6.35pm Goodwood Tips & Betting Preview 16/06/2017

This is a Class 4 apprentice handicap over 7f, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: FIFTYSHADESOFGREY has been on a long losing run but he’s finally fallen down the weights and he can score off this 4lb lower mark in a lower grade. The cheekpieces are reapplied today and the conditions should suit this C&D winner. He can get the better of the Monteverdi who has ground concerns and Joe Packet who may just find this 7 furlong trip slightly too far.

1 PASTORAL PLAYER – Closely tied-in on form with Noble Peace having just lost out to Henry Candy’s runner by a head last time out. He’s worse off with that runner on today’s terms and he may not be able to reverse the form although he is a C&D winner and has been in good heart this season. He’s a 10yo so is clearly vulnerable to any sort of improver but he continues to run well and is tricky to rule out for a yard with a 20% strike rate in the past fortnight.

2 NOBLE PEACE – Got the better of Pastoral Player last time out and David Egan claims a useful 3lbs today which negates all bar one pound of his subsequent hike in the handicap. He’s back up to a career high mark but he did well to win last time out and has a similarly decent chance of success today now kept over C&D. The yard have been quiet of late but have still sent out a winner in the past fortnight and he’s likely to be popular in this.

3 PEARL SPECTRE – His sole success this year came in a decent Class 2 handicap at Lingfield off today’s mark. This is the first time he’s raced off 85 since that victory and Hollie Doyle takes the ride today so he should be able to get involved although this is tougher than that Lingfield contest. He remains without a win on the turf in four starts and others make slightly more appeal today.

4 FIFTYSHADESOFGREY – Without a victory since completing a C&D double over 7 furlongs back in May 2015. He was beaten 11 1/2 lengths in these conditions last time out but this is a significant drop in grade and that may finally spark some improvement in him off a 4lb lower mark. The yard have hit good form of late with three winners from their last ten runners and he’s worth market attention off this mark.

5 MAJESTIC MOON – Without a win since September 2015 and he’s now 13lbs lower than that mark. He was only beaten 2 lengths last time out by Noble Peace and should be able to get close to that rival here in conditions that he is sure to enjoy as yet another C&D winner in the field. The stable have been quiet of late without a winner from their last ten runners which does temper enthusiasm slightly.

6 MONTEVERDI – Lightly-raced 4yo who is sure to improve for his seasonal reappearance at Windsor last month. That was his first run since being gelded but he remains with just one career success which came in a maiden on debut in October 2015. That came on Good to Soft ground and all of his best form has come with give in the ground so he may not take his chance in this. Blinkers are applied for the first time today off a 2lb lower mark.

7 IN THE RED – Has been beaten a fair way in three starts for Martin Smith this year. He won a Kempton handicap back in January before leaving the Richard Hannon stable and he remains one pound higher than that mark now racing off 80. Milly Naseb does claim a useful 5lbs but he still looks high enough in the weights although the step back up in trip should help him. Best avoided on current form.

8 JOE PACKET – Has been raised 3lbs in the weights for a nose success over 6 furlongs here last month. He’s stepped up in trip for the first time since June 2013 and that may just catch him out with all of his seven career successes coming over 6 furlongs and shorter. A mark of 79 isn’t beyond him but he’s not going to be finding much more now aged ten and others make more appeal.

9 FIELD OF VISION – One victory from 22 career starts doesn’t make for particularly good reading and that came in a maiden back in August 2015 on sand. He’s stepped up in trip to 7 furlongs for the first time today which is clearly an experiment and he gets the assistance of a 7lb claimer which leaves him on an effective career low mark in handicaps. Should improve for his seasonal reappearance but a risky prospect in this.