2.35pm Goodwood Tips & Betting Preview 25/05/2017

This is a Class 2 handicap raced over seven furlongs, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: This is a wide open affair and the vote goes to SHADY MCCOY. He ran a fine race to finish fourth in the Victoria Cup on his latest start and he should be dangerous again off the same mark in a weaker race. Silvestre De Sousa is aboard today and there are plenty of positives about his chances in this. Gossiping will give him the most to think about following an excellent win last time out and he remains fairly treated off a 3lb higher mark.

1 CASTLE HARBOUR – Hasn’t quite hit top form this season but his third placed effort last time out reads well with the winner going on again in a Group 3. He’s been dropped 3lbs for that effort which looks sensible and that should allow him to get more competitive in this fairly strong handicap. John Gosden has a 20% strike rate at Goodwood and his runner is likely to be popular here in first time cheekpieces.

2 MUTAWATHEA – Ran a couple of fair races in Meydan over the winter in relatively good handicaps. He makes his return to action in the UK today off a 2lb lower mark which should be workable although he is without a win since July 2015 off a 15lb lower mark. George Wood claims 5lbs today which suggests connections believe he has a high enough mark and he’s worth taking on today on these terms.

3 ACCESSION – Finished behind Castle Harbour last time out off a 2lb higher mark. He’s worse off at the weights with that rival here and it would be a surprise to see him reverse the form in this similarly tricky handicap. The yard are performing well of late with 4 winners from 12 runners in the past fortnight and whilst their runner is on a fair mark, he may just find this too tough today.

4 ROBANNE – Well-beaten last time out at Lingfield in a Group 3 and whilst this is an easier assignment, she looks high enough in the weights off a mark of 97. She has some Listed form to her name which reads well including a second placed effort at Ascot last year and she will appreciate any ease in the ground having performed best on Good to Soft previously. She’s unlikely to be done improving and she may outrun her odds here.

5 HORSTED KEYNES – Bit of a frustrating sort who hasn’t won since April 2014. He continues to run well off a falling mark but he’s been bumped up another pound for a neck defeat at Yarmouth earlier this month and this is another competitive affair. Andrea Atzeni retains the ride which is an obvious plus and the yard are in fair form but he’s frustrating and he is a risky prospect for win purposes in this.

6 SHADY MCCOY – C&D winner who was fourth in a 24-strong field at Ascot just under a fortnight ago in the Victoria Cup. He’s been left on the same mark which looks fair and this is certainly easier so connections will be hopeful here with the excellent Silvestre De Sousa on board. He’s won off a 2lb lower mark and Ian Williams has an excellent 16% strike rate at Goodwood so there are plenty of positives today.

7 OWER FLY – Finished third off this mark at Chelmsford last month over 7 furlongs. That was a fair effort but he will need to improve today in this much tougher race and he’s 4lbs higher than his last winning mark which came in a weaker grade so he’s got something to find on form with a few of his rivals. Richard Hannon has a 22% strike rate in the past fortnight which is an obvious plus but others are preferred.

8 GOSSIPING – Has been revitalised this season with four wins since the turn of the year. His latest effort was without doubt his best having beaten a decent field off a 3lb lower mark over C&D and he should be seen to good effect again today off a small break. This will require another career best but there’s every chance he may produce one and he’s worth plenty of respect on the back of his last run.

9 THE WARRIOR – Amanda Perrett’s runner finds winning rather hard with two wins from 25 career starts to his name but he’s been thereabouts on virtually every start this season. He was only beaten half a length by Gossiping last time out and he’s 3lbs better off at the weights with that runner so he should, in theory, get the better of him today. Connections apply a visor for the first time to try and get him to concentrate but others are preferred.

10 PROFESSOR – It was slightly disappointing that Michael Attwater’s runner couldn’t score in a lower grade than this off just 1lb higher and he is stepped back up in class today. He was once rated 113 and whilst he is obviously no longer up to that standard he does occasionally suggest a return to the winners enclosure is imminent. Josephine Gordon is a positive booking but others are preferred on their overall form.