weather in the Northumberland Vase last time, proving his stamina once more for 2m in the process. Whilst he does have to prove himself on rattling fast ground, a handicap mark of 81 looks fully exploitable and this horse has plenty of pace for a stayer in a race where there is no guaranteed early pace.

Ascot 2.45: Night Breeze

It looks diffficult to look past the obvious here and go with the in form NIGHT BREEZE who also bids to back up a win in this same race in 2025.

This horse is improving year on year and in fact won twice over course and distance last season. He has thrived on his racing this season, winning the Great Metropolitan at Epsom with ease in April, just two days after running at Musselburgh. Whilst he has been beaten on his last three starts, he has run with considerable credit in all.

He coped really well with unsuitably soft ground on Derby Day back at Epsom when second to mudlover Too Soon. He was then third in the Old Newton Cup at Newmarket before coming from a long way back to take third at Goodwood last week dropped back to 10f. A return to 12f will help, a smaller field will allow this hold up horse to be closer to the pace and in Dylan Browne McMonagle he has a jockey who should be a positive to his chances.

Ascot 4.30: Ebt’s Guard

The finale to the day looks best left to perhaps the most consistent horse in training in EBTS GUARD.

Of course this horse is handicapped to the hilt, but always runs his race having placed in massive handicaps at Newbury, Sandown and in the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot this summer. He had plenty of excuses at Goodwood last week when stuck on the rail with nowhere to go in the final 2f.

All tracks come alike to him, but he runs particularly well here as he won this race last year from a 5lbs lower mark and then went on to place second in the Balmoral on Champions Day. He has dropped to his lowest mark of 103 this season, just a pound higher than that Balmoral run and is tactically versatile so it is difficult to see him out of the frame however this race is run.


Recommended bets:

1pt win – All Ways Glamorous – 1.35 Ascot –7/2 general

1pt each-way – Hermetic – 2.10 Ascot – 6/1 Unibet (1/5 odds 1st 3)

1pt win – Night Breeze – 2.45 Ascot – 5/2 Bet365

1pt each-way – Ebt’s Guard – 4.30 Ascot – 11/2 William Hill (¼ odds 1st 3)

Aeronautic to fly in

Goodwood selections Saturday 1st August

The final day at Goodwood and the prevailing fast ground will very much remain for a day where the Stewards Cup will take centre stage. I have two selections for the feature, plus selections from two other races on the card.

Goodwood 1.50: Aeronautic & Sing Us A Song

Favourites have been doing well all week at Goodwood and it would be no surprise to see Valedictory justify short odds here. However he has quite a round action and might not appreciate ground quite so quick. Therefore I am taking him on with two viable alternatives.

AERONAUTIC finished third in this race last season, despite racing too keenly, and with another years experience behind him I expect him to settle that bit better here to enable him to win today. He is yet to win in handicap company, but he is becoming ultra consistent and ran well again when fourth at Royal Ascot over this 14f despite having a jockey in John Velazquez lacking in experience in that type of race.

Dylan Browne Mcmonagle is back on board today and this horse enjoys the fast ground he will face today. He was also placed at the Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown last autumn. This track should play to his strengths as he likes to race prominently and has a handy low draw for the short run into the first turn.

SING US A SONG used to spoil his chances with slow starts, but seems to have put that behind him in recent races. As such he is now the sort of horse comfortable with racing up with the pace, again an advantage around here. He was fifth in that same race behind Aeronautic at Ascot, where he was again in the van throughout.

Prior to that he was a good second at York, despite facing competition for the lead. He too has a useful inside draw to take a good early position, and with the Wathnan team going so strongly this week, he could prove very solid each-way.

Goodwood 3.35: Two Tribes & Far Above Dream

TWO TRIBES was a brilliant winner of this race off 7lbs lower last year and he looks the obvious one to go with in a bid for a repeat success.

After some solid but unspectacular performances in early season in 2025, he suddenly came good at this time last year, winning the big 7f handicap at Ascot seven days before storming to victory here. This season has followed a similar pattern.

Only in mid-division on his return to domestic racing in the Wokingham at the Royal meeting, he produced a strong finishing effort to be second in that same 7f handicap at Ascot last week. He was probably not favoured by an unusually slow gallop in that race, but will certainly be getting a strong end to end gallop to race off today. David Egan gets on so well with the gelding and is back on board today.

