Friday’s penultimate race at Goodwood sees an open contest between a good handful of the 13 runners. That said, it’s the Joseph Tuite gelding who catches the eye with underfoot conditions in his favour.
I’m taking a chance the four-year-old gelding TIGERTEN will have been sharpened up by his seasonal debut at Chelmsford 43 days ago where he was 24 lengths last of four and. That was over an unsuitably short 1m 6f on the all-weather where he was running against three race-fit rivals. He got out-paced behind a well-handicapped subsequent winner before being eased down and allowed to coast home by his jockey when all chance was gone. He did improve by 20lb from his first to his second start last season, so there is cause for optimism he will strip much fitter today.
I’m interested in him because I think he could be very well handicapped running off a mark of 65, based on his three runs over staying trips like this (2 miles) towards the end of last season. Where his form figures read 233, and in particular his run over C&D (C meaning horses who won previously at the course and D being ones who won over the same distance). On heavy ground last August, where he was a little unlucky not to win having tried to get the stands’ rail around two furlongs out but was denied that by the eventual winner before having to switch and make his challenge out wider. On that occasion he was giving the winner, Call My Bluff, 5lb. He then won his next two, going on to be officially rated 17lb higher.
The 3rd placed horse, Beat The Heat, who he was giving 10lb to and beat by two lengths, won five of his next six races and went on to be rated 22lb higher. The selection is up in Class but only 2lb higher here so could just be very well handicapped and go close provided he is fully fit on only his second start back. He also gets in off bottom-weight here, he looked well-suited by C&D on his only start here last year and Darragh Keenan is a good first-time booking. The Joseph Tuite yard are going through a particularly good spell (the last 14 days has seen a 30% strike rate of wins), Tigerten may have more to offer as a four-year-old and the forecast easy underfoot conditions are in his favour.
This Heather Main trained seven-year-old gelding has been knocking at the door lately having finished 2nd, 3rd, & 2nd in his last three starts. He is only up 1lb for finishing two lengths 2nd of eight in a better race than this on his first turf start this season, over this trip at Ascot two weeks ago. The in-form Rossa Ryan (Last 14 days: 12-40, 30%) takes over in the saddle, he is down in Class, and he will be fully fit on his fifth start of the season having had three runs on the all-weather in March and April.
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