2.45pm Goodwood Tips & Betting Preview 26/08/2017

A hugely competitive handicap with a maximum field of twenty chasing the first prize of £62,250. Luck in running is going to play a huge part on this track, our expert tip and runner by runner preview are below.

IN SUMMARY: JOHNNY BARNES has looked unlucky not to have won either of his last two starts from this same mark. He has held his own in deeper waters in the past, with the front runners in here looking like setting it up perfectly for him to land the success he deserves. The return to this trip could be exactly what Ultimate Avenue needs to produce his best. Shady McCoy loves this place so deserves respect while Suzi’s Connoisseur needs plenty of luck in running but is far too well handicapped to ignore.

1 CERTIFICATE – Winner of this race in 2016, he is five pounds higher this time around. Connections add first time cheekpieces following an unusually poor run in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot. This extra furlong is more his trip but he is going to need a little more if he is to score form this far up the weights.

2 RAUCOUS – Made a huge impression first time up this season, setting a new track record at Chelmsford. He has looked a little short of pace over that same six furlong trip since, so the step back up to this trip could be the right move to find some improvement. He has smart form at this track which is always a positive so has an each way shout.

3 JOHNNY BARNES – Spent the majority of his career competing at a higher level that this. He got there too soon on very soft ground at Newbury two runs back, rattling home too late last time out at Ascot. Both those placed efforts were in similar company off this same mark so he has a serious chance once more. Has a handy draw on the inside, if the breaks come at the right time, he can get the win his recent form deserves.

4 STRAIGHT RIGHT – A triple winner over further than this when trained in France, he was a little disappointing on his debut for his current yard last time. The very soft ground there may have been the cause but he needs more at this level at any rate to get involved.

5 SUTTER COUNTY – Won a similar contest over this course and distance in May from the same mark. He hasn’t come close to that level since, first time blinkers fitted now in a bid to rediscover his form. Has the form in the book to be a player but this bigger field isn’t going to be so easy to dominate from the front.

6 MASHAM STAR – Fully deserves to take home one of these big pots, runner-up on four occasions this season already. He has no ground preference, acting on any from good to firm all the way to soft. He is a better horse at a mile than this trip however and should find at least a couple with a little more boot.

7 ULTIMATE AVENUE – Pair of promising runs this year over six furlongs and a mile. His maiden success last season came over this trip so the return to this distance can allow him to produce more. He was in the wrong group for a long way when third last time, when sporting a tongue strap for the first time. This is tougher from three pounds higher but he has an each way squeak.

8 SWIFT APPROVAL – This is his best trip, not quite getting home when tried at a mile last time out. He is not the most consistent, showing little this season before scoring at Newmarket. Will need to be at his very best if he is to get his head in front in this contest from 95.

9 MOUNT TAHAN – Smart form at the end of 2016, that has pushed him up to a level where he has not really looked like winning. He has placed a couple of times this season in smaller fields but from a wide draw in a Class 2, the percentage call has to be to oppose.

10 BERTIEWHITTLE – Veteran showed that he is no back number when scoring at Doncaster last time. That wasn’t as deep a contest as this one and from a wide draw in nineteen, he is going to have to come back to his 2014 form to win this.

11 MJJACK – Unexposed type ran a huge race at Ascot last time, always prominent he was only outgunned close home. He is going to have to work much harder to take a prominent position drawn in eighteen with the drying ground against him, needs more again.

12 FRANK BRIDGE – Enjoying an excellent season for connections, already a three time winner. Nine pounds higher than the latest of them and competing at a higher level, this is going to need considerably more if he is to hit the frame again.

13 REPTON – A five furlong winner last season, he ran with credit at Ascot last time over six. Still unexposed there is more room for him to improve but whether he can do that from the widest draw is doubtful.

14 TRUTH OR DARE – Landed a course and distance handicap at the Glorious meeting last time out. That was his best run for over three years so there has to be some doubt over whether he can replicate it straight away. Probably too high in the weights to be considered a likely winner of the race but a placed effort wouldn’t surprise.

15 BURNT SUGAR – First and second in a pair of Class 3 contests this season, he has been well beaten when taking in races of this ilk. Had better form as a juvenile but has never come close to reproducing that since. He needs his best effort of 2017 to get competitive.

16 SUZI’S CONNOISSEUR – Runner up in this contest last year, a wide draw in seventeen may not be a huge concern for him given his extreme hold up style. That run was from a nine pound higher mark, a slide in the ratings despite a Newcastle win in February. He will need plenty of luck in running here but is the type to pop up at a big price so is far from discounted.

17 FOX TROTTER – Frustrating type, regularly catching the eye from the back in big field handicaps. He put it all together at Sandown last time and has run well here in the past so he has a chance if he is able to back that effort up. That is a big if to consider given his past form.

18 MUKALAL – Only raced once on turf, on his seasonal debut this year. That form is a long way short of what he has shown on the all weather since. Has looked a little weak in the finish over a mile so a big field over this trip could be just the ticket if he is able to transfer that sand ability back to the grass.

19 SHADY MCCOY – Twice a winner in four starts at this track, he has run well in the other pair so clearly any time he comes here he needs to be respected. He is from the same mark as when scoring over course and distance last July so he has a solid chance if the gaps open up at the right time for him.

20 EASY TIGER – A win and two runner-up efforts in three career starts at Goodwood. They were all at a lower level, is going to need to improve on what he has done this season if he is to make an impression in such a deep contest.