FAR ABOVE DREAM ran a cracker to be fourth in the Wokingham and might just find this sharper track at Goodwood more to his liking. He travelled so smoothly at Ascot, before finding a few finishing too strongly, but on this largely downland track, that early cruising speed can be used to much greater effect.

He had won three in a row prior to that Ascot race, two of which were on good ground here, taking his track record to 3-3. The only question might be very quick going, but he coped admirably with that at Ascot and he can race off the same mark of 99 today, which could still be generous.

Goodwood 4.10: Proud Nation

Whilst favourites have been doing well all week, it might pay to have a little wager on an outside in PROUD NATION in this contest.

Apart from one modest effort on softish ground at Chester earlier this year, he has been the model of consistency. He got off the mark on only his second start in a decent with some very useful types in behind. He looks like a 7f specialist as he appeared to stay the extended mile at Hamilton on his return.

Then came that modest effort at Chester, but he bounced right back to form at Newmarket last month when just touched off by Ironwill. He battle on gamely to the line that day and I fancy a stronger gallop and bigger field will be more to his advantage today. A wide draw is not ideal, but draw advantage is not as obvious this week on the round course, so can be overcome.

Recommended bets:

1pt win – Aeronautic – 1.50 Goodwood –4/1 general

1pt each-way – Sing us a Song – 1.50 Goodwood – 5/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)

1pt each-way – Two Tribes – 3.35 Goodwood – 8/1 Betfred (1/5 odds 1st 6)

1pt each-way – Far Above Dream – 3.35 Goodwood – 7/1 Betfred (1/5 odds 1st 6)

0.5pts each-way – Proud Nation – 4.10 Goodwood – 20/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)

Believe in King’s progressive stayer

Goodwood selections Friday 31st July

Some cracking handicaps to enjoy at Goodwood on Friday, starting with one of the longest races on the calendar, the 2m4f contest, plus the Golden Mile, always one of the most competitive races of the week. Our placed each-way bets continued on Thursday at Goodwood with Decade of Time placing (advised 9/1).

Goodwood 1.50: Believitanducan

Despite continuing to climb the ratings after winning all three starts this summer, BELIEVITANDUCAN can score again upped further in distance.

Having had a solid winter hurdling, the 5yo has surpassed himself on the flat. Well fancied for an apprentice contest at Ascot, he duly delivered the odds in style over 2m. He then built on that with an easy 3l win at Chester later that month. He was then stepped up in class for the Northumberland Vase for his last start.

Always in the front rank, he kicked for home some way out and held on strongly right to the line. I am sure he will benefit from this extra distance. He has already run over this far over hurdles, winning over this trip at Plumpton. He is the sort of horse that does just enough to win, so he can continue to defy the assessor here.

Goodwood 3.00: Indalo & Blue Brother

Plenty of these have been taking each other on all season and INDALO has been one of the most successful of the mile handicappers all year.

Always a keen going sort, he has been gradually learning how to settle in his races and that has been helping him no end. Beaten by the smallest possible margin in the Cambridgeshire last season, he has continued to progress all year. He started with a fine second from well off the pace at Newbury back in April.

He then won his side of the track in the Hunt Cup at the Royal meeting, only to be beaten by two on the favoured stands side. However he gained a deserved success in the Coral Challenge at Sandown last time, relishing the fast ground. He was fourth at this meeting last season, but over a furlong further and I think he has proven that a strongly run mile is more his thing.

BLUE BROTHER made a tremendous reappearance from exactly a year off the track when fourth in the Buckingham Palace at the Royal meeting last month. That run came over 7f, which was perhaps a wise move as he was pretty keen after so long away. However I strongly suspect he will be better off at this mile.

He was a winner of the mile handicap at Longchamp on Arc weekend in 2024 but proved his aptitude for fast ground at Ascot recently and he can build on that comeback run off the same mark of 98 today. Stall eight ought to be a nice berth, not too wide to cover extra ground, whilst not being potentially stuck on the inside.

Recommended bets:

1pt each-way – Believitanducan – 1.50 Goodwood –6/1 Bet365, Unibet (1/5 odds 1st 5)

1pt each-way – Indalo – 3.0 Goodwood – 5/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 5)

1pt each-way – Blue Brother – 3.0 Goodwood – 7/1 William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 5)