4.10pm Goodwood Tips & Betting Preview 03/08/2017

This is a Class 2 nursery handicap raced over 7 furlongs, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: This is a competitive contest and JEDI MASTER can come out on top. He’s been dropped a pound for his latest run which may have come slightly too soon following a quick-fire double of wins. The step up in trip to 7 furlongs should bring out even more in him and he can win this today. Billesdon Brook should be thereabouts based on her effort behind Nyaleti earlier this season whilst Poet’s Prince is closely tied in with a Listed winner and deserves respect.

1 GOLD TOWN – Finished 4 lengths behind Tangled when the pair met at Newmarket last month. He’s weighted to get closer today and he may have needed the run following a gelding operation so there’s every chance the form could be reversed today. However, he remains on a mark of 91 and that doesn’t look to give him a huge amount to play with on these terms.

2 TANGLED – Has been handed a hefty 11lb rise in the weights following a demolition of a decent field at Newmarket last month. He took a major step forward that day when stepped up in trip and he should be seen to good effect again today although he’ll need to take another step forward to get the better of some decent sorts in this. Respected.

3 BILLESDON BROOK – Has finally shown some improved form having been stepped up in trip and she boasts some strong form coming into this. She was only beaten 3/4 lengths by the extremely useful Nyaleti and she finished third in a Listed event just last week. A mark of 87 remains fair for Richard Hannon’s filly and conditions should suit her perfectly today.

4 STARLIGHT MYSTERY – Finished a fair way behind Tangled and Gold Town at Newmarket last month and she has a fair amount to find to reverse the form. She has two victories to her name in Novice Stakes company but she’s going to need more in handicaps having only been dropped 2lbs for her latest defeat. Silvestre De Sousa is a positive booking but others make more appeal.

5 POETIC STEPS – Twice-raced filly who has recorded victories on both starts to date. She enters handicap compnay for the first time today having won a moderate Class 5 event last time out over 7 furlongs and a mark of 84 looks high enough. She’s versatile in terms of ground and will improve again at this trip. Others look better weighted in this though.

6 JEDI MASTER – One of the more exposed runners in today’s race with 6 runs to his name. He struggled last time out on his handicap debut, finishing fifth in a 7-strong field, beaten 2 lengths but he was dropped a pound for that effort which looks fair. He’s stepped up in trip to 7 furlongs for the first time today and there should be plenty more to come so he’s worth respect in this given there was plenty of market support for him last time out.

7 VEEJAY – Mick Channon’s colt has won both of his career starts to date and he received a form boost when the horse in-behind him last time out won earlier this week. He looks to be improving at a rate of knots and this ground should be ideal for him so there’s plenty to like about his chances. A mark of 81 could let him in lightly and he’s worth plenty of respect in this having made a perfect start to his career.

8 ROYAL HOUSEHOLD – Was by no means disgraced last time out when beaten by a nice-looking 2yo at York. He was well-supported that day and it’s no surprise to see him stepped up in trip to 7 furlongs today having raced exclusively over 6 furlongs in three starts to date. Hollie Doyle is back in the saddle and a mark of 80 looks fair albeit others look better treated. Best watched today.

9 BARBARIANATTHEGATE – Remains a maiden from four starts but he bumped into a decent sort last time out at Redcar. This trip looks right for him and the yard are operating at a 24% strike rate at present although a mark of 79 won’t give him much room for error in this hot race. He needs to find more improvement to get the better of these and he’s best watched today.

10 POET’S PRINCE – Finished 2 1/2 lengths behind Raydiance at Haydock in June and that runner went on to win a Listed contest recently. That gave his form a solid boost and he has improved with every run so there are reasons to believe a mark of 79 could underestimate him today. He will relish these conditions based on his Ayr run last time out and Joe Fanning rides him over his stablemate which is an obvious positive.

11 COSMPOLITAN QUEEN – Was highly-tried last time out at Newmarket, finishing last of 8 in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes. She has her sights firmly lowered here and a mark of 78 looks reasonable based on her two runs in novice company. However, the yard have been in poor form of late, without a winner from their last 14 runners and others look more progressive in this.

12 CENTRAL CITY – Hugo Palmer’s runner was gelded following his latest run at Chelmsford at the end of June and he has looked a shade quirky in four starts to date. He evidently has ability but he hasn’t appeared to have given his all in the finish and the step up in trip to 7 furlongs isn’t sure to inspire improvement. A mark of 78 shouldn’t be that far away from his true potential but he’s tricky to build a solid case for in this.

13 CHAI CHAI – First time in a nursery today following three runs in Novice Stakes company. He failed to build on his run at Haydock in June having gone backwards at Chelmsford over 7 furlongs last month where he lacked a bit of pace. He looks as if he wants further than this 7 furlong trip and he may be best opposed in this off a mark of 74.

14 SHE BELIEVES – Broke her maiden at the fourth attempt in a weak Chepstow Novice Stakes race last time out. She stayed on late to win by a short head and she will be much better suited to this 7 furlong trip based on that evidence. She remains on a mark of 74 which is reasonable from the handicapper and she wouldn’t be one to rule out in this back up in trip.

15 CHEEKY RASCAL – Another runner for Richard Hannon in this and he has a fair amount to find off a mark of 73 to win this. He’s contested three Class 5 Novice Stakes races and whilst showing improvement, has failed to suggest he’s going to be well-treated by this handicap rating. He may want further than this trip and is best watched today.

16 ALIFAX – Jamie Osborne’s yard has been in poor form of late, without a winner from 12 runners in the past fortnight but his runner isn’t without a chance here. He finished sixth in a Class 2 Newmarket handicap last time out and he’s been dropped a pound following that run. He could have something in-hand on these terms albeit this is a very tough race. The yard’s form is off-putting.

17 DEVIL’S COWBOY – Has finished down the field in three runs to date over 5 and 6 furlongs. He will be better suited to this 7 furlong assignment today although a mark of 70 still leaves him with something to find and it will be a surprise to see him battling out the finish. The yard is doing well at present with a 15% strike rate in the past fortnight.

18 LUCIFUGOUS – Finished a length behind Alifax at Chester in June and she’s shown moderate form to date on ground varying from Soft to Good to Firm. It’s hard to workout what ground she needs at present and she hails from a yard that have sent out just one winner from their last 22 runners. She has a fair bit to find with her rivals and others make far more appeal today.